SEMLIKI NATIONAL PARK

It is a national park in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda .It is one of the richest areas of floral and faunal biodiversity in Africa, with bird and butterfly species being especially diverse.

Semuliki National Park lies on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwenzori Mountains are to the south-east of the park, The park lies within the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift.

The park borders the Semliki and Lamia Rivers, which are watering places for many animals. The park has two hot springs in a hot mineral encrusted swamp. One of the springs – Mumbuga spring – resembles a geyser by forming a 0.5 m high fountain. These hot springs attract a large number of shorebirds and provide salt licks for many animals.

Park visitors can engage in bird watching, game drives, walking to the savannah grassland, hiking through the 13 km Kirumia Trail, and visit the hot springs where the water is hot enough to cook eggs and plantain.

The park has more than 400 bird species, including the lyre-tailed honey guide. 216 of these species are true forest birds. The park provides habitat for over 60 mammal species, including African buffalo, leopard, hippopotamus, mona monkey, water chevrotain, bush babies, African civet, African elephant, and the Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel. Nine duiker species are found in the park, including the bay duiker .The park has eight primate species and almost 460 butterfly species.

Lodges around the park include, UWA bandas, semliki safari lodges, other visitors opt to sleep in fortportral because the distance is not too long to the park.