THE TRUE BIRDER'S HAVEN

Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semuliki Valley on the remote, Western side of the Rwenzori Mountains. The park is part of the Guinea-Congo biome, the only lowland semi-deciduous forest in Uganda with a spectacular scenic beauty enhanced by the presence of hot springs at Sempaya. It is characterized by several endemic and endangered species dominated by the Eastern most extension of one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests of the Congo Basin. While Semuliki’s species have been accumulating for over 25,000 years, the park contains evidence of even older processes, hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years. Semuliki Forest Reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park status in 1993.

ACCESS

Semliki National Park lies along the main fort Portal to Bundibugyo road, 52 km from Fort Portal. The road can become treacherous, particularly after heavy rains, requiring a 4 WD or a sturdy 2WD with sufficient clearance. The ranger post at Sempaya is well signposted but the park headquarters have been moved to the village of Ntandi, a further 4.4 km along the road to Bundibugyo. The usual National Park fees apply. from Sempaya it is 10.6 km to the village of Kirumia and start of the Kirumia River trail into the forest. It is possible to hitch a ride between Sempaya and Kirumia but bear in mind that most vehicles head towards Fort Portal in the mornings; traffic in the direction of Bundibugyo passes mainly in the late afternoon and evening

Kampala-Fort Portal via Mubende is about 290kms, or a 4-5 hour drive, making it the shortest route. Kampala-Fort Portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese is longer at 465kms (7-8 hrs). This route offers the chance to stop along the way at Lake Mburo National Park, Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Semuliki National Park’s Sempaya Gate is 59kms from Fort Portal. The park headquarters at Mandi is 6kms further along the road.

THE LOCAL PEOPLE

The Bamba farmers live along the base of the Rwenzori while the Bakonjo cultivate the mountain slopes. Batuku cattle keepers inhabit the open plains on the north of the park while the Batwa traditionally hunter gatherers, live on the edge of the forest.

ATTRACTIONS

Flora and Fauna:

The area that Semuliki National Park covers is a distinct ecosystem within the larger Albertine Rift ecosystem. The park is located at the junction of several climatic and ecological zones and as a result has a high diversity of plant and animal species and many micro-habitats. Most of the plant and animal species in the park are also found in the Congo Basin forests, with many of these species reaching the Eastern limit of their range in Semuliki.

Birds:

Of the 1047 birds in Uganda, 435 bird species (43%) are found in Semuliki National park. Albertine Rift Endemics such as the Dwarf Honey guide and Purple-breasted Sunbird can occasionally be sighted. Also, species with very limited ranges such as White-tailed Hornbill, Capuchin Babbler, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher and the orange weaver occur in the park. The park also has about 300 butterfly species.

Mammals:

A total number of 53 mammal species have been recorded of which S species of large mammals and 7 species of small mammals have not been recorded in other parks. Eight species occur nowhere else in Eastern Africa such as, mona monkey, forest buffalo, bay duiker, beecroft’s flying squirrel, pygmy flying squirrel, little collared fruit bat, water chevrotain and target rat. A further ten mammals are known to occur in only a few other places in East Africa. Reptiles and amphibians are also abundant.

Sempaya Hot Springs:

The Sempaya Hot Springs are Semuliki’s most famous attraction, The “male” spring, known as Bintente, measures 12m in diameter and is set in a lush swampy clearing. The “female” spring Nyasimbi, meaning “the female ancestors”, is a boiling geyser which spurts bubbling water and steam up to two meters high the steam cloud can be seen from as far as 2km away. Local people used to cook their food in these boiling pools. Sempaya—Ntandi Road This 6 km section of public road runs along one of the loveliest tracts of forest in Uganda and provides good views of birds and monkeys high up in the forest canopy. Birding walks take place in Sempaya as well as night hikes deep into the forest. In Ntandi, local Batwa dancers put on traditional performances for visitors. Another local attraction is the Mungiro Falls near the hot springs.

Semuliki River:

The 160 km long Semuliki river carries runoff from the Rwenzori Mountains to Lake Albert and the Nile, proving ancient geographers’ claims that the Nile flows (in part anyway) from a snow-capped mountain in the heart of Africa. Broad, muddy, forest fringed and home to hippos and crocodiles, the Semuliki is a miniature version of the Congo River. Visitors can watch the river meander across the rift valley floor from roadside viewpoints and hike through the forest to its bird-rich banks.

TORO-SEMULIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE

Close to Semuliki is Uganda’s oldest game reserve, Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, where tropical rain forest meets grassy savanna and the flat plains are punctuated by deep river valleys. The unique geography is reflected in the diversity of wildlife which includes the forest mammals of Central Africa, key East African species and a variety of bird life. The area is a transitional zone for three of Africa’s bio-geographical regions (Sudano-sahelian, Guinea-Congotian and Zambezean). Diverse habitats occur in the valley floor of the reserve supporting a variety of vegetation types such as grasslands, riverine forests, scrub woodland, swamp forests, papyrus swamps and savanna woodland mosaic. The unique and diverse habitats recounted above support a variety of wildlife animals dominated by the Uganda kob. The reserve is also habitat to lions, elephants, reedbuck, hippopotamus, baboons, bush pigs, giant forest hog, warthog, buffaloes, bushbuck, leopard, chimpanzee and waterbuck. Several chimp communities live in the lush river valleys of the reserve.

