Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa and it is located on the floor of the western arm rift valley in Bwamba County, far western Uganda. This is a remote part of Bundibugyo District, in western Uganda.
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve lies in an area of 220km² and an altitude of 670 – 760m above sea level. It cuts across Semuliki valley and north of Mountain Rwenzori. It is largely occupied by the Ituri forest that extends from the Eastern parts of Congo, following the Congo Basin.
This wildlife reserve is basically located within the famous Albertine Rift and is separated from the Ituri of Congo by Semuliki River, thus leaving it to lie in the great rift valley’s western arm. Mountain Rwenzori ranges separate the reserve from the other part of East Africa and in the long run create very amazing scenery around it.
Wildlife in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Semuliki wildlife reserve hosts about 53 different mammals that live in this forest, 27 of these are the large mammals. 11 out of the 53 are endemic to this park, for example the pygmy antelopes and the 2 flying squirrel species. The forest is also a home to the peculiar water chevrotain also called the ‘fanged deer’.
The different animals that found a home at Semuliki – Ituri forest include the small forest and the large savannah elephants. There are lots of buffaloes but these are the smaller types than the other large savannah-dwellers. There are also different antelopes like the waterbucks, Uganda kobs and warthogs. Reptiles like the crocodiles, and different lizards and snakes can be found in this reserve too.
The pygmy hippos are often seen along the banks of water sources. Leopards are rare but lucky visitors get to see them during the game drive.
Birdlife in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve offers the best of Africa’s forest birding adventure, from Sempaya and Ntandi, where you can expect excellent results of bird watching adventure. There are more than 441 different bird species living within in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, and this total represents about 40% of the total number of bird species living in Uganda.
The different bird species to look out for include the white crested hornbills, Nkulengu Rail, red-billed dwarf hornbill, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, the Piping Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos. Don’t miss the black-casqued wattled hornbill, the Red-rumped Tinkerbird, the African Piculet, Yellow-throated Nicator, the White-throated Blue Swallow and Leaf-love.
Other bird species include the Swamp Palm Bulbul, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, the Crested Malimbe, also the Red-bellied Malimbe and the Blue-billed malimbe as well as the Lemon-bellied Crombec.
What To Do in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Nature Walks
The Semuliki jungle-life is spectacular particularly for birders and those interested in seeing primates, butterflies and plants. Nature walks normally begin from Sempaya Gate and it takes approximately two hours before ending at Sempaya hot springs, in the rainforest that has palm trees and a muddy ground.
During the walk, visitors have the opportunity to see primates including Mangabeys and blue monkeys, as well as mammals like forest buffaloes, pygmy hippos, elephants, leopards and sitatungas. In addition, you will find birds species like palm nut vultures, hornbills and honey guides. There are as well more than 305 tree species recorded, of which 125 species are endemic to the park.
Community Walks
The ‘Batwa’, are a local pygmy Ituri-ethnic people found close to the park. These people lived within Semuliki forest and were essentially relying on fruit gathering plus hunting within this forest. Currently, different other ethnic cultural groups have come here and intermarried with the Batwa, resulting into cultural exchange.
Taking a community visit to the adjacent Boma Cultural Village close to Sempaya Gate will give you the chance to witness their dances, lifestyles and traditions. You will also get a chance to purchase some hand-made crafts as your journey souvenirs.
Sport Fishing in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Sport fishing in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve offers memorable rewarding experience but visitors should come with their fishing gadgets.
Bird Watching in Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Birding is an additional tourism activity that can be carried out on your safari to Uganda. The different vegetation types in the park provide birders an opportunity to see various birds species such as grassland birds, forest birds, water birds and wetland birds.
The area near the geothermal Sempaya hot-springs is not just very spectacular, but offers some wonderful birding opportunities, even in the nights. There are also great birding opportunities as you experience the thrill the winding Bundibugyo road via Rwenzori escarpments.
How to Get To Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is situated in Bundibugyo district in western Uganda. The wildlife reserve can be accessed by road on two routes especially when you are coming from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. For both routes, it is advisable to use 4WD vehicles.
Route 1: Kampala – Fort Portal via Mubende, is approximately a 4-5 hour drive and about 180km. This makes it a shorter route.
Route 2: Kampala – Fort Portal via Masaka – Mbarara – Kasese. This is approximately 465km, taking between 7 – 8 hours to reach, as a result, this makes it a longer route. But it’s on this same route where you can visit some other places along the way, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park and other places.