our 3 days semuliki National Park gives us rise to a place lost in the Savannah, Semuliki national park is located in the western part of Uganda at the edge of Rwenzori Mountain extended at Ituri Forest in Democratic Republican of Congo in Bwamba County in the district of Bundibugyo district. There sits Semuliki River (Congo River) with a number African wild species,the Batwa peple, which are originated from the Inturi forest.
There a number of interesting sceneries in the forest; the semuliki hot springs bubble up from the depth to a fountain of 5m high-And are hot enough to boil eggs. The semuliki hot springs are also a source of salt for animals, as animals can be seen leaking the salty water grounds. You can take pictures here as you are closer to some of the animals.
Birding of over 400 bird species: Enjoy birding at Sempaya and Ntandi. you can spot out bird species like the Crested horn bill ,piping horn bill, ross’s tavern, yellow throated nectar, great blue, Dwarf horn bill, and the shoebill. Semuliki National Park is dotted with numerous bird pecies, and this one of the most loved Uganda birding destinations, for bird lovers this is your epic Savannah watching hotspots to see them here.
Day 1: Travel to Semuliki National Park for your 3 days Semuliki Package
Wake up early morning at 6am and have your breakfast. Our driver/ guide will pick you up from the Hotel or area of residence. Get briefed about the whole trip package (3 days) to Semuliki National park. Remember, this early morning enables you not to encounter with Traffic jam and also to get to the park early, the journey takes about 7 hours from Kampala.
Drive to fort portal, and before you proceed to the park, enjoy the striking scenes of the western Albertine rift valley as you drive to Bundibugyo town. Arrive at the lodge or accommodation, check in and enjoy your lunch. Then proceed for a boat ride on Lake Albert.
Enjoy the ride as you spot out the hippos, crocodiles and also the shoebill which is commonly spotted out at the lake. Proceed across the savannah grassland gifted with all nature recipes, one can opt for hiking through the 13 kilometres Kirumia Trail, and visit the hot springs where the water is hot enough to cook eggs and plantations. Accommodation (Option)Meal plans: lunch dinner [Mountains of the moon, Rwenzori river guest house, Toro, semuliki lodge, Bumaga cottage]
Day 2:(Chimpanzee trekking, Kiruma Trail, Hot springs)
Wake up early morning and have your breakfast. Then after, meet the game ranger who will brief you about the chimpanzee trekking and proceed out to Inturi forest where you will trek the chimpanzees as well as you might spot out a number of birds, primates including the red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangobeys, black and white colobus monkeys. The trek gives you a chance to view the semuliki escarpment and the lush rift valley land scape.
The location of the chimpanzees cannot be guaranteed in one place, they tend to move widely searching for food, playing and building their new nests.
You might as well hear them screaming, this will help you to locate the chimpanzees, have an encounter with them as they eat, play, display their nests, the experience takes 1 hour with the cousins of humans and 1hour to enjoy your packed lunch. Enjoy another 30minute Kirumia trail through the palm forest leading to the female hot springs which is eye catching with its geyser form of about 5m high at a hot temperature. Have a chance to boil eggs and bananas at the natural springs.
Continue with the trail to Mungilo water falls where you see a number of birds. if you’re a birder, this is a good place for you to catch up your hobby, Most of our Semuliki National Park visitors, engage in birdwatching Uganda Safaris. After this experience, go back to the lodge, relax and freshen up, as you get ready for the evening where you will have a chance to interact with the local people; the Batwa believed to be the first people who lived in the forest.
Learn about their day to day life where they live as hunter-gatherers attaing bushmeat from the forests, the great socio-economic importance of these forests in the park to the human communities that live near the park, enjoy their culture dances, the local doctor experience of how he treats people using local herbs, see their handmade crafts that they have produced to gain some living. Accommodation (Option) [Meal plans: breakfast, lunch, dinner, Mountains of the moon, Rwenzori river guest house, Toro semuliki lodge, Bumaga cottage]
Day 3: Retire back from the Safari, Transfer to Kampala/ Airport
Wake up early morning for a heavy breakfast. After, prepare for the morning game drive where you expect to spot the elephants, Buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, crocodiles. Interestingly, on your luck day, you can as well spot out big cats like the leopards, Lions and others. enjoy this unforgettable experience in the wild. Return to the lodge, have lunch and check out. Our guide/driver will transport you back to your hotel in Kampala or to the Airport for your departure.
