SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK

This is one of Uganda's latest National Parks that was gazetted as a national park in October 1993. Semliki National Park occupies a flat to gently undulating landscape between 670 -760m above sea level. Semliki national park is a home to a large number of predominantly Central African species that are not found anywhere in East Africa. These include the continent's most interesting and sought birds such as; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honey guide Black-wattle Hornbill, etc.
The park is found in the extreme west of Uganda to be specific in Bundibugyo district. Further more, the park lies on the Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the western side of the Rift valley. With an area of 220 sq km and covers the eastern section of the vast Ituri Forest, the park forms part of the forest continuum where the climatic upheavals of the Pleistocene, the park is therefore one of the richest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa especially bird species.

How to get to the park
The park is accessed from Kampala using two major roads; that is to say, Kampala-Fort portal via Mubende takes 4-5 hours drive and Kampala-Fort portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese from 7-8 hours.

Activities
The juggle life in Semliki national park has interesting scenery that is made up of hot springs, tropical forests; Semliki River rotates around many other ideal attractions. At 'Mungu Ni Mukubwa' in the mountains, the road offers beautiful scenic views of the flowing Semliki River, hot springs and the tropical rain forests up to Ituri forest in DRC. There two hot springs located in a tract of hot mineral encrusted swampland is blessed with visible birds, insects, various primates and a wide range of large mammals for example, buffalos and elephants. These two meters jet of hot water with about 130oC and a pool of 12m diameter of oozing boiling water at 106oC can boil food especially eggs in the natural boiler within ten minutes. Sport fishing can also be done along the river so visitors can come with their fishing facilities.

These jungle walks starts from Sempaya Gate and take about 2 hours ending to the Hot Springs through the rainforest with Palm Trees and partly muddy ground There are also 305 species of trees recorded and 125 species are restricted to this park alone.

Local community walks
There are four ethnic groups living around the park. The Batwa a local pygmy Ituri ethnic group of people are mainly hunters and gatherers mainly depending on the park. They are the inhabitants of Semliki Forest it should be noted however that their life is changing due to interactions with local community and the impact of tourism. There also the Bamba and the Bakonjo who are found in the valley and mountain slopes respectively and are both agriculturalists, the Batuku who occupy the rift valley floor north of the park are pastoralists who depend entirely on cattle products which they mainly trade with their neighbors. Therefore, a community visit village near Sempaya Gate will enable you witness these people's lifestyles, traditions, dances, and give you an opportunity to buy souvenirs.

Bird watching
Another tourism activity that takes place at the park is birding during the safari. Various vegetation types found in the park offer birders a chance to see view birds some of them include forest birds, wetland birds, grassland birds, water birds etc. The area around the geothermal hot springs at Sempaya is not only very scenic but also offers some great birding most especially during nights.

Accommodation
Semliki national park has got limited accommodation facilities but there are a number of accommodation facilities in fort portal and Bundibugyo. There is also a campsite at Bemata about 3 Kms from Sempaya gate.
There is also preparation of meals on order. Provisions are there for one to bring and prepare his or own foods at the site, utensils for cooking are available.