Semuliki National Reserve.
Are you looking for the best reserve to visit in Uganda and you have not yet found it? No more worries Elgon navigators has found you one known as the Semuliki National Reserve which is located in the Kabarole district of the western part of the country formerly called the Toro Game Reserve. Additionally, Semuliki National Reserve is located on the southern banks of Lake Albert, northeast of Bundibugyo Road and stretches to Ntoroko. The park spans 542 square kilometers and is located between the Ntoroko and Kabarole district. It is situated between the Rwenzori Mountains and the Kijura escarpments of Lake Albert, providing a striking rift valley environment. Fort Portal is 55 kilometers apart by car from the closest major city to the Semuliki National Reserve.
The biggest concentration of Ugandan kobs and birds may be found in Semuliki National Park, which is well-known for this. Along with a wide range of tourism activities, the park is a rich wildlife site. The reserve is home to about 53 different species of mammals, including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, antelopes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, and forest elephants. With about 420 different bird species found in the park’s lowland tropical forests, including spotted green bull, red-eyed puffbacks, blue swallows, white-throated blue swallows, and swamp palm bulbul, Semuliki National Park is a birder’s paradise.
The huge Ituli forest extends into the Semuliki national reserve, which is home to some of the richest flora and animals in all of Africa. The Semuliki National Park is home to low-lying tropical forests, savannah grasslands, and one of the oldest and most biodiverse forests in the world. Of the approximately 336 tree species found there, three are endangered, and twenty-four are restricted, including Euphorbia and Chrysopyllum begui. Semuliki National Reserve, home to the Semuliki River and boiling hot springs, is an incredible natural treasure.
A group of four district tribes, comprising Bwamba farmers at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains, Bakonjo cultivators on the mountain slopes, Batuku cattle keepers, and Batwa pygmies from the Ituri forest, surround the Semuliki National Reserve, which spans the floor of the Semuliki valley on the isolated western side of the Rwenzori mountains. The thatched huts in Semuliki Valley, shaded by African oil palms, make it an ideal place for cultural strolls.
First created in 1926 as the Toro Game Reserve, the main goal of Semuliki National Reserve is to safeguard Ugandan kobs. In 2005, the reserve was renamed and added to the list of lion conservation units.
Attractions in Semuliki.
Semuliki National Reserve is home to several intriguing activities that draw lots of visitors, including;
Hot springs:
The main activity of Semuliki National Park is its hot springs. The reserve is home to two hot springs: Bitende, a male hot spring with a diameter of 12 meters, and Nyasimbi, a female hot spring that is a boring geyser that shoots hot, bubbling water 2 meters into the air, creating a breathtaking view. These hot springs have extremely hot water, and visitors and locals alike boil culinary items like potatoes and eggs in the heated spring pool. It’s 100 degrees Celsius in the water.
Primates:
Primate trekking is appropriate in the Semuliki National Reserve because it is home to primates. In the low, tropical forests that encircle the Ituli forest, primates reside in Semuliki National Park. A wide variety of primates, including blue-tailed, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus, Central African red colobus, grey-checked mangabeys, and baboons.
Birds:
More than 400 different bird species, including those found in central Africa and are found in Semuliki national reserve. Among these include; the Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Black Wattled Hornbill, Nkulenga rail, and many more.
Activities in the park.
Semuliki national reserve offers interesting safari activities which include;
Game drives.
One safari activity you should never miss is going on a game drive in the Semuliki National Reserve if you want to learn more and get a better appreciation of the fauna and vegetation of the “pearl of Africa.” The wildlife reserve offers fascinating game drives where visitors may see a variety of species, including black and white colobus monkeys, leopards, lions, and forest elephants, as they pass through the savannah area in the Semuliki Valley.
Visiting Sempaya hot springs.
A fantastic experience that makes you appreciate God’s might and creativity is a visit to the Sempaya hot springs, which are located near Bintente, the male springs, and Nyasimbi, the female springs. When you visit the hot springs, you can see the bubbling and steaming hot water rising up to two meters in the air. Both locals and visitors cook meals and eggs in the hot spring pool water.
Guided nature walks and hiking.
