The 13km Kirumia Trail Walk passes through the middle of the forest towards River Semuliki, taking about 8 hours beginning at 8am. This trail is very appropriate for birders, which starts from Kirumia and is just about 8km from the park headquarters in Ntandi.
A variety of birds can be seen on this trail that’s why it’s the most recommended trail for bird watching and butterfly watching. Like birds, a variety of butterflies breed on this trail because it has a good forest canopy. A number of woodland bird species such as the black and white casqued hornbill can be spotted on the trees alongside the rails.
Visitors normally carry their packed lunch as they follow the trail for their bird watching activities. Semuliki National Park has over 441 recorded bird species. These include the piping hornbill, white-crested hornbill, red-billed dwarf hornbill, great blue and Ross’s turacos, Yellow-throated nicator and Red necked falcon. Others include Black-billed barbet, turkey like Abyssinian ground-hornbill and Shoebills.
Note that more than 40 bird species can strictly only be found in Semuliki National Park.
About Semuliki National Park Where Kirumia Trail Walk Happens
Semuliki National Park has over 63 mammal species, including forest buffalos, leopards, hippos, mona monkeys, water chevrotains, bush babies, civets, elephants, and the pygmy flying squirrel (Idiuus zenkeri). Nine species of duikers are found in the park, including the bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis). Semuliki National Park has nine primate species and more than 374 butterfly species.
Visitors to Semuliki National Park can engage in bird watching, game drives across the Savannah grassland and hiking through the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) Kirumia Trail. You can also visit the famous hot springs where the water is hot enough to cook eggs and plantain. As of 2016, Semuliki National Park is ranked 68th of 120 things to do in Uganda. This puts it among the must see top safari destinations in Uganda.