At an elevation of 700m, lies Semuliki Valley National
Park at a size of 220sqKm. it was gazetted in 1932. it is the only tract of
lowland tropical forest, hosting over 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals.
There are four distinct ethnic groups which include; Bwamba farmers living
along the base of Rwenzori, Bakonjo cultivating on the mountain slopes, and Batuku cattle keepers inhabiting the open plains. Batwa pygmies traditionally hunter’s gatherers, live on the edge of the forest.
Semuliki national park sprawls across the floor of the Semuliki Valley on the remote western side of Rwenzori. The park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri forest of the Congo basin. The Maliki contains numerous features and these are; Thatched huts are shaded by West African oil palms. The Semuliki River forms an international boundary between Uganda and DR Congo. The forest is home to various central African wildlife species and the local population includes the Batwa pygmy community that originated from Ituri.
Birding in Semuliki
Sempaya and Ntandi provide excellent viewing of the birds include; white crested hornbill, Redbilled Dwarf Hornbill, piping hornbill, yellow-throated nicator, great blue, and Ross’s turaco. The area around the Kirumia River is another top birding spot.
Cultural encounters
The Batwa hunters gather a gatherer lifestyle means they have always been dependent on the Semuliki forest for food, shelter, medicine, and tools
Hot springs
Hike through the monkey-filled forest to these boiling, gushing springs, and cooking your eggs and plantain in the bubbling waters. The 13km Kirumia trail runs through the heart of the
forest to the Semuliki River is perfect for bird watchers. Along the 8kmSempaya nature trail, you can view the hot springs and primates
Birds
Birdlife is especially spectacular in Semuliki with441 recorded species representing 40%of Uganda’s total bird species and 66% of the country’s forest bird species. It is also known as a true birder’s haven. This is because of the unique Albertine endemics which can only be spotted in this
region and they include the 46 guinea Congo biome species, Black-casqued wattled Hornbill, Yellow –Throated cuckoo, White Throated Blue swallow, Redrumped Tinkerbird, piping Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, African piculet, and Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill among other common bird species include the great blue turaco, papyrus Ganolek, and Ross’s Turaco.
Wildlife
The forest is home to 53 mammals of which 27 are large mammals, 11 species are endemic to the park including the pygmy antelope and two flying squirrel species. It is a home of peculiar water chevrotain, known as the fanged deer. The park is also home to buffaloes and elephants
and it is also remarkably rich in primates including chimpanzees, baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, and black and white colobus monkeys.
Sempaya hot springs
The Sempaya hot springs are the Semuliki’s most famous attraction.
The male spring known as Bintente measures 12m in diameter and is set in a lush swampy clearing.