Semliki National Park

Semliki National Park

Semliki National Park lies 220kms along the border of Uganda and DR-Congo and follows the Semliki River, within the Western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley to the North of the Rwenzori Mountains, the altitude is on average 700 meters above sea level.

Previously known as Bwamba Forest, Semliki National Park was gazetted in 1993 and its name often crops up in old ornithological literature as it protects a practically unspoilt 220km² tract of rainforest.

Bounded to the northwest by the Semliki River as it runs along the Congolese border into Lake Albert, and to the southeast by the surfaced main road connecting Fort Portal to Bundibugyo forms an ecological continuum with the Ituri Forest, which extends eastward for more than 500km to the Congo River, and it supports a wealth of wildlife unknown from elsewhere in East Africa.

Species

There are 336 tree species recorded, of which 24 are restricted to this park like Isolana congolana and Ejacis guineesis. 435 Bird species with at least 40 of them are found nowhere else in Uganda, 63 mammals like Elephants, Leopards, Buffaloes, Flying Squirrels, Pygmy Antelope and six types of Bats, 9 primates including chimpanzees, Blue Monkey, Vervet Monkeys, Baboon and at least 374 species of Butterflies.

 Activities and Attractions

Natural Walk from the head quarter of Sempaya Gate down to the river Semliki, enjoying Bird Watching, Butterflies, Flowers and Trees, Moreover, there are two hot springs one male and one female, situated in a tract of hot mineral encrusted Swampland, where visitors see a jet of hot water and a pool of boiling water.