Semuliki Valley National Park is located in the Albertine Rift in southwestern Uganda, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and near Lake Albert. The park covers about 220 sq km and is home to one of Africa’s oldest tropical forests, which survived the ice age.
This article highlights trusted tour operators, park entry fees, the history of the park, its location, the best time to visit, accommodation, wildlife, and nearby parks you can combine with your trip.
List of Semuliki Tour Operators & Safari Companies
Looking for reliable Semuliki Valley National Park tour operators? Here is a list of trusted safari companies and travel agents.
See the recommended list of Semuliki tour operators here.
About the Semuliki Park
Semuliki Valley National Park was first set up as a game reserve in 1932 under the British colonial government. In 1993, it was upgraded to a national park. Today, it is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The park receives about 12,250 mm of rainfall every year. During the rainy season, large parts of the park flood. Despite the heavy rains, it remains rich in plants, birds, butterflies, and animals. It is one of Uganda’s 10 national parks.
Semuliki Valley National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. From Kampala, you can reach Fort Portal via Mubende (about 180 km) and then continue 2–3 hours towards Bundibugyo. The Masaka–Mbarara–Kasese route is about 465 km. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for all routes.
Semuliki Valley National Park can be reached in about 6 hours by road from Kampala, Uganda’s capital, via the Fort Portal–Masaka road. The park is part of a network of other protected areas in Uganda, which can be combined in your safari itinerary.
The park is located in an area with different ecological zones, creating many micro habitats. Its plants and wildlife are closely linked to those of the Congo Basin.
One of the main attractions is the Sempaya Hot Springs. The Nyasimbi hot spring, known as the female spring, boils and shoots water up to 2 meters high. The Bintente hot spring, known as the male spring, is 12 meters wide and lies in a swamp. The hot springs attract animals for salt licks and are also good spots to see shoebill storks.
Visitors can reach the hot springs using a boardwalk and an observation tower. Other attractions include bird watching, swimming at Mungilo Waterfall, and guided walks. The park has more than 400 bird species, 400 butterfly species, and 60 mammal species.
The park can be visited year-round, but the best time is during the dry season when the vegetation is thinner and animals gather around water sources. During the rainy season, many areas flood, and some trails become impassable, making it difficult to explore.
Park Entry Fees
- Adults: USD 35 for foreign non-residents, USD 25 for foreign residents, 15,000 UGX for East African citizens.
- Children: USD 5 for foreign non-residents and residents, 2,500 UGX for East African citizens.
- Birding: USD 30 for foreign non-residents, USD 15 for foreign residents, 15,000 UGX for East Africans.
- Boat rides on Lake Albert: USD 100 for foreign non-residents and residents, 100,000 UGX for East Africans.
- Batwa cultural experience: USD 10 for foreign non-residents and residents, 10,000 UGX for East Africans.
The Sempaya Hot Springs
The hot springs are located in Bundibugyo District. They are heated by underground geothermal activity and reach up to 130°C. The name “Sempaya” comes from the Kiswahili phrase Sehemu Mbaha, meaning “difficult side,” referring to the challenges faced when constructing the Fort Portal–Bundibugyo road across the rocky Rwenzori slopes.
Animals of Semuliki
Semuliki Valley National Park is home to more than 60 species of mammals. Some of these include hippos, leopards, African buffalo, water chevrotain, Mona monkeys, African elephants, bush babies, civets, nine species of duiker, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels, and nine species of diurnal primates.
The park is also famous for birding. It has about 400 bird species, of which 216 are true forest birds. Semuliki is also the best place in Uganda to see butterflies, with more than 460 recorded species.
There are three main tracks that lead to Toro-Semuliki Game Reserve. Along these tracks, you can spot savannah elephants, waterbucks, Ugandan kob, pygmy hippos, white-tailed mongoose, and other animals.
The Kirumia Trail is the best for bird watching. It starts at 8 am and passes through the forest to the Semuliki River. The Red Monkey Trail takes you to the Semuliki River and gives you a chance to see the rare De Brazza monkey. The Sempaya Nature Trail leads to the famous hot springs and offers sightings of many primates along the way. The walk usually takes 2 to 4 hours.
See recommended birding tour operators here.
Other Parks to Combine with Semuliki
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Visitors can take part in gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experiences.
- Kibale Forest National Park: Kibale is known as the primate capital of the world and is the best place to see chimpanzees in Uganda. Visitors can also enjoy guided nature walks and bird watching.
- Virunga National Park: Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga borders Semuliki. It is home to mountain gorillas and the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage, the only facility of its kind in the world.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: This is Uganda’s most visited national park and one of the richest in wildlife. Activities here include game drives, bird watching, crater lake walks, and nature walks. The park can be visited en route to Semuliki.
You can also view a list of all Uganda national parks here.
Accommodation
There are limited accommodation options inside the park, so it is best to carry your own camping supplies if you plan to stay in the forest. However, a few lodges nearby include:
- Semuliki Safari Lodge
- Ntoroko Game Lodge
- Hotel Vanilla
- UWA Bandas
There are also three campsites: near Oxbow Lake, at Kirumia River Crossing, and at Sempaya Ranger Post. If you can afford it, Semuliki Safari Lodge is the most comfortable option.
Even with fewer visitors, Semuliki Valley National Park is still worth visiting. Floods in the park have limited game drives and made it harder for some wildlife to survive, but the park remains special.
If you are a bird lover, this is a place you should not miss. It offers some of the best birding opportunities in Uganda.
Consider booking your safari to Semuliki Valley National Park with the recommended tour and travel companies below.
View list of recommended Semuliki tour operators here.
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