Semuliki Birding Safaris /Semuliki National park /Safari – Uganda/Bird Watching
Semuliki Birding Safaris; Birding in Semuliki National Park sound as the main done tourist activity because the park hosts the unique Semuliki species and 23 Albertine Rift endemic species .The park boosts with more than 441 bird species, of which 40% represents a total number of bird species living in Uganda and 66% represents country’s forest bird species ,46 are Guinea Congo biome bird species which cannot be found elsewhere in East Africa and 35 bird species only to be seen in 2-3 other parts of Uganda.
Semuliki Nation Park is listed among the top birding destination and a visit here leaves who so ever visits the park on birding safari with a memorable smile and the tour is worth it. Along your visit have a chance to walk into the park for birding from Sempaya to Ntandi around the roadside up to rewarding trekking trail ‘’Kurumia’’.
Furthermore, Semuliki is one of Uganda’s Birding Sites, located in western part of the Rwenzori which was dominated by the eastern most extension of the great Ituri forest of the Congo Basin. Semuliki National Park shelters variety of species such as 120 mammals, animal species to see include baboons and chimpanzee and elephants and antelopes, over 441 bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemics among others. The park allows a perfect bird watching experience ranges.
Semuliki Congo forest Biome birding species which are recorded in the park include Crested flycatcher, Capuchin babbler, Blue- headed and Crested flycatcher are now exists in Mabira forest and Orange weaver commonly seen along the northern shores of Lake Victoria and the Red billed Malimbe can be spotted in the nearby Kibale Forest National Park which is famous for Chimpanzee Tracking Experience.
River Semuliki lies along the Western border down to Lake Albert and surrounded by swamp where four Lake Victoria biome species such as Papyrus Gonolek and Caruthers’s cisticola many more.
Birders who make it to visit Semuliki National Park get rewarded with some of best birding site and having chance to tour around Sempaya and Ntandi which provides perfect viewing of bird species such as Red-billed dwarf hornbill ,White-crested hornbill ,Piping hornbill ,Yellow-throated nicator ,Great blue and Ross’s turacos.
Other birding list to spot in Semuliki National Park include ;Long tailed Hawk ,Nkulengu Rail ,Congo Serpent Eagle ,Lyre-tailed Honeyguide ,Red billed Helmet ,Red-billed Helmet ,Black –wattle Hornbill ,Red-eyed puff-back ,Black-winged Starling ,Maxwell’s Black weaver ,Blue-billed ,Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes ,Red –bellied Malimbe ,Swamp Palm Bulbul ,African crake ,Abyssinian ground hornbill ,Africa pygmy goose ,Black-chinned qualifiinch ,Black-billed barbet ,Marsh atchara ,Red-necked falcon ,Red-throated bee- eater ,,Mustached grass-warbler ,Piapiac ,Red-throated bee-eat , Maxwell’s Black Weaver ,Lemon –bellied Crombie among other.
In need of carrying search on rare shoebill stork. we recommend you to hire guide of a local guide who takes you through the lake in search for the unique shoebill.
Accessibility; Semuliki National Park can also be accessible passing via other Uganda Safari Destination in the western circuit for example; Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National park. You can choose to do a combined safari tour package by visiting some of above mentioned safari destination.
Accommodation; Semuliki National Park has got excellent accommodation units in lodges and Campsite for the guest’s stay on their safari to the park, ranging from Luxury-Mid-range –Budget
Birding Equipment’s for Birding include;
Pair of binoculars ,A complete telescope ,Sound recorder ,Clips 4 and 5 sounds useful ,Sound player ,Camera with zooming’’.
Best Time for Uganda Birding Safari –Semuliki National Park
Birdlife in Semuliki National Park is best all year around but best time at the height of breeding season is March after the relatively dry time from December to February. March to Mid-May and August to October are the wettest months and the best birding season in the park though heavy rains leads to impassable roads and slippery time which can limit your bird watching time.
