Size 220km²
Altitude 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 Bakonzo cultivate the mountain slopes. Batuku cattle keepers inhabit the open plains and Batwa pygmies, traditionally hunter gathers, live on the edge of the forest.
Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semuliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori.
The park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa's most ancient and bio-diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago.
The Semuliki River female hot spring
The Semuliki Valley contains numerous features associated with central rather than eastern Africa. Thatched huts are shaded by West African oil palms; the Semuliki River (which forms the international boundary) is a miniature version of the Congo River, the forest is home to numerous Central African wildlife species, and the local population includes a Batwa pygmy community that originated from the Ituri.
As a result, this park provides a taste of Central Africa without having to leave Uganda. While Semuliki 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.
Wildlife viewing safaris in Uganda
6 Day Sipi, Pian Upe and Kidepo Valley National Park
Explore Eastern and North Eastern Uganda on 6 Days Uganda Safari to sipi falls, Pian Upe Game Reserve and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Per person sharing
7 Day Africa Family Safari
This 7 days Africa Family safari will expose you and your Family to Uganda's wildlife, Nature and culture, you will encounter most of Uganda's crater lakes in Fort Portal.
Per person sharing
4 Day Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Sancturay
This tour is ideal for people who want to look for the big five in a few days thus combining Ziwa rhino sanctuary which gives one a chance to track the southern white rhinos on foot and Murchison falls national park for the rest of the wildlife with expectations of seeing lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants to complete the big 5.
Per person sharing
Other toursit destinations in Uganda
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Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
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Sipi Falls
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Pian Upe Game Reserve
Pian Upe is known for its diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.
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Sempaya Hot Springs
The Sempaya Hot Springs consist of two main springs: the male spring, known as "Bintente," and the female spring, known as "Nyasimbi." These springs are named after ancestral spirits that are believed to reside in the area.
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