Semliki River Camp Activities

Batwa Experience

The Batwa are some of the most interesting tribes in the world because of their unique culture and their way of life. Batwa Experience is quite unique. Batwa people commonly known as “pygmies” currently still live in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with a total population of 86,000 to 112,000 in all the respective countries. You may be asking yourself what language Batwa people speak, Batwa is a derivative root word common to Bantu language group meaning they speak Bantu related language.

A person of Batwa tribe is known as Mutwa in singular and the nation of Batwa is called Butwa. The term “Twa” is used by the Bantu language in the sub-Saharan Africa to refer to people who are almost every case hunter gatherers. Batwa people are believed to have originated from central Africa and are continuously being marginalized and silenced which has rendered them one of the Central Africa’s most vulnerable and endangered groups. These small-stunted people are the oldest surviving tribes in Africa but their culture, identity and language are under increasing threat.

The Batwa people survived by hunting using arrows and spears and then gathering fruits of trees late in their habitat which was formally the forest. Batwa is a member of an ethnic group whose average height is usually short where adult men are average less than 150cm or 4 feet. It’s because of their defined height and unique culture that makes them more interesting.

Very few of their children go to school and the people do not seek medical care, preferring herbs.

While on your trip to Uganda always include Batwa experience, it’s very amazing and entertaining when with these unique people’s life experience. Stay with us and explore more.

Shoebill Trekking: Semiliki National Park and Lake Albert

Beautiful Semliki National Park in Western Uganda encompasses the eastern extension of the Ituri Forest of the DRC and its savannah stretches to Semliki Game Reserve. The park is one of Uganda’s prime birding hot spots and is known as the Birder’s Haven. Its diverse habitat is home to over 430 bird species, some of which are hard to find anywhere else in East Africa.  Take a boat trip from Semliki game reserve for the chance to search for numerous bird species, including the graceful and elusive Shoebill, on the shores of Lake Albert.

Tooro – Semliki Reserve: A must go For all Birders

Tooro Semliki Wildlife Reserve occupies majority of the western rift valley landscape right in between Lake Albert and the mighty Ruwenzori Mountains. The two unique features are some of the greatest features that border the wildlife reserve. This wildlife reserve is a gem to the tourism industry in Uganda.In the southern part of the Tooro Semliki Wildlife Reserve lies the Rwenzori Mountains, a continental treasure that doubles as the third highest mountain range in Africa. Lake Albert – a piece of Africa’s great lakes, occupies the northern part of the reserve.

Lake Albert is a true birder’s paradise. It is one of the few spots in the country where you can find the Shoebill stork. Lake Albert is a great destination for birding tours in Uganda. West of the reserve is the broad Congolese rainforest that contains one of the richest, most extinct species reservoirs in the world and one of the planet’s biggest covers of the un-logged forest.Due to the fact that it’s just next to the Rwenzori Mountains, it’s possible for our guests to extend their stay to Tooro – Semliki wildlife reserve and carry out a few activities like birding, wildlife viewing and more depending on the preference on the drafted safari itinerary and requests from Ugandan tourists.

The location of the nature-blessed Tooro Semliki wildlife reserve is right at the junction of so many extinct habitats and tropical rainforest on the shores of Lake Albert. The beautiful escarpment ecotone that lies far-east of the Tooro Semliki wildlife reserve, the Rwenzoris in the south, not forgetting the grassland at the the core of the reserve totals up for an abundant and extinct population and species of birds that are claimed to exceed four-hundred species.

Primate walk:

This walk takes 3 to 4 hours where you will meet our experienced ranger guides. Key primate species on this walk include chimpanzees, Red-tailed, vervet, Black and white colobus monkeys, Baboons. Angulates encountered are Waterbucks, Warthogs, Bush bucks, Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, and Elephants.

Game drives:

There are three tracks across the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Smaller forest and larger savannah elephants are regularly seen, along with Buffalo, Waterbucks, Warthog, and Uganda Kob. With luck, you may even see leopard and elusive Bushbabies. Game drives in the wildlife reserve are  done in the morning, afternoon, and at night. After dark, visitors may come across curious nocturnal species such as the white tailed mongoose.

