Kirumia trail and birding in Semuliki National Park
The beauty of nature can be enjoyed from different views, birding in Semuliki National Park, you get a chance of watching several birds in their natural habitat. It has various birding spots where one can view birds of different nature thus exciting and fascinating experience. The Kirumia River presents an opportunity for the Kirumia trail from which you can do bird watching still. Semuliki National park supports birdlife of over 441 spectacular species which represent 40% of Uganda’s total of 1007. 216 of these species are forest species 66% of the country’s forest bird list though the list is expanded by the riverine habitat and a fringe of grassland in the east of the park. There are numerous rarities like 46 Guinea-Congo biome species which are not found in another place in East Africa while 35 species can be seen in only 2 to 3 places in Uganda five species are endemic to the Albertine Rift ecosystem.
This park is located in the remote areas of Bundibugyo district beyond the Rwenzori Mountain and lies on the Semuliki valley part of the Albertine Rift valley. It is a large forested park that represents the easternmost limits of the Ituri forest of the Congo Basin and contains several species associated with Central Africa. Although this park has diverse natural features that appeals the eyes of viewers but it is mostly ideal for bird watching, and if a birder make it to Semuliki is rewarded with some of Africa’s best forest birding gift.
Sempaya and Ntanda are some of the birding spot in this park which provides excellent viewing of birds such as White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill and Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue etc. The Kirumia River is another birding spot where you can see shoebill stork at close quarters on Lake Albert and Kirumia trail or walk is good for tracking water birds. The Kirumia trail is a 13km ideal for bird watching in the park as it takes you through the verdant forest and ends at River Semuliki, other trails are Sempaya trail 8 km and Red monkey trail 11km all of them ideal for birding, hiking and nature walks. The Kirumia trail is the biggest birding spot in Semuliki Park and it offers a great experience of birding to birders, the Kirumia trail winds from the roads about 16km from Semuliki River passing through ironwood-dominated forest, swamp forest and overgrown cultivation.
Plan for an exciting bird watching tour to visit this place where you will encounter several bird species including: Shoebill stork, Swamp palm bulbul, crested Malimba, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, African Piculet, purple breasted sunbird, Maxwell’s black weaver, Orange weaver, Hartlaubs’s Duck, Forest Francolin, Long-tailed Hawk, Ituri Batis, Black-winged starling, Grant’s Bulebill, Red-billed Helment, Leaf-love, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Nkulengu Rail, Black Dwarf Hornbill, blue-billed Malimbe, Piping Hornbill etc.
The colors, singing and look for the numerous features found in the Semuliki Park make it so attractive and appealing that one should not miss to visit while in Uganda or looking for exciting bird watching experience.