Semuliki National Park

Overview

Semuliki National Park sits on the Southern side of Lake Albert, opposite Murchison Falls and North West of Kibale National Park. It is East Africa's only lowland tropical forest, gaining reserve status in 1932 and national park status in 1993. 

The 85 square miles (220 km²) of Semuliki has a Central African flavor due to being home to a slice of the Congo Basin's great Ituri Forest. The ancient habitat is the largest forest to survive the last glacial epoch. The mix of Central and Eastern African plants and wildlife has created incredible diversity in this modestly sized park. 

However, the biggest draw of the Semuliki National Park is the "male" and "female" hot springs. Nyansimbi, meaning "the female ancestors," begins as a spurting geyser. Boiling water can be sprayed as high as 6 feet (2 m). Many visitors enjoy buying an egg and boiling it in a nearby pool. 

Binente, the male spring, is about an hour's walk from the egg-cooking pools. The pathway takes visitors through the forest and swamp, with the Rwezori Mountains in the backdrop. It's the perfect opportunity to birdwatch and enjoy the hundreds of varieties of butterflies.