Mugiri River forest is positioned in the Semuliki wildlife reserve on the southern shore of Lake Albert with beautiful views of the Rift Valley escarpment and near the west Congo’s Blue Mountains. The Mugiri River forest is surrounded by several primates including the 40 habituated chimpanzees, a big game viewing area also offers bird watching opportunities and this has made Semuliki Wildlife Reserve be among the best national Reserves in Uganda.

Mugiri River Forest Trial

This trail is among the most beautiful trails within the forest which offers a short walk for the tourists with about 4 hours to complete the hike. Through this trail, you will enjoy the beautiful views of several multicolored butterflies, cool and green under a leafy canopy which allow seeing chimpanzees. Other primates include the Olive baboon, vervet monkeys, black & white Colobus monkeys, and red-tailed. Owls and Leopards are spotted relatively frequently and certainly. The Mugiri river forest is also a home of different bird species while some bird species are endemic to the forest. On a clear day, you have a chance of encountering the forest elephants.

Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is the oldest wildlife reserve and known as the Toro Game Reserve and in 1932 is when this place was gazetted. Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is bordering Lake Albert and the northern base of the mountain Rwenzori with a variety of savannah, wetland habitats, and grassland. Other tourist attractions taking place are primate walks, game viewing, nature walks, and bird watching. Uganda is blessed with many wildlife reserves which include; Karuma wildlife reserve, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Kabwoya, Ajai, Bokora Corridor, and others.

Other tourist attractions, you can do on a visit to Mugiri River forest are;

Game viewing

This allows you to see wildlife animals such as the elusive leaf-love, Savannah elephants, countless bird species, Uganda kob, waterbuck, buffaloes, you may also view nocturnal wildlife like white-tailed mongoose and many more. Game drives are usually done in the tracks across the savannah and grassland of Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve.

Visit Hot springs in semuliki national park

Hot spring is the most trending activity done in Semuliki National park. Visitors in Semuliki used to boil their materials like eggs, cassava, and banana in the bubbling waters. From here, you can also see the primates like a blue monkey.

Birding in semuliki wildlife reserve

Bird lovers, this place is also the best for you as it is among the best top birding safari destinations in Uganda. Ntandi and Sempaya are the best birding areas where you will see birds like  White-crested Hornbill, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos, Piping Hornbill plus the rare shoebill and it is seen around Kirumia River.

Sport fishing

Mugiri River gives an unforgettable rewarding experience but tourists who like to do fishing from here should bring their fishing gear. You will experience the thrill of the winding Bundibugyo road.

Community walks

Mugiri River is home to the Batwa people who depend on fruit gathering and hunting. But currently, other ethnic cultural groups have come here and this resulted in intermarriages which have led to cultural exchange. On your trip to Mugiri River get some time and visit the Batwa people, interact with them, and know more about them like their lifestyle, and tradition.

How to get to Semuliki Wildlife Reserve for a tour to River Mugiri.

Semuliki wildlife reserve is found in the Western corner of Uganda in Ntoroko district and Kabarole. The reserves can be accessed in two ways that are Kampala-Fort Portal via Mubende which covering 290kilometers and 4-5 hour drive from Kampala the capital city of Uganda. Or you can use the route from Kampala-Masaka and Mbarara via Kasese which has over 465 kilometers and take like  8-hour drive.

After visiting Mugiri River forest in Semuliki national park, you can also visit other rivers in and around the park such as Semuliki River is also the home of Batwa people, Wasa River, and among others. Or you can go to other tourist destinations of western Uganda, for example, Queen Elizabeth national park which is the best place for wildlife viewing, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for exclusive gorilla trekking, Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee tracking, and many other national parks.