The Semuliki Valley is one of Uganda’s unspoiled areas. It is set at the base of the Albertine Rift west of Fort Portal. This is one of the most spectacular areas though it is less visited. The area is hemmed by the Lake Albert to the north and by the Semliki River along the DR Congo border, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains to the south.
Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve
The Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is 550 sq. kms. of pristine wildlife habitat in the heart of the Western Albertine Rift. The reserve was the first protected conservation area in Uganda and in the 1960’s it boasted one of the largest wildlife population densities in East Africa. These populations were devastated during the 1970’s and 1980’s through uncontrolled hunting, poaching and resource depletion; destruction that was exacerbated by the turmoil following the ousting of Idi Amin.
Semliki Wildlife Reserve in spite of the name, is quite different from Semuliki Forest National Park. This reserve is the oldest protected area in Uganda (formerly known as Toro Game Reserve) and contains a savanna/woodland mosaic deeply cut with riverine forests. It was once famous for incredibly high densities of Uganda kob which can now be watched for hours fighting and jockeying for dominance in their race to repopulate the reserve. Walks through the forests are a nice way to see monkeys, other wildlife, and the chimpanzees being habituated for research. Boats can be hired on Lake Albert to help see a fantastic numbers of birds, including the rare Shoebill stork which is seen more readily here than anywhere else in Uganda.
Semuliki National Park
The Semuliki National Park was gazetted in October 1993 making it one of Uganda’s newest national parks. It occupies a flat to gently undulating landform ranging from 670 -760 metres above level.
Semuliki Forest National Park is the eastern-most extension of the Congo Basin’s Ituri Forest and the only lowland rain forest in East Africa. Its stygian depths are therefore the home of wildlife found nowhere else in Uganda. To augment its uniqueness as a national park, Semuliki also contains sacred hot springs, one of which is a constantly erupting geyser. The tourism center at Sempaya is the ideal place to start a forest walk and see some of these intriguing sights.
This park harbors a large number of predominantly hotsprings – Central African species which cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa and these include some of the continent’s most spectacular and sought-after birds such as; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honey guide Black-wattled Hornbill and the Nkulengu Rail.
Ecological Significance
The Semuliki Valley has a great variety of habitat types earning it the nickname “Little Tanzania”.
The Semliki Valley contains 48% of East Africa’s bird species, including the unique shoebill.
The Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve provides a valuable wildlife corridor for animals fleeing troubled, unprotected areas in Congo.
The TSWR is one of the few areas where forest and savannah elephants coexist.
The reserve is the easternmost habitat for several West African animal species.
TSWR has one of only a handful of dry habitat chimpanzee populations in the world.
Semliki National Park is a national park in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda in Kabarole district-Toro Sub-region commonly known as “the true birders haven” The reserve is approximately 542 square kilometers of its low land at the rim of the rift valley where Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Albert and Kijura escarpments create a backdrop. The reserves vegetation type is an open savannah grassland with acacia woodland scattered with patches of Borassus palm forest and extensive swamps towards lake albert.
Why Visit Semuliki National Park?
The park has various Unique activities that travelers can be part of when they visit the toro Semliki game reserve they include Game drives, Guided Nature Walks, Hike to Nyaburogo gorge, primate walk, Boat rides on Semliki River and community tourism as well as birdwatching. The park is home to various primates, including baboons and several monkey species.
NOTE: There no game drives on all activities because they are all done on foot in case you are not comfortable with walking then this park shouldn’t be on your wish list.
Park Entrance Fees
Before entering the park, you must clear the park entrance fees which are only paid either by mobile money or by card. Upon clearing of the park entrances of 35USD-25USD person per 24 hours, for foreign non residents and foreign residents approximately 40USD for vehicle fees. After you will be a signed a guide to take around the park.