More Six chimpanzees seen in Semuliki game reserve

This may sound a surprise to many people especially tourists who have ever visited Semulik National Park but the fact is that, early this week,6 more chimpanzees were seen in the park. They were seen feeding on the green vegetation climbing various trees is an interesting way. This is something many people never imagined to happen and everyone including members from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Chimpanzees in Uganda are mainly found at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary and Kibale Forest and these are the only places where a visitor initially could go and look at the primates. However, this is about to change after it emerged that these human-like apes have started increasing in number in the areas of Semuliki.

One of the great wonders of the jungle when it comes to adventure is the chimpanzee. With a rapid increase in tracking safaris to Uganda, many tourists come to trek the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable and Kibale Forest respectively. This has led to an increase in the number of visitors who jet into this East African country annually specifically to track the primates in their natural habitats.

A lot has been written and read about chimpanzees of Africa but unless one personally searches and finds them in the forests, he/she will not get to know how they live and behave. It is this reason that people from different countries have been forced to travel for long distances to Uganda to have a glance at these elegant primates at a closer distance.

If the number of Chimpanzees migrating to Semuliki increases, it will eventually turn into a trekking destination and many primate lovers will start to visit the place. This according to officials from Uganda Wildlife Authority will help to attract more tourists and also reduce on the level of congestion in the places where the apes are found.

What to do at Semuliki National Park

While on a safari to Uganda, you should extend your trip to Semulik for a lifetime experience which involves;-

Game viewing: Semuliki is a unique wildlife safari destination with over 63 mammal species including 9 diurnal primates like chimpanzees, blue monkeys, Olive baboons and vervet monkeys. The nocturnal primates found in the park are pottos and galagos. On top of viewing different mammal species, a visitor can also view the forest beecroft’s flying squirrel, little collared fruit bat, buffaloes, blue duiker, water chevrotain and the pigmy squirrels. These species are easily seen on a game drive through the park.

Nature walks: Have you ever imagined viewing over 336 different tree species among which 24 are not found elsewhere? Then semuliki is the best place to visit. Its location makes it a lowland tropical rainforest which is ideal for the growth of various tree species.

Bird watching: For bird lovers, Semuliki is one of the best places in Africa where you are exposed to over 430 bird species among which 30 species can only be found in Semuliki. Some of the birds are too small to view with naked eyes and a visitor is encouraged to use the binoculars.

Cultural walk: A walk through the neighboring villages is interesting as you get to meet people from different cultures and also interact with them. Meet the Bakonjo, Batuku and Bamba people in the slopes, rift valley floor and valleys respectively and witness their rare lifestyles used for survival.

Sport fishing: For those visitors interested in sport fishing are required to carry their own gadgets. The splendid and breathtaking views along the river act as companions as one fishes in the river for rare fish species.

How to access Smuliki

By road, it is 300km from Kampala to Fort portal where the park is located and this takes about 4-5hours.The shortest trip is via Mubende town.