The Semuliki Valley lies in western Uganda, positioned within the Albertine Rift between the Rwenzori Mountains and the Semuliki River.
The valley occupies a low-lying extension of the Congo Basin that stretches into East Africa.
Its altitude ranges from roughly 670 to 760 meters above sea level, creating a warm, humid climate unlike most Ugandan regions.
This physiographic depression marks a zone of ecological transition where the Central African rainforest meets the East African savanna.
The valley forms a critical component of the greater Ituri–Rwenzori ecosystem, an area recognised by conservation scientists for its continuity of rainforest species and its hydrological interdependence with the Semuliki River.
Within its confines, temperatures average above 24 degrees Celsius year-round, and rainfall exceeds 1,250 millimetres annually.
These conditions sustain a near-permanent green canopy that supports forest elephants, primates, and bird species typical of the Congo’s lowland forests.
While many references reduce the region to Semuliki National Park, the valley’s scale extends beyond protected boundaries.
It includes floodplains, riverine forest, geothermal sites, and community settlements that interact directly with conservation zones.
The park itself, gazetted in October 1993, covers about 220 square kilometres, yet the entire valley spreads far wider into Bundibugyo District. Understanding this distinction is essential for interpreting its tourism and research value, as both depend on the broader ecological continuum rather than just the park’s boundaries.