Semuliki Valley lies at the floor of the Albertine Rift, between longitudes 30°02′E and 30°20′E and latitudes 0°44′N and 0°57′N.
It spans elevations between 670 and 760 metres above sea level, making it one of the lowest-lying protected areas in Uganda.
To the east, the escarpment rises sharply into the Rwenzori Mountains, exceeding 2,500 metres within 25 kilometres.
Geologically, the valley sits on sedimentary layers deposited during tectonic rifting. The flat topography permits slow surface runoff and seasonal flooding.
The Semuliki River meanders northward into Lake Albert, fed by multiple forest streams and seepage zones from the escarpment.
The area forms a hydro-ecological bridge between Congo’s Ituri Forest and Uganda’s savannah–woodland ecosystems.
It is an essential ecological corridor, though under-documented in regional conservation strategy papers. That may change soon, given increasing research attention.