Nature walk:

This takes 3 hours and it goes through a variety of habitats ranging from savannah woodland to riverine forest. Species encountered on this walk include; Ground Hornbills, Warthogs, Uganda Kobs, baboons, Black and White Colobus and Vervet Monkeys.

Community tourism:

The Batuku Community whose objective is conservation education through Music Dance and Drama (MDD). They organize traditional dances for the visitors and they have a shop for handcrafts which they sell to visitors.

Boat ride:

This is conducted on Lake Albert and the main attractions are Shoebills, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted and Blue-Cheeked Bee-eaters and Blue-headed Coucal.

Hike to Nyaburogo Gorge:

This is an ideal walk for birders that starts right at  the Reserve Head quarters. It is a 7 km hike that goes through a diversity of habitats including savanna, woodland and a forest in the gorge. Common birds sighted include: Arrow marked Babbler, Tropical Boubal, Black-headed Bushrike, Luhdrers Bushrike and primates including Black and White Colobus, Baboons, vervets and occasionary the Chimpanzees.

Wildlife habitats:

The Toro Semliki plain is predominantly grassy savanna and acacia-combretum woodland echoeing Murchison Falls National Park at the northern end of Lake Albert. Stands of borassus palms,lake shore marshland and broad river valleys filled with beautiful galley forest all add variety. Lake Albert lies outside the reserve but can be visited for canoing and bird watching.

Wildlife in Toro Semliki

Toro Semliki contains the same key species as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks; Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Warthog, Giant Forest Hog, Hippopotamus. Primates include Chimpanzees, Baboons and Monkeys including Vervet, Red-tailed and Black and White Colobus. Uniquely, the 200 strong Elephant population includes savanah and forest Elephant plus a hybrid form from inter-breeding.

There are chances of encountering the chimpanzees when you take a primate walk.

The reserve boosts of 440 bird species including Red-necked falcon, Black-billed Barbet and the turkey like Abyssinian Ground-hornbill. The Shoebill is usually sighted in the marshes of Lake Albert.

Semliki Cycling Tours

Discover Semliki on one of our unique cycling tours through the untouched remote part of Uganda.

Take the bike tour and discover the untouched South West of Uganda. Drive over old colonial roads, enjoy the views of undulating planes, interact with the local community and immerse in East Africa’s last living cultures.

Spend the day getting to know your bicycle and Karimojong hosts. You can then immerse yourself in traditional Batuku life and culture and explore the surrounding plains.

Extras:

  • Add an authentic night bush camping and enjoy dinner at the camp and a night camping under the African stars.A unique insight of one of Uganda’s living cultures can be experienced in a traditional village where ancient traditions ha been passed on for generations. From traditional foods and design of the homestead to colourful dances and entertaining games.

Highlights:

  • Off the beaten track
  • Beautiful scenery
  • Authentic cultural experience
  • Bird spotting
  • Batwa pygmies visit
  • Rwenzori mountains hike

Sempaya Hot Springs Uganda

Sempaya Hot Springs in Uganda are found in the Semuliki National Park.  These amazing hot springs that can boil at very high temperatures of up to 103 degrees Celsius; have a spurt shelling up 2 meters from a wide hole of about eight meters. The springs that boil up from the rock bottom of the earth exhibit the great underground geographical forces that have for many centuries ago formed the Rift Valley. Semuliki National Park covering 220 square kms is among Uganda’s latest National Parks and was put into a gazette in October 1993.

Sempaya hot springs are found in two places. The first one is called the male and second is the female. The hot springs, among the tourist sites in Uganda have greatly attracted a bigger number of visitors to Uganda.

An hour-long track to the outer, “male” hot springs takes you through a spot of woodland where the grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys and the black-and-white colobus monkeys among others are regularly seen. There is a tree house on the way which offers a clear aerial view.

On the other hand, a 30-minute walk via the palm forest from the main road leading to the inner, “female” hot spring, characterised by the boiling spring. Here, Eggs and banana can be cooked instantly for consumption by hungry hikers in the blistering waters! A stay with us will encompass a tour to Sempaya hot springs.