Hiking and guided nature walks are made possible by the marshes, savannah grassland, and part of the Ituri forest that make up the Semuliki National Reserve. An expert tour guide leads you on nature walks and hikes through the forests during this incredible safari experience, where you will see birds, primates like chimpanzees and baboons in the Magiri Forest, and creatures like lions and Uganda kobs in the reserve’s woodlands.
Boat Ride.
Boat rides at the Semuliki National Reserve should always be on your itinerary when you plan your safari; they are offered on the 160-kilometer Semuliki River, which flows from the Rwenzori Mountains to Lake Albert and the River Nile. Watching the river meander through the rift valley is such a spectacular picture. During this boat excursion, you get to see water bucks, lizards, Nile crocodiles, and pygmy hippos as they lounge along the river banks.
Birding safaris.
One of the best places to go birdwatching is the Semuliki National Reserve, which has over 400 different bird species to see in its forests, marshes, and river. With five endemic species that are unique to the area, the reserve is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Shoebills, brilliant red-throated bee eaters, white-crested hornbills, black-casqued wattled hornbills, red-rumped Tinkerbirds, white-throated blue swallows, and numerous other birds have been sighted at Semuliki National Reserve.
Batwa cultural experience.
The Ituli forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to the pygmy Batwa people who live on the edge of the Semuliki national reserve. The Batwa Cultural Experience immerses visitors in the ancient way of life of the Batwa people. Along the trip, you will see how they build houses from scratch using locally available materials, gather medicinal plants from the area, and make fire the traditional way.
Primate tracking.
Numerous primates, including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, grey checked mangabeys, vervets, Deny’s mona monkeys, and de Brazza monkeys, can be seen playing on trees in the forest of Semuliki National Reserve. Finding the primates in their native environments is the goal of the four-to-six-hour primate tracking activity in the reserve.
Trails Used in Semuliki National Park.
While on safari in Semuliki national reserve 3 trails are used, these trails are;
Sempaya nature trail.
There’s a good chance of seeing primates like red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys on this trail that winds through the forest and leads to the hot springs. You may witness a variety of birds and stunning surroundings from the treehouse that is located along the route leading to the male hot springs.
The Kirumia trail.
The Kirumia route, a 13-kilometer trek that winds through a forest and ends at the Semuliki River, is the ideal place to go bird watching.
Red monkey trail.
Starting from the park’s east boundary and running 11 kilometers, the red monkey route leads to the Semuliki River. This trail offers the chance to see the endangered De Brazza monkey.
Semuliki national reserve can be reached from Kampala using two major roads;
It takes five to six hours to get to the Kampala Fort Portal via Mubende, and seven to eight hours to get there via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kasese. It is 50 kilometers from Fort Portal in the far west. At the little commercial center of Karugutu, 30 kilometers along the Bundibugyo road, there is a signposted turn-off leading to the Semuliki valley wildlife reserve. This is the route that leads to the Semuliki national park. You can travel to Kasese by air by taking a chartered flight from Kajjansi or Entebbe international airport.
Where to Stay while in Semuliki national reserve.
Semuliki Safari lodge.
Staying in Semuliki safari lodge feels as though you have traveled back in time with the use of classic safari furnishings and tents in golden tones.
Semuliki offers visitors a calm and private experience with just 8 tents.
The highest level of comfort and elegance is offered to guests thanks to hardwood floors, double beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, private verandas, and protective thatched roofs.
To relax and share stories at the end of the day, the central lodge area is furnished with substantial dining tables, deep-seated armchairs, and a roaring fire.
Kyaninga lodge.
Although it is not technically in Semuliki National Park, Kyaninga Lodge offers a luxurious place to stay as a starting point for your safari through Semuliki Park. The lodge is situated at the edge of the crater Kyaninga, with breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountains. It is only 40km from Semuliki National Reserve. The lodge’s accommodations consist of 8 cottages with raised platforms, private walkways, solar lighting, hot and cold safe drinking water, two family cottages with space for a child, and double or twin beds. Amenities offered to guests include swimming, dining, bar, restaurant, and double-sided fire pits.
When to Visit.
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve can be visited all the year round. However, the dry season is the ideal time to see wildlife (December to February and June to September).
Animal sightings are significantly easier during these months because of the abundance of sunshine, the rarity of rain, and the likelihood that animals will congregate around dependable water sources.
Some routes become unusable after heavy rain during the rainier months.