Bundibugyo, in Uganda’s Western Region, borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist attractions.
The district of Bundibugyo has one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda. It is located in Uganda’s Western Region and borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The districts of Ntoroko and Bundibugyo were one before July 2010. They were also the only two districts in Uganda located west of the Rwenzori Mountains.
However, in 1974, when Bundibugyo (with Ntoroko) was split off from the Greater Kabarole district along with Rwenzori district (Kasese), it was given the name Semuliki district.
For tourists looking to visit and learn more about its history, these are the main tourist attractions in Bundibugyo.
Semuliki National Park
Established in October 1993, Semuliki National Park is a national park in Bwamba County, a rural area of the Bundibugyo District in the western region of Uganda.
The park is blessed with a variety of plants, animals, and birds, with a particularly diverse range of bird and butterfly species. The Uganda Wildlife Authority oversees the park’s operations.
The lyre-tailed honeyguide is one of more than 400 bird species seen in the area. True forest birds make up 216 of these species or 66% of all bird species in the nation.
These include the rare Oberländer’s ground thrush (Geokichla oberlaenderi), Sassi’s olive greenbull (Phyllastrephus Lorenzi), and nine species of hornbill.
Over 60 mammal species, including the African buffalo, the leopard, the hippopotamus, the mona monkey, the water cheetah, the bush baby, the African civet, the African elephant, and the Pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, all have refuge in the park.
Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve
The Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a protected area for conservation in the Western Region of Uganda, having its headquarters in the Ntoroko District of Karugutu.
From the extensive poaching that occurred during the civil war, wildlife has partially recovered. After falling below 1,000 in the early 1990s, there are now several thousand kobs (Kobus kob) in Uganda.
From roughly 50 in the early 1990s, there are now over 1,000 African buffalo living locally, and the numbers of elephants and waterbucks are also increasing. In contrast to lions, which were once hunted to near extinction.
Leopards are still widespread. Black-and-white colobus, olive baboon, red-tailed, and vervet monkeys can all be seen in their preferred environment.
With 462 species documented and being one of the greatest spots in Uganda to see the shoebill, the area is very appealing to birdwatchers.
Amabere Caves
On the Bundibugyo Road, about five miles from Fort Portal, lie the Amabere Caves, also known as the Nyakasura Caves.
The name Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru translates to “Breasts of Nyinamwiru.” She is said to have had her breasts removed to make her less seductive to men.
Nyinamwiru is the daughter of a local usurper king. After this fairly extreme plot fell through, King Bukuku of Tooro hid her in a cave.
However, she continued to be seductive and got pregnant by the Batembuzi King Isaza, giving birth to their son Ndahura later.
She used what appeared to be milk poured from the rock formations, which appeared milky due to its calcium content because she was unable to breastfeed the child herself. The Amabere Caves are one of those interesting places to visit in Bundibugyo.
Mountain Rwenzori National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains are home to Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is about 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi) in size and contains numerous waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers in addition to being Africa’s third-highest mountain summit.
The park is home to four species of primates, 89 species of birds, and 15 species of butterflies. Forest elephants, chimpanzees, hyrax, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Ruwenzori duiker, and Rwenzori turaco are some of the park’s animals, which vary in size according to elevation.
It also boasts a wide variety of trees and plants. There you can find some of the most exquisite plants in the entire world. Additionally, the park’s five unique vegetation zones alter in response to elevation changes.
The Sempaya Hot Springs
The name Sempaya, which stems from the Kiswahili expression Sehemu mbaya (the difficult side) due to the difficult terrain and steep rocks encountered during the construction of the Fort Portal Bundibugyo road along the ridges of the Rwenzori Mountains, is how the majority of the locals refer to the hot springs.
To pray for the safe delivery of their child, local ladies visit the female hot spring. Males, on the other hand, travel to the Male Hot Springs to offer prayers for wealth and prosperity.
The female hot spring, which reaches a temperature of 103 degrees Celsius, is the more popular and easily accessible of the two.
The location has a sulfurous scent, and you should take special precautions when shooting pictures because the high temperatures can quickly melt plastic objects.
To prevent tripping or stepping into the bubbling water by accident, there are wooden paths all across the hot springs.
Conclusion
To date, Bundibugyo is mostly known as the location of the famous Semuliki National Park. However, this article proves that the district has much more to offer than just a national park.
To explore all the places we’ve listed you must visit the district, preferably with the help of a trusted tour guide. That way you can tour around and also learn more about what makes Bundibugyo a special place.
