6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS – SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.

Luxury - Hotel No.5

Hotel No.5 is an elegant boutique hotel in Entebbe. It's comfortable and has different types of rooms like deluxe ones and apartments if you're planning to stay longer. The rooms are equipped with nice conveniences like air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, bathrobes, slippers, a safe, desk, and even an electric kettle for making tea or coffee. The hotel has a 24/7 front desk, shuttle service, shared kitchen, and free Wi-Fi. They also have secure parking and a swimming pool for everyone to use. And if you want to relax, you can hang out in the lounge with complimentary drinks!

Mid-Range - Santa Maria Hotel

Santa Maria Hotel overlooks the second-largest freshwater body in Uganda and offers 39 well- furnished rooms for your comfort, ensuring a calm stay. The spacious rooms are equipped with draped mosquito nets for your safety, given the closeness to the lake. The hotel features a restaurant serving interior meals from breakfast to dinner, allowing you to dine at your leisure. After your flight, unwind and rejuvenate with a spa and massage at the hotel.

Budget – Guinea Fowl guest house.

Guinea Fowl Guest House is named after the rare Numididae bird species, which is limited to Africa. These birds are famous for their long lifespan, being among the oldest of gallinaceous birds. The guest house offers a variety of room options for a cozy stay and provides services like laundry, luggage storage, and secure parking. Guests can also treat themselves to special massage treatments during their stay.

Start on your journey to Semuliki National Park with your safari guide. The drive takes about 6 to 8 hours, passing through Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and then Fort Portal, known to be the cleanest city in Uganda. You will go through Mubende, a quicker route compared to the longer one through Kasese, Mbarara, and Masaka.You can bring a packed lunch from Entebbe or stop for a meal along the way. Located in Ntoroko District's Karugutu Sub County, Semuliki National Park lies between the Ituri Mountains in Congo and Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains. Its wildlife thrives around River Wassa from the Rwenzori and River Semuliki on its western side, both leading to Lake Albert. Originally, a forest reserve, Semuliki became a national park in 1993. Its home to diverse wildlife like monkeys, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees, and different baboons including De Brazza’s monkey, Vervet monkey, and others. Night brings sightings of pottos and galagos. The park also boasts over 441 bird species, including the rare shoebill. Attractions include Sempaya hot springs, birdwatching, game drives, chimpanzee tracking, cultural visits, nature walks, forest hikes, and River Semuliki exploration. Enjoy your overnight stay and dinner at your accommodation. Accommodation options in Semuliki National Park

Luxury – Semuliki Safari Lodge

Semuliki Safari Lodge is a luxurious retreat located away in Uganda's untouched wilderness. It is designed with traditional African charm, featuring cozy cottages with grass-thatched roofs that can accommodate up to 10 guests each night. The staff are known for their warm hospitality, ensuring you feel welcome and well taken care of during your stay. Enjoy delicious dinners in the inviting main lounge, where rustic tables are softly lit by lanterns. The meals, crafted by skilled chefs, offer delightful flavors that add to the memorable experience at the lodge. Other luxury accommodations in Semuliki National Park include Ntoroko Game Lodge, and Nyati Game Lodge among others.

Budget - Kirumia Guest House

For budget-conscious travelers, Kirumia Guest House provides a wallet-friendly choice. Situated just 100 meters from Kirumia trail, a hotspot for birdwatching in Bundibugyo district, it offers easy access to Semuliki National Park. The guest house is conveniently located 5 kilometers from the park headquarters and 10 kilometers from the renowned Sempaya hot springs. It's an ideal base for observing diverse bird species and primates such as chimpanzees, baboons, and monkeys. Other budget accommodations in Semuliki National Park include Hotel Vanilla, and Semuliki River Camp, UWA bandas among others.

Start your morning with a guided nature walk in Semuliki National Park, led by a ranger for your safety. Explore the park's diverse ecosystem through trails like the Red Monkey Trail, Sempaya Trail, and Kirumia Trail. Encounter a variety of wildlife including monkeys, Uganda kob, buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees, and various baboon species. Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the park's 441 bird species, including the rare shoebill. This walking adventure offers a close-up experience with nature. Consider bringing a walking stick to clear shrubs along the trail. The duration of the walk, about 3 hours, depends on your fitness level. After returning to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, set out for an afternoon visit to the famous Sempaya Hot Springs, a highlight of the park. Located in Itojo along Bundibugyo road, these hot springs are a spectacular sight, with water shooting into the air amidst hot steam visible from a kilometer away. The springs are divided into the male (Bintene) and female (Nyasimbi) springs. The Nyasimbi spring, a geyser, can even boil eggs and bananas (matoke). Visitors are encouraged to bring fresh food items to enjoy this unique experience. After your exploration, return to the lodge for a delicious dinner and overnight stay, surrounded by the tranquility of Semuliki National Park.

