Bird watching in Semuliki national park
Bird watching in Semuliki national park; Semuliki national park is located in western part of Uganda in Bundibugyo district bordering with Democratic Republic of Congo. Semuliki national park was created in 1932 and later upgraded to a national park in 1993. The national park covers a total area of 220 square kilometers and is a home of different wildlife species including elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, warthogs, hippos, bush babies, waterbucks, civets, bushbucks, bay duikers, pygmy antelopes and primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey among others.
Semuliki national park is one of the top bird watching destination in Uganda in that it’s a home of more than 441 recorded bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics, 35 Guinea-Congo forest biome, forest species, migratory birds among others.
Bird watching in Semuliki national park can either be done very early in the morning or in the evening with an experienced bird guide where you will be able to view different bird species including Black-wattled Hornbill, Congo Serpent Eagle, Purple Glossy-starling, Red Throated Bee-eater, Long Tailed Hawk, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, White-throated Alethe, Mountain Greenbul, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Swamp Nightjar, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Yellow-billed Barbet, Petits Cuckoo-shrike, Abyssinian Ground-thrush, White-tailed Robin-chat, Fire-crested Alethe, White-throated Blue Swallow, Double-toothed Barbet, Cassin’s Spinetail, Toro Olive Greenbul, Common Stonechat, Little Grey Greenbul, Long-tailed Hawk, Blue Headed Coucal, Western Nicator, Purple Throated Cuckoo-shrike, Common Stonechat, Shinning-blue Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red Thighed sparrow hawk, Capped Wheatear, White Tailed Robin Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Crested Malimbe, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Piping Hornbill, Swamp Palm bulbul, Red Billed Dwarf Hornbill, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Lemon-bellied Crombec among others.
Best time for bird watching safari in Semuliki national park
Bird watching in Semuliki national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of March to May and September to November. During this period, there is less rainfall in the park therefore you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species from November to April.
Bird watching in Semuliki national park can also be done in the dry season during the months of June, July and December to February because during this period the birding trails in the park will be dry and passable which makes bird watching easy.
How to get to Semuliki national park
Semuliki national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala via Mubende, Fort Portal and then to Semuliki national park which takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive.
You can also use another route to Semuliki national park through Masaka, Mbarara and then to the park headquarters which takes about 7 to 8 hours’ drive.
Semuliki national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights by Aero link Uganda or bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Semuliki airstrip and then transfer to the park headquarters by road.
Other safari activities in Semuliki national park
Semuliki national park offers other interesting activities that you can engage in apart from bird watching including Guided nature walks where you will be able to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide, game drives in Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve where you will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs among others, visit the Sempaya hot springs, cultural visits where you will be able to interact with the Batwa, Bakonjo and Bamba people among others.
What to pack
There are a number of items to carry for your bird watching safari in Semuliki national park including hiking boots, field guidebook, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, water bottle, waterproof rain jacket, light clothes, waterproof backpack among others.
Where to stay in Semuliki national park
There are few accommodation facilities with in Semuliki national park hence we advise visitors to stay in accommodations in Bundibugyo town or fort Portal. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Semliki safari lodge, Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas, Hotel Vanilla, Fort motel, Aramaga Rift Valley lodge, Fort Heights homestay among others.
For breathtaking and unforgettable memories, bird watching in Semuliki national park can be combined with other activities like Game drives, lion tracking experience, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge among others.
