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Getting to Semuliki National Park in Western Uganda is a great opportunity for tourists to visit one of the world’s powerful hot spring- the Sempaya Hot Springs. Semuliki National Park (SNP) lies in the extreme Western side of Uganda, sitting on a land area of 220sq.kms sheltering a portion of the Congo’s Ituri Forest.

Location and Access

Semuliki National Park is situated in the western part of Uganda, within Bundibugyo District. The park lies along the Albertine Rift Valley, bordering the Semliki River near the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo frontier. Its approximate coordinates are 0.780° N latitude and 30.060° E longitude.

The park sits at an elevation range of 670 to 760 metres above sea level. Its western boundary is defined by the Semliki River, a natural channel that drains into the Congo Basin. To the east, the park rises into the foothills of the northern Rwenzori range.

By Road:

Access by road is possible via two main routes. The first, more commonly used, is the 59-kilometre Fort Portal–Sempaya route via Bundibugyo Road. This road is tarmacked up to Nyahuka, then becomes murram for the remaining distance to the park gate.

  • Kampala to Semuliki National Park, it is about 290kms. This is for visitors traveling from Kampala via Mubende-Fort Portal City route.
  • 465kms if you are taking the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kasese route- this can be estimated to cover about 7-8 hours of driving in a fully mechanized vehicle. Taking this route lets you visit or make a stopover in some of the interesting tourists spots such as Equator crossing at Kayabwe, Lake Mburo National Park a home to lots of impalas, zebras and other antelope families, Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, Rwenzori Mountains National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Fort Portal to Sempaya gate of Semuliki NP, it is about 59kms and up to the headquarters at Ntandi, it is 65kms. The Sempaya main gate of Semuliki NP from Fort Portal is approximately 2 hours of driving. The park headquarters at Ntandi is 6km further along the road.
  • Kasese to Semuliki NP, 73.8kms
  • Mubende to Semuliki NP, it is 168kms

Depending on weather conditions, it takes approximately two to three hours from Fort Portal. The second route is via the Mubende–Fort Portal–Semuliki corridor, which connects central Uganda to the park.

Air access is available through Semuliki Airstrip, located within the nearby Tooro–Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Charter flights may also use Kasese Airstrip, which is approximately 80 kilometres from the park by road.

Besides road and air links, Semuliki’s geographic location places it within reach of multiple tourism assets. It lies 52 kilometres from Fort Portal town, a key gateway city with accommodation, banking, and logistical services.

In addition, the park connects easily to other tourism nodes within western Uganda. These include Kibale National Park to the east and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park to the north.

Other than using a 4×4 rental car, there is an option of public means. There are buses operating from Kampala city up to Bundibugyo taking the Fort Portal route. You can be dropped off at Karungutu Trading Center where you can connect to the park on a boda boda.

Car Rental Agencies

You can obtain a great rental cars for your safari from one of the car rental agencies listed below;

By Air:

Fly in tours to Semuliki National Park can easily be arranged setting off from Entebbe Airport (EBB) and Kajjansi Airfield to Semliki airstrip in Kabarole. Visitors also have a chance to fly from Entebbe to Mweya or Kasese airstrips then drive to Semuliki National Park, Western Uganda.