A Guide to Birding in Semuliki national park
A Guide to Birding in Semuliki national park; Semuliki National Park is situated in the Bundibugyo area of southern Uganda. The national park was established in 1932 as a forest reserve before being designated as a national park in 1993.
Semuliki National Park is one of Uganda’s best birding locations, with over 441 documented bird species, including 23 Albertine rift endemics, forest birds, migratory birds, Guinea-Congo biome birds, and water birds, among others.
Notable Bird species found in Semuliki National Park.
While birding at Semuliki National Park, you will follow several routes from Sempaya Nature Walk Trail to Ntandi, Kirumia Trail, River Semuliki, and around the roadside with an expert bird guide who will assist you in seeing various bird species including Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-wattled Hornbill, Red-throated Bee-eater, Purple glossy-starling, Red-eyed Puffback, Blue Swallow, Toro Olive Greenbul, Cassin’s Spine tail, Swamp Nightjar, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Grants Bluebill, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, White-tailed Robin-chat, Fire-crested Alethe, Abyssinian Ground-thrush, Common Stonechat, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Yellow-throated Nicator, Blue-headed Coucal, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Long-tailed Hawk, Black Saw-wing, Black-billed Barbet, Grey Ground-thrush, Double-toothed Barbet, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Great Blue Turaco, White-crested Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Ross’s turaco, Red-billed Helmet, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, African Picult, Ituri Batis, Black-winged Starling, Papyrus Gonolek, Caruthers Cisticola, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-throated Blue Swallow, Crested Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, among others.
Forest buffaloes, bush pigs, bush babies, civet, Uganda kobs, warthogs, Sitatunga, waterbucks, duikers, warthogs, primates such as chimps, blue monkeys, de Brazza monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and others can be found in Semuliki National Park.
Best time for birding in Semuliki national park
Birding at Semuliki National Park is possible all year, but the best months to visit are late May to September and November to April, when you may see a variety of colorful and migratory bird species.
What to pack for your birding safari in Semuliki national park
There are a number of items that visitors should pack for their Uganda birding watching safari in Semuliki national park including waterproof rain jacket, hiking shoes, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, long sleeved shirt and trouser, a hat, drinking water, insect repellent, waterproof backpack among others.
How to get to Semuliki national park
Semuliki National Park is situated in western Uganda and is accessible by both road and air transport.
When traveling by car, you will go from Kampala to Mubende Fort Portal and then to the park headquarters, which will take around 4 to 5 hours.
You may alternatively travel from Kampala to the park headquarters through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kasese, which takes around 7 to 8 hours.
Semuliki National Park can also be reached by air, with scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Semuliki or Kasese airstrips, and then by road to the park headquarters.
Where to stay in Semuliki national park
There are several cheap, midrange, and premium lodging options in and surrounding Semuliki National Park where you may stay while your safari, including Semuliki Safari Lodge, Hotel Vanilla, Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas and Cottages, and Kirimia Guest House, among others.
Other activities in Semuliki national park
Additionally to birding, Semuliki National Park offers a variety of other exciting activities such as game drives where you can see animals such as forest buffaloes, Uganda kobs, duikers, warthogs, hippos, and bush pigs, visiting the male and female Sempaya hot springs, nature walks where you can get up close and personal with different wildlife species, primates, bird species, colorful butterflies, and chimpanzee trekking where you can spend one hour with chimpanzees and view various primate species.
Also, you can embark on a cultural experience in the neighboring local communities where you will be able to interact with the Bamba and Bakonjo, learn about their culture, tradition lifestyle among others.
In conclusion; Birding is an enjoyable leisure activity in Semuliki National Park that may be paired with other activities such as chimp trekking in Kibale Forest National Park to create amazing experiences. Explore Rwanda Tours can provide you with further information about birdwatching in Semuliki National Park.
