Semliki National Park
Semliki national park, in advance known as the Toro Reserve, lies near the northern base of the Ruwenzoris in Uganda. The rich habitat of grassland, savannah, forest and wetland is home to diverse fauna, in addition to 400 bird species and 300 butterfly species. This park, 220 kms, lies along the Congolese border following the Semliki river, within the Western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley, in the North of Rwenzori mountains. The altitude is on the average 700 m above sea level.
Species
There are 336 tree species recorded, of which 24 are restricted to the Park (like Isolana Congolana and Ejacis Guineesis); 435 bird species (at least 40 of them are found nowhere else in Uganda); 63 mammals, like elephants, leopards, buffaloes (nowhere else are found flying squirrels, pygmy antelope and six types of bats); 9 primates (chimpanzee, blue monkey, vervet monkeys, baboon); at least 374 species of butterflies.
Activities
Natural walk from the headquarter at Sempaya gate down to the river Semliki, enjoying bird watching, butterflies, flowers and trees. Moreover there are two “hot springs” (one male, one female), situated in a tract of hot mineral encrusted swamp land, where visitors see a jet of hot water and a pool of boiling water.