UK Lifts Travel Advisory on Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki Parks
The United Kingdom’s FCDO no longer advises against travel to Uganda’s Parks of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park. They have now been deemed safe for tourism once again. The decision marks the end of a warning that had been in place since October 2023, following a deadly attack on tourists that prompted heightened security concerns in western Uganda. British tourists were avoiding trips taking through those two parks which reduced visitor numbers to not only the parks but Uganda at large.
Following the 2023 incident, Ugandan security forces and wildlife authorities intensified joint patrols, upgraded surveillance, and worked extensively with community groups surrounding the park. These efforts have resulted in a stable environment, enabling the FCDO to revise its advisory. Perhaps the heightened security explains why safaris to those parks and others in Uganda have been running smoothly even with the travel advisory!
Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki National Parks declared safe again by UK
UK travellers can now book a Uganda safari itinerary with Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park. The ban didn’t only affect visits to these two parks but some travelers would shun travels to Uganda until it is safe. The two parks, especially Queen Elizabeth Park, are among Uganda’s most visited spots attracting thousands of visitors annually. Located near Bwindi Gorillas Park, Kibale Chimpanzee Forest and Rwenzori Mountains Park, Queen Elizabeth is a land scape of Biodiversity and Scenic Splendor.
Why you must visit Queen Elizabeth National Park on a Uganda Safari
Located in western Uganda and straddling the Great Rift Valley, Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for its sweeping savannah, crater lakes, wetlands, and dense forest zones. It’s diverse ecosystem harbors:
- Over 600 bird species, making it one of the world’s top birding destinations
- Approximately 95 mammal species, including elephants, hippos, buffaloes, lions, leopards and hyenas. These are spotted during game drives.
- The famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector.
- The dramatic Kazinga Channel, known for one of the highest concentrations of hippos on Earth.
- The lion trekking experience.
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest
- The bats and python caves in Maramagambo Forest.
ABOUT SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK
Semuliki National Park on the other hand is is one of the country’s most unique protected areas. Unlike Uganda’s savannah-dominated wildlife parks, Semuliki is an extension of the vast Congo Basin rainforest, making it a haven for rare species, hot springs, and rich indigenous culture.
-
Home to Rare Wildlife and Exceptional Bird Species
While Semuliki hosts a modest number of traditional safari mammals, it is a treasure for specialist species, especially birders and primate researchers. Notable wildlife includes; Forest elephants and forest buffalo, Sitatunga (rare swamp antelope), Chimpanzees (in adjacent Semuliki Wildlife Reserve), sSeveral monkey species including De Brazza’s monkey and the mangabey plus the nocturnal predators such as serval cats and civets.
-
Semuliki is a birder’s paradise
Semuliki is famous for its exceptional birding. With over 440 bird species, many of which are Congolese forest endemics, it is often regarded as one of the most rewarding but challenging birding destinations in Africa. Species such as the Nkulengu rail, piping hornbill, and red-billed dwarf hornbill attract birders worldwide.
-
The Iconic Sempaya Hot Springs
One of the park’s most distinctive attractions is the Sempaya Hot Springs, a pair of geothermal springs known as the “male” and “female” springs in local tradition.
Visitors can see boiling geyser-like water jets reaching up to 2 meters, natural steam vents and pools hot enough to cook eggs in minutes (a popular tourist demonstration). These springs hold cultural significance and are central to local folklore.
What lifting of the travel advisory against these parks mean?
UK’s lifting of the travel advisory against Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park, reopens two of Uganda’s most important conservation and tourism areas to British travellers. It further signals renewed stability and confidence in Uganda’s tourism landscape. For travellers seeking iconic wildlife experiences, from tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park to the unique ecosystems of Semuliki. The FCDO’s decision restores access to these parks and Uganda at large. Request a Quote
We at Jungle Escape Africa, we are ready to plan safe and unforgettable experiences to all visitors. We keep giving updates to all our travellers, not only British tourists. Currently, local conservation agencies and law-enforcement teams continue to maintain enhanced patrols and monitoring systems around the parks. When it comes to Gorilla trekking, tourists are accompanied into the forest by armed park guides to avert any threat.