Tourist Safari Attractions in Semuliki National Park
Sempaya Hot Springs
The Sempaya Hot Springs are the flag ship attractions in Semuliki National park there are two hot springs in Semuliki positioned in the south of the park in a lowland swampy area. The male hot spring is called Bitente and is positioned approximately 30 minutes’ walk from the Sempaya park headquarters. It stretches for over 12m in diameter. The female hot spring Nyansimbi is also close to park headquarters and is marked by boiling geyser spurring up to 2m in height visible with in 2km distance and boiling to 100 degrees Celsius. The hot springs had a rich historical significance to the local people as they were used as healing grounds for a range of skin diseases and fungal infections.
Local People
Semuliki National Park is surrounded by a range of tribal groups that count to four. These include the Bakonzo, Bamba, Basongora and the Batwa. The Bakonzo and Bamba are cultivators who till the slopes of Mount Rwenzori while the Basongora are cattle keepers who thrive in the open plains of the rift valley while the Batwa are forest people who lived a hunter gather culture before they were evicted from the forest during its establishment as a national park. These people have got diverse traditions that are worth encountering while on safaris in Uganda.
Birds
Semuliki National park is one of the mature forests of Uganda and its forest landscapes provide a ground for several birds. No wonder the park has 441 bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine rift forming about 90% of Albertine endemics. These birds include among others; Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species. The common ones include; Common Bulbul, the African Emerald Cuckoo, Red-headed Bluebill and African Blue and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers.
Vegetation
Semuliki National Park comprises of lowland tropical rain forest categorized as moist deciduous. It has 336 tree species among which are restricted to Semuliki forest and few other neighboring forests such as Lovoa swynnertonii and Cordia millenii which are recorded as endangered in the Semuliki National Park. The center of the park is dominated by Cynometra trees while the forest edges are dotted by the riverine swamp forests along the Semuliki River and a range of magnificent species of trees around Sempaya.
Wildlife
Semuliki National Park contains 53 mammal species of which 27 are large mammals. The Park has 11 wildlife species that are endemic to it including; pygmy antelope and 2 species of the flying squirrel. Other wildlife species in the park include;, forest elephants, forest buffalos crocodiles and hippos found in the Semuliki River, water chevrotain, also referred to as the “fanged deer” and the blue duiker. Semuliki forest is also marked by a range of primates including; grey-cheeked Mangabey, baboon, Chimpanzees, Dent Mona monkeys, central African red Colobus, black-and-white Colobus, and vervet monkeys. Nocturnal primates also exist including; Bush babies and Pottos.