Sempaya hot springs are beautiful attraction located in Semuliki national park in western Uganda in Bwamba County a remote part Budibugyo district, these fascinating hot springs are also commonly referred to as the Semuliki Hot springs. Semuliki national park where the Sempaya hot springs are found is located along the edge of the great Ituri forest which borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the park was established as a national park in 1993 with a size of 220 square meters in area. The Sempaya hot springs are two hot springs that is male and female hot springs and are in about a 30-minute walk from each other through the forest floor, these hot springs get their name from a Swahili phrase “Sehemu mbaya” meaning “the difficult”. This was due to challenges encountered during the construction of the Fort Portal – Bundibugyo road along the edges of the Rwenzori mountain Ranges.
The Sempaya Hot springs are said to exist in tow springs that is the female hot spring and the Male hot spring both found in different locations. While scientists have a technical explanation to the origins of the hot springs, the local people of the area called the indigenous Bamaga clan who stay near the hot springs in Semiliki national park, have their own interesting story about the existence of the Sempaya hot springs.
THE MALE HOTSPRINGS
The male hot springs is locally known as Mubungu by the local people (The Bamaga people), these people believe at the hot springs are a sacred shrine of their male gods thus the local name Mumbugu. The male hot springs are very significant cultural wise to the local people and men visit to it for wealth and other blessings and they perform sacrifices to appease the gods. The male hot springs are a pool of water.
THE FEMALE HOTSPRINGS
The Female hot springs is locally known as Nyansimbi and they are dominated by a geyser that sprays water to a height of up to 2 meters, the local people believe their females ancestors live under these hot springs thus the name Nyasimbi.
FORMATION OF SEMPAYA HOT SPRINGS
Sempaya hot springs were formed as a result of high temperatures inside the undergrounds rocks, the high temperatures lead to up thrust of the earth’s surface. Later the water infiltrates into the hot rock and the temperatures inside the rock also boils the water to very high temperatures, the water is then forced back upwards with excessive pressure resulting into the formation of the hot springs.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SEMPAYA HOTSPRINGS
Sempaya hot springs are culturally significant to the Bamaga people and according to their folklore, one day local women spotted an unknown man with a spear and a dog strolling in the forest. The man who was later known as “Bitente” was then brought home by the men of the village, during his stay he married of the women from this same village, one day he never returned from hunting and the village men searched from him with no trace all they found was his spear next to a newly formed hot spring currently known as the Male Hot Spring “”.
When the wife discovered that her husband had disappeared, she rushed to the site presumed to be where he disappeared from, she also disappeared from what is currently known as the Female Hot spring.
The Bamaga people these hot springs are sacred and they believe that their male and female ancestors dwell beneath each of the hot springs and each year they hold celebrations and perform traditional rituals to appease the gods and the ancestors.
To the Bamaga people/locals the female hot spring is called “Nyasimbi” and they believe the gods are female, women believe their female ancestors stay in female hot springs and because of their belief they annual hold celebrations to appease their female gods at the Nyasimbi hot spring. Sacrifice is offered is offered in form of throwing coins in the springs. For easy delivery, pregnant women come and pray at the hot springs and those who are yet to bear children pray for fertility. The salty water from the hot springs is believed to cure skin problems. The male hot spring “Mumbugu” is believed to be associated with wealth, men perform rituals at this site as a way of appeasing the gods.
Sempaya hot springs are also used as laboratory for researchers, the springs have salt deposits attracting various wildlife such as buffaloes and birds attracted to the springs surrounding the springs.
Apart from Sempaya hot springs, other activities to do alongside the hot springs visit include;
Game viewing; Toro Semiliki wildlife reserve is part of Semiliki national park with the Savannah grasslands suitable for game viewing. There are about 53 animal species in Semiliki with animals such as the pygmy hippos, bush babies, Uganda kobs, white-tailed mongoose, Buffaloes, forest elephants, warthogs, crocodiles to mention a few. Night game drives are also doable in Semiliki national park as the park has most of the night animals like the bush babies, white-tailed mongoose and other night creatures can be spotted during nocturnal game drives. Game viewing can are best done in the morning, evening and in the night. It is $35 for a foreign non-resident to enter the park for a game drive and 10, 000 Uganda shillings for East African residents.
Birdwatching in Semiliki national park; Semiliki national park has over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven”. There are about 130 Guinea-Congo forests Biome species recorded in Semuliki forest. Other bird species include; the Capuchin, white-tailed/Piping hornbill, blue headed, crested flycatcher, Orange Weaver, and Red-billed Malimbe. Semuliki national park is also close to Mount Rwenzori where River Semuliki winds along the western border down to Lake Albert, surrounded by swamps where we find birds like the Papyrus Gonolek, Caruther’s Cisticola. The areas around Sempaya, River Kirumia, and Ntandi are excellent spots for birdwatching. There are provided trails that birders use to find the different bird species.
Batwa cultural tour; Visiting the Batwa community in Semiliki national park is another added experience for all tourists. The Batwa are the indigenous settlers/native forest dwellers of the area before the forest was gazetted as a national park or reserve. The pygmy Batwa people survived on hunting as a source of food, bee keeping and drew livelihood like food, tools, medicine, shelter form the Semiliki forest. Today the Batwa people are a source of attraction to tourists as it is interesting to meet the indigenous dwellers of Uganda. On visiting them, you will learn more about the way of life of the Batwa people and you will be taken through the cultural performances of their traditional dance, drama and music. A cultural villagg has been set up as their homesteads.
Nature walks and hiking experiences
Eventhough hiking and nature walks can be done in other tourist destinations in Uganda Safaris tours, doing one in Semuliki national park is fascinating. There are 3 available trails for hiking in Semuliki national park including the Kirumia trail which runs through the forest to Semuliki river the Sempaya nature trail which leads to the hot springs and primates and the Red monkey track which leads to the park’s Eastern border where we find the rare De Brazza’s monkey.
HOW TO GET SEMPAYA HOT SPRINGS
Sempaya Hot springs are situated in Semuliki national park which found in the western Uganda about 465 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda and where most safaris begin from, from Kampala you can use with easily access the park using both road and air means of transport.
By road transport, it is a drive of about 7-8 hours’ drive using various routes, the most commonly used route to Semuliki national park is the Kampala –Masaka –Mbarara – Kasese route. This route is commonly used because it connects to other beautiful destinations such as Queen Elizabeth nationa park, Lake Mburo national park and the Equator landmark.
The second route to get to Semuliki national park and Sempaya Hot springs from Kampala is the Kampala –Mubende – Fort Portal route of about 5-6 hours of driving.
By air transport, domestic chartered flights are offered from Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese airfield then connect to Semuliki national park by vehicle.
