Birding Tours in Semliki Valley National Park
Birding tours in Semuliki involves exploring a range of bird species including the Albertine rift endemics and Guinea-Congo biome species. Semuliki birding tours perfectly introduce you to some of the enriching trails like Ntandi, Sempaya, Kirum, and along the Semuliki River. Semuliki National Park is among the leading bird-watching destinations in Uganda and prides itself of high diversity of species of birds.
Up to 441 species of birds have been recorded in Semuliki National Park alone. These include about 46 Guinea-Congo biome species and the Albertine rift endemic species. On a visit to Semuliki National Park, visitors can choose from the various birding options including day trips. Day birding trips offer one-day bird-watching excursions and usually include visits to the Sempaya hot springs.
Multi-day birding tour
The multi-day bird-watching expeditions include many days starting from 2, 3, 4, days and more. They often present an option of combining Semuliki plus other birding sites/game safari destinations like Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale National Park, etc.
Specialized birding excursions
With specialized birding tours, expect to embark on a journey to search specific species of birds. They can be elusive shoebill storks and more.
Guided birding tours
A visitor can be accompanied by an experienced guide to enjoy birding tour in the lush Semuliki Forest. The park ranger guide takes charge of the tour and visitors are ushered to deep sites with diverse species of birds.
What bird species should you expect to sight in Semuliki?
Here is a complete checklist of bird species to find on birding tours in Semuliki National Park. They include elusive shoebill stork, blue-headed crested flycatchers, little grey greenbul, carruthers’s cisticola, Africa piculet, white-throated blue swallow, red-billed helmet-shrike, Ituri batis, black-winged starling, red-rumped tinker bird, yellow-throated nicator, black-casqued wattled hornbill, ross’s turacos, black-winged starling, red-bellied malimbe, and papyrus gonoleks.
Other birds you should expect to sight on Semuliki birding tour include black-dwarf hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver birds, red-eyed puff-back, Nkulengu rail, red-throated bee-eaters, palm-nut vulture, African crake, piping hornbills, and yellow-throated cuckoo.
When to go for birding tours in Semuliki
Semuliki National Park is an all year round bird-watching destination. However, the most favorable period to consider embarking on a birding excursion is during the dry season. The dry months of the year in Semuliki National Park occurs twice a year with the longest being recorded from June, July, August, to September. The other phase begins from December, January, to February.
A birding tour in Semuliki around the dry season is advantageous because visitors can safely navigate through the park in search of their favorite bird species. The wet or rainy season also offers incredible opportunity for birders to realize their birding dream in Semuliki National Park. This is usually from March to May then late September up to November.
The wet months offer visitors a chance to observe migratory birds but also resident species. The disadvantage with the rainy months is that they come with heavy rains and navigation through the park’s paths when it has rained can be challenging.
What to take for birding tours in Semuliki
A successful birding tour in Semuliki National Park requires you to pack wisely. The essentials to include on your packing list are; a pair of binoculars, a camera, comfortable safari clothes, a sweater, a rain jacket, insect repellent, a first aid kit, a safari hat, waterproof walking shoes, and more.
What other activities can you do in Semuliki?
Game viewing –Semuliki National Park offers the best game drive experiences. Visitors get a chance to observe a range of wildlife including white-tailed mongoose, bush babies, leopards, and more.
Sempaya hot spring tours
Among the iconic attractions in Semuliki are the Sempaya Hot Springs. These natural wonders make Semuliki a special place of its own. The Sempaya hot spring is comprised of female and male hot spring. The female is most popular for its powerfulness and often observed ejecting hot water and steam.
Boat cruise excursions –Guests can enjoy guided boat cruise excursions offered on Lake Albert/Semuliki River. A variety of aquatic species await for you to spot during the launch cruise excursion in Semuliki.
Guide nature walks –Embark on enriching guided nature walk through the rewarding trails present in Semuliki National Park. The popular trails to explore on a guided nature walk in Semuliki include the Sempaya nature trail which is an 8 km loop taking you up to the Sempaya hot springs. The red monkey trail- the 11 km extensive trail which reaches to the eastern border and is most famous for its primate encounters.
Kirumia trail, 13 km trail which translates into 8 hours. Visitors can begin their hikes early morning about 8 am. Kirumia trail is ideal for birding tours.
Where to stay
The accommodation options present for visitor overnight stay in Semuliki include Semuliki Safari Lodge, UWA Bandas, Semliki Fishing River Camp, Nyati Game Lodge, Ntoroko Game Lodge, and more. There are also many accommodation options in Fort Portal tourism city and visitors can retire for a night then connect to Semuliki.
Getting to Semuliki National Park, Uganda
By road –expect to spend between 5 and 6 hours through Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal route. Or drive from Kampala through Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese route. By air, take a flight from Entebbe International Airport to Semuliki/Kasese Airstrip. You can be picked up at the airstrip and dropped off to the lodge in Semuliki National Park.
