Best Hiking Trails in Semuliki National Park

Best Hiking Trails in Semuliki National Park  : Embarking on an unforgettable Uganda adventure by exploring the diverse hiking and natural trails within and surrounding Semuliki National Park. these trails serve as gateways for nature lovers, unveiling the park’s hidden treasures and offering a unique opportunity to witness wildlife in their natural habitats, including African buffalo, leopard, hippopotamus, mona monkey, water chevrotain, bush babies, African civet, African elephant, the Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, primates, colorful butterflies was well as a variety of other fascinating species.  Some of the most sought-after hiking experience in Semuliki National Park, located in western Uganda, features the Red Monkey Track, the Kirumia Trail, and the Sempaya Nature Trail.

Semuliki National Park is a national park in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda that was established in 1993. This stunning park covers an area of about 219 square kilometers and is one of Africa’s most diverse forests which has stunning physical features such as; the unique hot springs and it is a home to over 60 mammal species such as; African buffalo, leopards, African elephants, African civet, bush babies, mona monkeys, African civet, water chevrotain among others. more so, it is also seen birders haven due to the fact that it harbors around 435 bird species such as; spot breasted ibis, Congo sepent eagle, haartlaub’s duck, red thighed sparrow hawk and many others.

Popular hiking trails in Semuliki National Park

Sempaya nature trail

Embark on a captivating journey through the Sempaya nature trail, an 8-kilometer path that showcases a variety of primates. This immersive experience typically spans around three hours, beginning at the Sempaya tourism center and leading you down to the awe-inspiring Sempaya hot springs. The guided hike, best undertaken in either the morning or afternoon, offers a close-up view of these hot springs, which are divided into the male and female sections and are known for their intense boiling activity. During this guided exploration, visitors can even try cooking eggs or plantains in the springs, a culinary demonstration that requires only a short amount of time. The route to the hot springs includes a specially constructed boardwalk, creating opportunities to fully experience the environment and view the distant Rwenzori Mountains. This boardwalk directs nature lovers to the male Sempaya hot springs, also known as Bamaga.

The Red Monkey trail- primate track

The Red Monkey trail is the best for primates viewing trail starching about 11 kilometers in length, leads towards the eastern border of Semuliki National Park, and is a scenic route offering chances to see a variety of wildlife, most notably De Brazza’s monkeys, with a possibility to hike to the Semuliki River. The trail’s convenient starting point near the main road, begins its hikes from the Sempaya hot springs, weaving into the forest before concluding at the Semuliki National Park’s administration offices.

Hiking the Red Monkey trail adventurers can look forward to spotting diverse bird’s native to forests and woodlands, along with other mammals. During your hiking tour along this path, you might spot Black and White colobus monkeys, Grey checked mangabey, Red tailed monkeys, Baboons, Forest elephants, Forest buffaloes, duikers among others. You will be much excited with beautiful canopy, though its muddy due to the fact that it’s a tropical region which lies in Congo basin with a lot of trees species.

Ngaburogo gorge hike

Embarking on a journey through the Semuliki hiking trails leads you to the Nyaburogo Gorge. This adventure starts at the Semuliki Reserve’s central point, promising a roughly 7-kilometer exploration. Along this trail, the Nyaburogo Gorge provides a visual feast, blending savanna landscapes with dense forest. Birdwatchers will have plenty to look forward to, potentially spotting various species like babblers, ground hornbills, and bushrikes. Furthermore, guided walks along the Ngaburogo gorge offer chances to observe primates such as baboons, vervet monkeys, and the striking black and white colobus monkeys. You’ll also have the chance to spot different bird species along the way such as Bush rike, Luhdre Bushrike, Black-headed, Tropical Boubal, Arrow marked Babbler, Ground hornbills among others.

Kirumia Trail

The Kirumia Trail offers a satisfying experience, leading you deep into the forest and eventually to the Semuliki River. This 13-kilometer hike requires about eight hours of your day, beginning early in the morning. Bird enthusiasts will especially appreciate the Kirumia Trail, as it’s an excellent location to observe numerous interesting bird species. The trail starts near Kirumia, which is about 8 kilometers from the park headquarters at Ntandi. While exploring, you might be lucky enough to spot various woodland birds, including woodland birds such as black and white casqued hornbill.

Given the length of the hike, it’s best to bring a packed lunch to enjoy while bird watching amidst the natural surroundings. Some of the bird species you may encounter include yellow-throated nicator, Red necked falcon, Black-billed barbet, Great blue and Ross’s turacos, White-crested hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, piping hornbill, Abyassian ground-hornbill, shoebills many more. This promises an enriching guided nature walk safari within Semuliki National Park.

 The Batwa cultural trail

 This trail goes up to the Ntandi park headquarters to the forest which leads you to Batwa cultural site where you can be able to enjoy their amazing life style such as their circumcisions, kingship ceremony, be entertained by their traditional song and dramer.

What to see while on a hiking safari in Semuliki National Park

Stunning Sempaya Hot Springs

One of its most famous attractions in Semuliki National Par  is the Sempaya Hot Springs, where boiling water bubbles up from deep underground, releasing steam into the forest. These geothermal springs, some reaching temperatures hot enough to boil eggs, offer a dramatic demonstration of the powerful subterranean forces still shaping the East African Rift.

 Animals

Semuliki National Park is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 120 mammal species, including Elephant, Chimpanzees, Baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey monkeys, pottos, De Brazza’s monkeys, blue monkeys, Mona monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys., Forest antelopes, Hippos and crocodiles among others.  The park is also home to more than 300 butterfly species, including 46 types of forest swallowtails, and 235 moth species, making it a treasure trove for entomologists and nature lovers alike

 Birdlife

For birdwatchers, Semuliki is one of Uganda’s premier birding destinations, with over 435 recorded bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemic species. Some of the bird species spotted here includes hestnut-breasted negrofinch, fire-crested alethe, swamp nightjar, orange-cheeked waxbill, Congo serpent eagle, common stonechat, red-thighed sparrow hawk, purple glossy-starling, shining-blue kingfishers, white-tailed robin chat, capped wheatear, white-throated blue swallow, Nkulengu rail, lemon-bellied crombec, piping hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver bird, crested malimbe, red-rumped tinker bird, African piculet, black casqued wattled hornbill, and orange checked waxbill among others.

 When is the best time to explore Semuliki National Park’s trails.

Semuliki National Park is open all year round although. but the ideal time to explore the park’s trails is during the dry season. These months runs from June, to September, and then December to February. The dry months are ideal not only for hiking but also for guided game safaris.

For bird lovers, the best time to embark on a guided birding tours in Semuliki National Park is during the wet season from March to May and then October to November. this is the ideal time to spot migratory bird species.

Best accommodation options at Semuliki National Park

The park has a wide range of accommodation establishments that are lodges and camps offering accommodation to travelers visiting the park for a Uganda safari, accommodation establishments in Semuliki National Park are of various status that are luxury, midrange and budge such as; Semliki Safari Lodge, Nyati Game Lodge, Semuliki River Camp, Ntoroko Game Lodge, Kirumia Guesthouse, and UWA Bandas and Cottages.