Bird Watching In Semuliki Reserve

  • Gazelle Safari Africa

  • Uganda
  • Aug 17, 2022

The Semuliki Reserve, known to some as a Bird Watcher’s Paradise, attracts over 10,000 avid bird watchers yearly. It offers nature lovers unique encounters with over 460 recorded bird species. This Uganda Destinations has an impressive checklist, which includes many birding specials.

Found in the Western arm of the East African RiftValley, a complex rift system that was formed 22–25 million years ago, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is a convergence of extensive miles of well-conserved habitats.

These include moist semi-deciduous forests, aquatic arenas like ox-bow lakes, iron wood-dominant woodland, open savannahs, mountain parks, and patches of swamp forest. 

This diversity attracts all sorts of bird species that can prosper at an elevation between 670-760 meters above sea level. These include; Forest birds, Near endemics, Montane birds, Savannah birds, and Lake-dwelling birds.

The reserve prides itself on having Africa’s most stunning and sought-after birds like Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-wattled Hornbill, Long-tailed Hawk, and Nkulengu Rail.

Semuliki is one of the places in Africa with easy sightings of;

1.African crake

2.Standard-winged nightjar

3.Double-toothed barbet

4.Green wood-hoopoe

5.Mustached warbler

6.Red-throated bee-eater

7.Broad-billed roller, Piapiac

8.Black-chinned quail finch

The difference between a game park and a reserve is that, unlike in a game park, you don’t have to stick to the roads when in a reserve. As you go through the Semuliki reserve, our driver guide will take you close to the varied habitats. This way, you don’t need a zoom lens to be able to see birds.

That aside, you do not have to worry about multiple vehicles spoiling the fun as there is a limit to the number of cars that get in per day. Semuliki has regular sightings of 131 species associated with the Congolese rainforest and all the usual tropical birds like;

1.Great white pelican

2Abyssinian ground hornbill

3.Malachite kingfisher

4.African openbill

For an opportunity to see the elusive shoebill and a breeding colony of the stunning red-throated bee-eater, consider a boat trip on Lake Albert for the best view.

Best Time To Visit Semuliki Reserve

Migratory birds are best seen from November to April. If your interest is resident birds, then Uganda bird-watching tours are suitable all year round.

In the rainy season, large areas of this low-lying park tend to flood. This is a brief reminder of the time when the entire valley lay at the bottom of the lake for millions of years.

Generally, the best time for Bird Watching In Uganda is during the months of late May to September when rains are less. If your interest is resident birds, then Uganda Bird Watching tours are suitable all year round.

So are your ready to add Semuliki Wildlife Reserve under your Uganda Safari! Gazelle Safaris Africa is here to provide the best of Uganda.

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