Semuliki Valley National Park is located at the base of the Albertine Rift Valley. It is in the southwestern region of Uganda, in Bundibugyo District, covering an area of 220 square kilometers.
It is the only tract of lowland semi-deciduous forest in East Africa. Semuliki Valley National Park’s forest is one of the ancient forests that survived the Ice Age and is rich in biodiversity.
It consists of Savannah grasslands, wetlands, and rivers. The park was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1932 and established as a national park in 1993.
Semuliki Valley National Park is an extension of the Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. It is bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains to the southwest and Lake Albert to the north.
One advantage of visiting this park for Uganda safari tours is that it is less crowded compared to other national parks in Uganda.
Ready to plan your visit? Browse our Uganda safari options.
Wildlife in Semuliki Valley National Park
Semuliki Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s priceless gems, harboring various wildlife. It is home to 53 mammalian species.
Some of the animals you can see on a game drive include Defassa waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffaloes, elephants, civets, hippos, leopards, bush babies, pygmy antelopes, flying squirrels, warthogs, bushbucks, reedbucks, giant forest hogs, and hyenas.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Semuliki
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the activities tourists can enjoy in this park. It is not as popular as trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. Chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives, sharing over 98% of our DNA.
You can observe chimpanzees for one hour after finding them in their natural habitat. There is also an option to join researchers for the chimpanzee habituation experience, which is more engaging but must be organized in advance.
During chimpanzee trekking, you may also spot other primates such as De Brazza’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, central African monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
The main tribes living around Semuliki Valley National Park are the Bamba, Batwa, Butuku, and Bakonjo tribes.
Each tribe has unique cultures that visitors can explore. You can enjoy traditional African music and dances and buy handmade crafts as souvenirs or gifts for loved ones.
Bird Watching Safaris
Semuliki Valley National Park is a bird lover’s paradise, with over 441 bird species. Of these, 46 are Guinea-Congo biome species, and 23 are Albertine Rift Valley endemics.
Some of the birds found here include the Abyssinian ground hornbill, the rare shoebill stork, black dwarf hornbill, red-thighed sparrowhawk, African wood owl, white-crested hornbill, lemon-bellied crombec, swamp palm bulbul, red-bellied malimbe, black weaver, yellow-throated nicator, casqued wattled hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver, orange-cheeked waxbill, white-throated blue swallow, chestnut-breasted negro finch, African piculet, yellow-throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, and many others.
Sempaya Hot Springs
The Sempaya Hot Springs include two springs, the male and female hot springs, located along the Semuliki River. The hot springs emit water with temperatures ranging from 40°C to 104°C, which can boil an egg in minutes. The water shoots up to two meters above the ground.
The locals tell an interesting legend about the hot springs. They say Bagama women once saw a stranger, a hairy man with a spear and a dog, in the forest. When the women informed their husbands, the men captured the stranger and gave him a wife.
One day, the man, named Biteete, went hunting but never returned. The villagers found only his spear at the site of the male hot spring.
His wife also disappeared, and her clothes were later found at the female hot spring. The male spring is called “Biteete,” and the female spring is known as “Nyansimbi.”
The Bagama people still perform rituals at the springs, believing their ancestors reside there.
Other Activities
Nature walks and hikes in Semuliki Valley National Park are exciting, offering dramatic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon.
A 13 kilometer trail takes visitors through the heart of the forest, providing an 8 hour round trip with chances to see wildlife, birds, butterflies, and primates.
Sport fishing is another activity offered at the Semuliki River. Tourists can catch various fish species and enjoy them for dinner at their lodges. Visitors interested in fishing are advised to bring their own fishing gear.
For overnight stays, tourists can choose from accommodations such as Ntoroko Safari Lodge, Toro Semuliki Hostel, Semuliki Safari Lodge, Semuliki Guest House, Rwenzori View Guest House, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, and others.
Best Time to Visit
Semuliki Valley National Park can be visited year round, but the best time is from June to September and December to February. See our full best time to visit Uganda guide for more detail.
During the wet season, some parts of the park may flood, and roads can become impassable. Visitors traveling during this time will need a four wheel drive vehicle.
The park is about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Kampala, Uganda’s capital, via Fort Portal Road. It can also be reached in 7 to 8 hours through Kasese Town in western Uganda.
