Birding in Semuliki National Park Uganda

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Birding in Semuliki National Park Uganda

Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semuliki valley dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri forest of the Congo basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests, one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12- 18,000 years ago. Semuliki is one of the top birding sites in Uganda. Birding in Semuliki National Park Uganda is a famous safari activity for most visitors to the park.

The park is close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Rwenzori Mountains National Park to the southeast of the park and Lake Albert North of the Park. The National Park is rich with birdlife both migratory and resident species counting up to 441. Safari here really guarantees sightseeing of rare, endemic, and endangered species.

Shoebill stork

Birding in Semuliki National Park Uganda

Avid or seasoned bird lovers who visit Semuliki National Park will be rewarded with one of Africa’s best forest birding experiences. More than 441 bird species have been sighted within the borders of the park, 216 of these bird species are true forest birds. The bird population in Semuliki represents about 40% of Uganda’s total bird species and 66% of the country’s forest bird species. There are 46 Guinea-Congo biome bird species only found in Semuliki within East Africa with 35 of these only found in about 3 other birding spots in Uganda. 5 Albertine Rift endemics can also be found in the park, 24 of these endemics can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is also a gorilla habitat and destination for Uganda gorilla safaris.

Some of the bird species in the park include lyre-tailed honey guide, Oberlander’s ground thrush, Sassi’s olive greenbul, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Crested Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Congo Serpent Eagle, and several hornbill species.

The Sempaya and Ntandi areas provide excellent viewing of birds with species like the White-crested Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue Turaco, and Ross’s Turaco.

The area around the Kirumira River is one of the top birding spots. The elusive shoebill stork can regularly be seen on Lake Albert. Forest walks are the best way of tracking water birds.

Best Time for Birding in Semuliki National Park

In the rainy season, large areas of this low-lying park may flood, a brief reminder of the time when the entire valley lay at the bottom of the lake for millions of years. Generally, the best time for bird watching in Uganda is during the months of late May to September when the rains are less. Migrant birds are present in the country from November to April. If your interest is resident birds, then Uganda bird-watching tours are good all year round.

Semuliki National Park is very accessible to other Uganda safari destinations in the western circuit including Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.