After breakfast, your day begins with chimpanzee tracking. Start with a brief 15-minute briefing from ranger guides to learn about the rules and guidelines. The trek itself lasts about 3 hours or more, depending on where the chimps are spotted. Listen for their distinctive hooting calls as you move deeper into the forest, keeping pace with their movements. Witnessing these incredible animals swinging from tree to tree and displaying various behaviors is truly exhilarating. Despite any initial apprehension, you'll find the chimps welcoming and captivating. You'll spend an hour with the chimps, capturing photos and gaining insights from the rangers about their families, mating habits, behavior, and diet. After this memorable experience, exit the forest to receive your tracking certificate at the park headquarters. Return to the lodge for a well-deserved lunch and relaxation before your afternoon game drive. Exploring Semuliki on a game drive offers excellent opportunities to encounter a wide range of wildlife, including lions, buffaloes, hippos, forest elephants, leopards, kobs, warthogs, and antelopes. The Red Monkey Trail, Sempaya Trail, and Kirumia Trail provide diverse habitats for monkeys, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees, baboons, and various bird species. Game drives are available both in the morning and evening, offering unique perspectives on animal behavior and the park's ecosystem. After an adventurous day, return to the lodge for a delicious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay. Return to the lodge for your lunch and relaxation before your afternoon game drive. After enjoying a leisurely lunch and some downtime back at the lodge, prepare yourself for an afternoon adventure on a game drive through Semuliki National Park. Enjoy the park's diverse attractions, spotlighting its renowned wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, hippos, and elusive leopards. As you navigate the park, be prepared to encounter forest elephants, graceful kobs, playful warthogs, and antelope species. Exploring three distinct trails—the Red Monkey Trail, Sempaya Trail, and Kirumia Trail—will offer you a deeper insight into the park's rich biodiversity. Along these paths, you have opportunities to observe monkeys, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, fleet- footed antelopes, lively chimpanzees, and various types of baboons including the De Brazza's monkey, Vervet monkey, olive baboons, and the striking guereza colobus monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled for nocturnal creatures like patas and galagos, and marvel at the park's impressive birdlife, which boasts over 441 species, representing a significant portion of Uganda's avian diversity. Whether you opt for a morning or evening game drive, each session offers its unique rewards. Morning drives provide the chance to witness animals in their natural habitats as they begin their day, while evening drives showcase animals returning to their resting places as the sun sets over the savanna plains. Following your exhilarating game drive, return to the lodge where a hearty dinner awaits, followed by a restful overnight stay amidst the serene surroundings of Semuliki National Park.

Experience the local community on a walk around the park, where you will meet different tribes that have settled in the area. The Batuuku people rely on cattle keeping, while the Bakonjo and the Bamba are farmers, cultivating crops like cocoa, vanilla, and moringa. The Batwa, living on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori, are hunters and forest gatherers, leading a primitive lifestyle. During the walk, support the local community by participating in activities like stone quarrying and murram extraction on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori. Dive deeper into the culture by visiting polygamous families, observing daily life, visiting orphanages and schools, witnessing banana brewing demonstrations, exploring local hospitals and traditional healers, and enjoying traditional dances and songs that showcase their culture. The colorful dressing style of the Batuuku people is particularly striking. After the community walk, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

The drive back to Entebbe will take about 6 to 7 hours, so steady yourself for a bumpy ride along African roads. To avoid traffic, it's advisable to set off early in the morning. As you traverse the route, you will be treated to charming views of local communities, valleys, rolling hills, and expansive fields of crops. Along the roadside, you may spot children playing in their yards, waving and shouting "MZUNGU," a friendly greeting for foreigners. You can wave back or share a few treats if you wish, but it's best not to give money to avoid encouraging begging habits. Feel free to ask your driver to pause for photo opportunities or restroom breaks along the journey. Either you can depart from Semuliki Safari Lodge with a packed lunch, or you can stop at a local spot for a warm meal on the way. Upon arrival in Entebbe, proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your international departure flight. End of services.