Hot Springs in Uganda : Uganda is a wonderland gifted with numerous physical features including mountains, lakes, valleys, river and the beautiful hot springs, the hot springs are one of the major tourist attractions in Uganda found in various regions of Uganda and they can be visited during your Uganda safari.
The beautiful hot springs are formed as a result of the emergence of geothermal –heated groundwater from the earth’s crust (when water underground meets the heated rocks). The deep percolation of water into the crust causes it to be heated by the hot rocks, the heated water is then forced back up under pressure thus bubbling out to the earth’s crust as hot spring.
Locally, people believe the hot springs were formed as actions of their gods and it is where their gods reside. The locals believe waters from the hot springs have healing powers and because of this they are worshipped by the locals, people visit the hot springs to take in the warm water to cure diseases like ring warms and get blessings (the water in the hot spring is equivalent to the sauna).
Uganda has 7 major hot springs found in different areas of Uganda mostly western Uganda, these include Kitagata Hot Springs, Sempaya Hot Springs, Rwagimba Hot Springs, Amoropii Hot Springs, Buranga Hot Springs, Ihimba Hot Springs and Kibiro Hot Springs.
KITAGATA HOT SPRINGS
Kitagata hot springs are iconic hot springs in Uganda found in the Queen Elizabeth national park area in western region of Uganda, 1 kilometer from the Kitagata trading center. Kitagata hot springs has 2 sides, one which is very hot with water as hot as 80 degrees centigrade and the other side is just warm.
The springs have a historical importance to the Ankole Kingdom, one of this hot springs was used by the King of Ankole and was locally referred to as “Ekyomugabe” meaning the King’s spring. The other spring is known for its medicinal value and referred to as Mulago in reference to Uganda’s national referral hospital Mulago. The local people believed the waters from the hot spring have healing magic and it is visited by people to have hot baths, some patients drink the sulphur rich waters of the hot spring as cure from rheumatism and arthritis. Kitagata hot springs has springs where visitors can boil eggs, cassava, bananas and sweet potatoes.
On your way to Kitagata Hot springs you are rewarded with impressive hills and valleys with a lot of greenery, the springs can be visited during your safari visit to Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburu national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park.
SEMPAYA HOT SPRINGS
The Sempaya Hot Springs are a remarkable and mesmerizing hot springs in Uganda with high temperatures rising up to 100 degrees Celsius and the most famous tourist attraction of Semuliki national park where they are found, Semuliki national park is located in the western region of Uganda.
The Sempaya hot springs are set in a lush swampy clearing close to the eastern corner of the semiliki forest, these springs are two that is male and female hot springs situated in a distance of 30 minute’s walk from each other
The female hot springs locally known as Nyasimbi have hot water boiling at 103 degrees sprouting up to 2 meters above the ground, tourists visiting the female hot springs boil eggs and bananas in the pool of hot water. The male hot springs are locally known as Mumbuga
Water from these hot springs is believed to cure certain skin diseases such as ringworm, the Sempaya hot springs are a sacred site to the local people. The female hot spring is visited by women for fertility blessings and male hot springs are visited by male for wealth and blessings.
Sempaya hot springs are reached using a trail running through a patch of rain forest where you will have a chance to see various primates such as red-tailed monkey, grey-checked mangabey and black and white colobus monkeys and many birds such as forest horn.
RWAGIMBA HOT SPRINGS
Rwagimba hot springs are unique hot springs of all other hot springs in Uganda found in western part of the country in Bunyangabu district, these hot springs are found in River Rwimi separating kabarole and Kasese districts. Rwagimba Hot springs are highly respected by the local people, it is believed that water from the hot springs contains sulphur which is believed to cure pain of both people and animals. For individuals seeking freedom from their pain, they can be relieved by taking a bath in the hot springs. Hiking to Rwagimba hot springs offers great views of the area and the river.
AMOROPII HOT SPRINGS
Amoropii hot springs are a prime attraction in the northern region of Uganda, these springs are found in Nebbi District just about 2-3 kilometers from Panyimur fishing village. The hot springs got its name from Alur worlds “Amoro” and “pi” meaning water, Amoropii hot springs are believed to have divine powers and home of god Amoropii. The springs are rooted in the worship traditions of the Alur people, it is believed that barren women get cured from taking a bath in the hot spring. Also people who need fairer and tender skin get it by just a bathe.
Amoropii hot springs are of traditional importance to the Alur people and their traditional briefs, every after six months they slaughter a big sheep as sacrifice to the gods of the Amoropii. The meat from the sacrificed sheep is left open and the following day is gone, it is believed that the gods of Amoropi take it.
Note: To visit Amoropii Hot springs you need to get permission, visiting the hot springs without permission is considered illegal and may cause problems to the visitors such as snake bites.
BURANGA HOTSPRINGS
Buranga hot springs is one of the catchiest hot springs in Uganda are found in western region of the country in Fort Portal in Rwenzori Mountains, the Rwenzori Mountains are covered by lowland tropical rainforest creating a beautiful scenery around the hot springs. Buranga hot springs have 3 bodies located about 600 meters to 700 meters from each other and they are Nyansimba Spring, Mumbuga springs and Kagoro springs.
IHIMBA HOT SPRINGS
Ihimba hot springs are breathtaking hot springs located in western Uganda in Kibale district, this hot spring is attached to the Bahima people and they have a long history together. Ihimba hot springs get their name from the Bahima people, these people believe the springs have magical powers to cure diseases. By taking a bath in the hot springs you can get relief from backache, rheumatism and other forms of illnesses. While visiting the Ihimba hot springs, tourists can also visit the Bahima People residing the area of the hot springs and exlore their fascinating culture.
KIBIRO HOT SPRINGS
Kibiro hot springs are found in the remote area of Hoima district about 60 minutes drives from Hoima Town, the hot springs are hardly visited because of its remote location. Kibiro hot springs flows in the Kibiro, a small fishing village in the western Rift Valley. The springs are believed to have healing power and many people visit and bath in the waters of the hot springs to heal from various diseases and forms of pain.
KANANGOROK HOT SPRINGS
The Kanangorok Hot-springs are located in the terrain of the Kidepo valley in Kidepo national park scattered with palms and acacia thorns where Mother Nature formed one of the most beautiful natural wonders- the hot mineral-water. This continues to be a fairy tale to that who haven’t visited the park. Kidepo is not short of mysticism, and Kanangorok hot springs forms part of this.
These hot springs are heated deep within the earth and come out as crystal clear carbonated water that is famous for their mineral content and legendary healing powers. The Kanangorok hot springs flow between rocks, looks over the grassy plains that are dotted with large rocky outcrops and laying between steep-rocky piles with the peak ridges of Natera hill, Napore range and Taan hill. These hot springs are considered among the best gifts of Mother Nature in Kidepo National Park and because of that, for anyone this is a must visit destination a while on a Uganda Safari.
These hot springs do not have any road or demarcated path for them, visitors have to move through grassy terrain small footpaths covered by overgrown bushes plus grass. Just a couple of meters to the hot springs you will see two rocks that appear to be confronting each other; very stunning!
Once there, you will be able to see the hot springs. The springs are fairly shallow, so you will be able to see the clean rocks beneath. The water is hot enough to warm food to a considerable temperature. The water is assumed to reach a temperature of 50°C and flow at a rate of 1 per second.
The water of these hot springs is also considered to have healing power, and because of that you may occasionally find some local people bathing around this place as a form of ‘spiritual cleansing’ and ‘healing’.
