The Semiliki Chimpanzees
Semiliki national park is one of Uganda’s oldest wildlife reserves. The reserve is home to a variety of large and small game, as well as a number of different primate species, including chimpanzees and different bird species. The views are amazing and spectacular ranging from the vast savannah grasslands, forests bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon, Lake Albert, Semiliki River and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its diversity and the presence of the central African plants, trees, flowers and mammals, the hot springs makes it a unique and interesting destination that you should not miss while on your Uganda safaris.
Chimpanzees are classified as an endangered species by the IUCN. They are threatened by habitat loss everywhere they survive, and they are at risk from hunting in much of their range. They are presently habituated by the Indian University to ensure their survival and study their unique diet, behavior and habitat. There is a team working at Semiliki wildlife reserve to all year around and they have to maintain research trails, collect climate data, and also monitor these chimpanzees on a daily basis. Trekking these chimpanzees starts at 8:00am and can last to 4hrs or longer. Chances of seeing other primates are high and these include, baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, the central African red colobus, blue red tailed monkeys, de Brazza’s, vervet and Dent’s Mona monkeys among others.
What to have while trekking these chimpanzees
For Chimpanzee trekking it is best to wear the right clothing for your protection from nettles, thorns, branches, long-sleeved shirt, long-trousers, light rain-jacket, lunch, bottled water, snacks or packed lunch.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE;
- Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
This is a unique interesting activity since chimpanzees are acquainted with human beings so as to eventually join the group that’s available for chimpanzee tracking. Researchers follow chimps as they leave their nests to late in the evening as they get back to nesting.
- Bird watching
At Semiliki, bird watching is one of the main attractions and is a home to over 441 bird species including the Central African bird species that can’t be found anywhere else in East Africa. Other birds to look out include; the rare shoe bill, dwarf honey guide, yellow throated cuckoo, Nicator, Great blue and Ross Turaco, purple breasted sunbird, orange weaver, white crested horn bill, Red-billed Dwarf hornbill, African Piculet, swamp Palm bulbul and many others.
- Hot Springs
These are the major attraction in this park. The male is called Binteme and the female is called Nyasimbe. The ‘female’ hot springs have a boiling fountain at over 1000C and visitors are seen cooking eggs in the boiling waters. Some people like the Bamba community use them for rituals use them as they communicate to the gods for blessings and protection and the water is believed to heal all kinds of sickness. A nature walk takes you through the forest and a number of primates can be spotted like, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and black-and-white colobus monkeys jumping from tree branches.
- Nature and Hiking walks
There are basically three trails and these include;
Sempaya nature trail -This trail leads you to the Sempaya hot springs. The trail gives visitors opportunity to encounter black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabey. More still, visitors get to view the abundant birdlife coupled with the beautiful scenery.
Red monkey trail – This is an 11 km long trail which follows the park boundary to the east and ends up at the Semiliki River. Here visitors have a chance of sighting the rare DeBrazza monkey.
Kirumya trail – This is 13 km and is perfect for birders, it ends up at the Semiliki River and traverses the forest.
Community walks and Cultural experiences –Visitors who visit the park get an opportunity to visit the Batwa community who live on the boundaries of the park. These demonstrate how they they lived in the forest from gathering food, hunting, how they lived and survived in the forest. They also perform music and dance and the experience is unforgettable.
