True African wilderness

A wilderness park; dry, hot and isolated, yet spectacular, Magnificent and virgin, waiting to be discovered. Traversed by large sand rivers, the park is renowned for its distinctive composition of wild game co- existing with the dry mountain forests, open savanna and hilltops capped by rock kopjes.

Enjoy the isolated wilderness dominated by the 2,750m Mount Morungole and transected by the Kidepo and great Narus rivers.

Perennial rains may make Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert, but its tract of rugged savannah is home to 77 mammal species and almost 500 birds. Game viewing is exciting all year round and so is bird watching, foot safaris and mountain climbing. And even in the dry season, it is worth the drive just to visit the seasonal Kidepo River and stroll along its 50m wide bed of white sand between banks covered with Borassus palm tree.

The 1,442km² Park is located in the Karamoja region of Northern Uganda and borders the Sudan in the North West and Kenya in the north east.

The park can be accessed by both road and air. There are four routes by road, the 705km from Kampala via Lira, Kotido, Kabongo and then Kidepo, The 740km from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kabong and then Kidepo, The 780km from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Matanyi, Kotido, Kaabong and on to Kidepo, and the 571km from Kampala through Gulu, Kitgum and to Kidepo wildeness. Driving in the wildeness is an exciting experience as one gets a chance of better scenery. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended.

By air, chartered flights to Kidepo may be arranged from Kajjansi and Entebbe international airport to Lomej airstrip which is near the park Headquarters with plans by Civil Aviation Authority to become an International airport.

Park activities include but not limited to the following; game drives/ game viewing is along the Narus valley as the park’s wildlife congregates here much of the year, nature walks which is done along Apoka Camp at any time of the day and visitors will be able to view different species of animals like Elephants, Bulbul, Zebras, Reedbucks. Community walks which help to know more about the Karamajog lifestyle, cultures, dressing style, dancing and the tools used. Mountain hiking is also another activity in Kidepo National park which is done with a trip to Kidepo Valley with a good view of Morungole mountain, bird watching which is boosted by a variety of bird species, and sand along the river Kidepo, it stands because it is lined by Borassus palms, making it look like an oasis in the Sahara.

Whispers of The Wild

In the middle of an extensive rich acacia woodland lies one of Uganda’s most spectacular and breathtaking game parks in Uganda; Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo is a gem of a park, conveniently located close to the western high way connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is a very special place with medley of habitats ranging from dry hillsides, rocky outcrops, and bushy thickets, open and wooded savannas to forest, lakes and swamps. Its sculptured landscape, rolling hills and idyllic lake shores, forest galleries, seasonal and permanent swamps and grassy valleys all support a wealth of wildlife in a tropical setting.

The park is remarkably different from other parks. It’s the best park to view the gigantic Eland, impala, Zebras and acacia associated birds. Common mammals’ species include Warthogs, Buffalos, Oribi, Defassa Water bucks, Reed bucks and the Eland antelopes. Leopards and Hyenas are also present and Lions have also returned to the park after years of poaching and near extinction.

The five lakes within the park attract Hippos and crocodiles while fringing swamps hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the Sitatunga antelope and red, black and yellow papyrus Gonalek. The park also has an impressive bird list with 332 species recorded including Shoebill, Papyrus Yellow warbler, African fin foot, Saddle billed stork, Brown chested wattled plover, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Tabora Cisticola, Great snipe, and Abyssinian ground horn bill and White winged Warbler. Acacia woodland bird species are especially well represented.

Though just 371sq km in size is the smallest park in Uganda, Lake Mburo has a varied Landscape full of interest and color. The park is refreshing and full of life given its strategic location as the closest from the Capital city on the Kampala- Mbarara highway.

ACCESSIBILITY OF THE PARK: The Park can easily be accessed from Kampala on the Kampala Mbarara highway via Masaka town and its only 228kms from Kampala about 4hrs.

ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK:                   

Several activities can be conducted while in Lake Mburo National Park including; nature walks, game drives. Nature walk is conducted on foot with the help of an armed guide who explains to the visitors’ about the various flora and fauna. Game drive is done while in the visitors own vehicle.

The boat is another interesting activity in Lake Mburo; visitors get a chance to see a variety of wildlife e.g. Crocodiles, Hippos and Birds like Fin foot, water cormorants, African fish eagle etc.

Horse is also conducted within the park while quad bikes riding are conducted by African All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV Safaris). It gives a spectacular view of the park’s terrain and wildlife. Visitors can ride close without the animals getting scared.

Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semuliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori. The park is 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.

The Semuliki Valley contains numerous features associated with the central rather than eastern Africa. Thatched huts are shaded by   West African oil palms; the Semuliki River (which forms the international boundary) is a miniature version of the Congo River, the forest is home to numerous Central African wildlife species, and the local population includes the Batwa Pygmy community that originated from the Ituri. As a result, this park provides a taste of central African without having to leave Uganda.

Semuliki’s species have been accumulating for over 25,000 years, there is also evidence that park contains older evidence processes. Hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 12million years.

Semuliki Forest reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park in 1993.

PARK ACCESSIBILITY; there are two main roads from Kampala:

Kampala fort portal via Mubende is the shortest route.

Kampala- Fort Portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese is longer at 465km (7-8hrs). This route offers the chance to stop along the way at Lake Mburo National Park, Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Semuliki National Park is 59km from Fort Portal to Sempaya gate. The route is now surfaced and widened and the journey is shorter and confortable.

PARK ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

BIRDING: for birders Semuliki National Park is rewarding with some of the Africa’s best forest birding. Sempaya and Ntandi provide excellent viewing of birds including the white-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, and Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos. The Shoe bill stork is regularly seen at close quarters on Lake Albert and forest walks are good for tracking water birds.

GAME DRIVES: Three tracks cross the savannah grassland of Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. Smaller forest and Larger Savannah Elephants are regularly seen, along with Buffalo, Waterbuck, Crocodile, Warthog and Uganda kob. With luck, you may even see pygmy Hippopotami, leopards and elusive Bush babies.

HIKING AND NATURE WALKS: The 13km Kirumia Trail runs through the heart of the forest to the Semuliki River. This 8 hour round trip is starts at 8am and is an ideal for birders.

HOT SPRINGS: the hour-long Trail to the outer, “male” springs leads through a patch of forest where red-tailed monkeys, grey-checked Mangabeys and black and white colobus monkeys are common. A tree house en route provides an aerial view. A 30-minute hike through palm forest from the main road leads to the inner, “female” spring, dominated by a boiling geyser. Eggs and Matooke (green plantain) can be cooked in these boiling waters and enjoyed by hungry hikers.

CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS AND TRAILS: The Batwa’s hunter-gatherer lifestyle means they have always been dependent on Semuliki forest for food, shelter, Medicine and tools, though this is beginning to change as a result of interaction with other local communities.