Semliki National Park

• Sempaya Hot Springs
• Unspoilt tropical lowland forest

The Semliki National Park was established in October 1993 and covers an area of 220km². The park is situated in the southwest of Uganda in the Albertine Rift at an average altitude of around 700m.

Semliki is restricted to the northwest by the Semliki River, which runs along the Congolese border into Lake Albert, and to the east by the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo road.

The park protects an unspoilt tropical lowland forest, essentially an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest that forms a part of a forest continuum which stretches across the Democratic Republic of Congo to the mighty Congo River.   

The forest is home to many mammals, ranging from well-known forest dwellers such as elephant and chimp, to rather more localised De Brazza’s monkey and pygmy antelope.

You can visit the Semliki National Park at any time of the year.

Special features include:

• Sempaya Hot Springs and eastern boundary
  A short-guided trail leads from the roadside tourist office to the Sempaya Hot Springs.  Ringed by forest and palm trees and veiled in a cloud of steam, these springs are primeval, evocative sight and well worth the diversion.
  
  
• Kirumia River Trail
  Highly recommended to dedicated birdwatchers is the 15km foot trail that runs north from the village of Kirumia on the main Bundibugyo road to the banks of the Semliki River. This hike offers visitors the best opportunity to see a good selection of Semliki ‘specials’, but it can only be undertaken as a two–to-four night self-sufficient camping expedition.