During the enjoyable 4-6 hour guided nature walks in the gallery of Mugiri forest you are likely to see chimps and other primates as well as birds, elephants, buffalo and occasionally a lion, Chimps are commonly found during the rainy season when food is abundant. Boat trips on Lake Albert offer excellent opportunities to see rare shoe bill stork, shore birds, hippos and the rift valley escarpment sharp drop into Lake Albert.

ACTIVITIES

Birding, Hiking and Nature Walks, Hot Springs, Cultural Encounters and Trails, Primate/Forest walks

Bird Watching:

Common species in this area are:- Spot-breasted Ibis, Hartlaubs’s Duck, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Forest Francolin, Nkulengu Rail, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed, White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crested, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Sassi’s Olive, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Forest and Grey Ground Thrushes, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet -Shrike, Red-eyed Puff-back, Black-winged Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Pale-fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negro finches, Grant’s Bluebill.

Nocturnal Bird Watching:

The area around the geothermal hot springs at Sempaya is not only very scenic but also offers some great birding. The cliffs behind the ranger post are home to the crepuscular Freckled Nightjar and these can be seen gliding around the clearing with Black-shouldered Nightjars. In the lush rainforest around here listen for the bizarre dawn and dusk duetting of the elusive Nkulengu Rail. Other nocturnal callers include Buff-spotted Flufftail and African Wood Owl. Around the cleaning and through other light gaps in the area, it is possible to glimpse African Goshawk, Red-thighed and Great Sparrows, Ayres Hawk-Eagle and Cassin’s Spinetail.

From the ranger post, head north (right) along the ” Boundary Trail ” . Crested Guinea fowl skulk in the undergrowth and the hollow hooting of the White-spotted Flufftail is commonly heard near forest creek in this area. Turn left where the trail forks and continue to the ” Female” Hot Springs with boiling hot water squirts and bubbles out of the ground.

OTHER WILDLIFE

53 species of mammal have been recorded from the park, many of which are shy, rare and nocturnal. Conspicuous species include Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Vervet, Red-tailed and Mona, Gentle (Blue) Monkeys, Olive Baboon and Guereza Colobus, De Brazza’s Monkeys are rare and Chimpanzees may seldom be heard than seen. While nocturnal primates include Pottos and Galagos. You are also lucky if you glimpse Elephant, Bush pig, Water Chevrotain, Buffalo, Sitatunga, White-bellied Duiker or Dwarf Antelope, Beecroft’s Anomalure or Zenker’s Flying Mouse. You are far more likely to spot the lively and agile squirrels such as Fire-footed Rope or Red-legged Sun Squirrel. Little collard fruit Bat and Target Rat. 30 species of butterflies have been identified, including 46 species of forest Swallowtails and Charaxes (75% of Uganda’s total) and at least 235 species of moths have been classified as restricted.

There are also 305 species of trees recorded, of which 125 species are restricted to this park alone.

ACCOMMODATION

There is an observation tower and boardwalk to view the geothermal hot springs at Sempaya. Otherwise, there is not much in the way of visitor facilities in the park and trail maintenance has been neglected for a couples of years; a machete ( ” panga” ) can be useful. Bring all your supplies and camping equipment if you plan on spending time in the forest. There are three new but abandoned and unfurnished shelters at Sempaya ranger post that could accommodate a few uncomplicated travellers. Fresh drinking water can be obtained from the creek 0.6 km from Sempaya towards Bundibugyo and a swim in the Mungilo Waterfall here is also highly recommended. It is definitely advisable to boil or purify the water from the oxbow lakes and the Kirumia River prior to consumption. Recommended campsites in the forest are at the first oxbow lake and at the second Kirumia River crossing, and outside the forest at the Sempaya ranger post. Some local produce and drinks can be bought at Ntandi. Porters can be hired at the village of Kirumia at a rate of $ 2-3 per person.

PARK AT A GLANCE

• Size: 220km² with an altitude of 670-760m above sea level
• Semuliki Forest Reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park status in 1993.
• It is the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa, hosting 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals.
• Large areas of this low-lying park may flood during the wet season,a brief reminder of the time when the entire valley lay at the bottom of a lake for seven million years.
• Four distinct ethnic groups live near the park – Bwamba farmers live along the base of the Rwenzori while the Bakonjo cultivate the mountain slopes. Batuku cattle keepers inhabit on the open plains and Batwa pygmies, traditionally hunter gathers, live on the edge of the forest.