Semuliki National Park is located in Bwamba County, a remote area of the Bundibugyo District in Uganda's Western Region. It was created in October 1993 and covers 219 km (85 sq mi) of East Africa's only lowland tropical rainforest. The park is known for having a high number of different plant and animal species, with many types of birds and butterflies. It is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Location

Semuliki National Park is located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To the southeast of the park are the Ruwenzori Mountains, and to the north lies Lake Albert. The park is part of the Albertine Rift, which is the western part of the East African Rift. The park is found on flat or gently rolling land at an elevation of 670 to 760 meters (2,200 to 2,490 feet).

The park receives an average rainfall of 1,250 millimeters (49 inches) each year. The highest rainfall occurs from March to May and again from September to December. Many areas of the park experience flooding during the wet season. Temperatures in the park range from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius (64 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), with only small daily changes.

The park borders the Semliki and Lamia Rivers, which serve as water sources for many animals. The park contains two hot springs in a swamp covered with hot minerals. One of the springs, called Mumbuga, creates a fountain about 0.5 meters high, similar to a geyser. These hot springs attract many shorebirds and provide salt licks for animals.

From 1932 to 1993, the area of Semuliki National Park was managed as a forest reserve. It was first overseen by the colonial government and later by Uganda's Forest Department. In October 1993, the government designated the area as a national park to protect its forests as part of the protected regions of the Western Rift Valley.

Flora and fauna

Semuliki National Park is a unique ecosystem within the larger Albertine Rift ecosystem. It is located where several climate zones and ecoregions meet, which creates many different types of plants and animals and a variety of small habitats. Most of the plants and animals in the park are also found in the Congo Basin forests, and many of these species live at the eastern edge of their natural range in Semuliki National Park. The park's vegetation is mostly medium-altitude moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. The most common tree species in the forest is the Uganda ironwood (Cynometra alexandri). The forest also includes more evergreen trees and areas of swamp forest.

The park is home to more than 400 bird species, including the lyre-tailed honeyguide. Of these, 216 species, which is 66% of the country's total bird species, are birds that live only in forests. These include rare species such as Oberländer's ground thrush (Geokichla oberlaenderi), Sassi's olive greenbul (Phyllastrephus lorenzi), and nine types of hornbills.

The park supports over 60 mammal species, including African buffalo, leopard, hippopotamus, mona monkey, water chevrotain, bush babies, African civet, African elephant, and the Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel (Idiurus zenkeri). Nine species of duiker, including the bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), also live in the park. The park has eight primate species and nearly 460 butterfly species.

Human population

The forests in the park are very important for the people who live near it. These people grow their own food and use the forest to help support their lives. They collect items like fruits, vegetables, herbal medicines, and materials for building homes. The number of people living in the area is growing by 3.4% each year. Because there are many people, farming is becoming less productive, and few other jobs are available. This makes the local people depend heavily on the park’s resources. The forest also holds cultural and spiritual meaning for the community. Approximately 100 members of the Great Lakes Twa, an indigenous group that lives as hunter-gatherers, call the forest home. Tourism helps the Basua people earn extra money, so visitors can learn about their traditions and see crafts they make.

Earlier, park managers did not include local people in decisions, which caused anger and distrust. This made conservation efforts less effective and led to illegal activities. Since the 1990s, the Ugandan Wildlife Authority has worked with local communities to plan park activities.

Between 1997 and 2001, there was civil unrest in the Bundibugyo District. On June 16, 1997, rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces attacked and took control of the town of Bundibugyo and the park’s headquarters. People living near the park were forced to move to camps for internally displaced persons.