Semuliki National Park

Mysterious. Steamy. Unspoiled.
Tucked away in the far western corner of Uganda, at the base of the Albertine Rift Valley, Semuliki National Park is unlike anywhere else in the country. A place of dense, swampy rainforest, bubbling hot springs, and ancient secrets, Semuliki is a window into a world that feels untouched by time.

This is Uganda’s only true lowland tropical rainforest, part of the vast Congo Basin ecosystem. It’s humid, exotic, and bursting with life—home to rare birds, elusive mammals, and age-old legends whispered through the trees. If you’re looking to go beyond the classic savannah safari and discover Uganda’s wild, primal side, Semuliki is calling.

A Rainforest Full of Secrets

Step into Semuliki and enter a world of towering palms, giant fig trees, tangled vines, and swampy trails. The forest is alive with sound—chirping frogs, calling monkeys, rustling leaves—and every step feels like an exploration. This is one of Uganda’s least explored parks, making it a haven for adventurers, birdwatchers, and nature lovers seeking solitude and wonder.

The Famous Hot Springs

Semuliki is best known for its Sempaya Hot Springs, a surreal and steamy phenomenon deeply tied to local culture. There are two main springs—“Male” and “Female”—each with its own legend and spiritual meaning. Water temperatures reach over 100°C, hot enough to boil eggs in minutes. A guided walk to the springs takes you through forest paths, over boardwalks, and past monkeys and birds—ending in clouds of mist and mineral steam rising dramatically from the earth.

Rare Wildlife Encounters

Though wildlife is harder to spot in dense forest, Semuliki is home to over 60 mammal species, including forest elephants, bush babies, flying squirrels, and de Brazza’s monkeys. It also has over 440 bird species, many of which are Central African forest specialists found nowhere else in East Africa.

The night here brings a new kind of magic—nocturnal forest walks reveal creatures few others get to see, and the sounds of the forest come alive in an entirely different way.

Activities in Semuliki National Park

Nature walks to the Sempaya Hot Springs
Birdwatching (including rare Congo Basin species)
Night forest walks
Community cultural experiences
Scenic viewing and forest immersion
Photography and nature study
Primate spotting (on foot with local guides)

How to get there

By road: Approx. 6–8 hours from Kampala via Fort Portal, with beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains along the way.

By air: Flights are available from Entebbe to Semuliki Airstrip (charter) or Kasese Airstrip, followed by a short drive.

Climate

Semuliki is hot, humid, and rainy—true to its rainforest character. Temperatures range from 21°C to 30°C, with high humidity year-round. Rain is frequent, especially from March to May and September to December.

Best Time To Visit

You can visit Semuliki any time of year, but the dry months (December–February and June–August) make the trails more manageable and birdwatching more accessible. Even so, the lush wet season holds its own mysterious charm.

Facts

Semuliki National Park is for the curious—the seekers, the explorers, the birders, and the nature lovers who want to walk off the map. It’s not polished, and that’s the point. It’s wild, steamy, and full of surprises—an unfiltered glimpse into Uganda’s most ancient ecosystem.

Established in 1993 – Converted from a forest reserve to protect this unique lowland rainforest.
Size: 220 square kilometres (85 square miles)
Landscape: Tropical lowland rainforest, swamps, and geothermal features
Unique selling point: Uganda’s only park within the Congo Basin ecosystem
Top experiences: Hot springs, forest birding, cultural stories, and off-the-beaten-track discovery

Most Common Animals

Forest elephant (elusive)
Bushbaby
Potto
De Brazza’s monkey
Red-tailed monkey
Flying squirrel
Forest buffalo
Palm civet
Serval cat (rare)
Over 440 bird species including Nkulengu rail, lyre-tailed honeyguide, and Congo serpent eagle
Butterflies, reptiles, frogs, and other forest dwellers