The Female Hot Spring in Semuliki National Park

The Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki National Park are a popular attraction in the park which draw a number of visitors each year. The female hot spring in Semuliki National Park is part of the Sempaya hot springs and is the first hot spring that you visit while on the hot springs trail before heading to the male hot spring. The trail begins at the Sempaya visitor centre where you meet your ranger guide, receive a briefing and then start the walk through the forest to the female hot spring.

The beauty at the female hot springs is one for the books, surrounded by the lush vegetation, you spend time here taking in the stunning views as you watch the hot springs. Your ranger guide takes you through the formation of the female hot spring as you also stop by different sections at the female hot springs. Bearing in mind that the boiling temperatures at the female hot spring are hot, the ranger guide will advise you to keep a safe distance as you watch the hot springs. The hot spring has wooden walk ways that make it easy to walk from one point to another.

Formation of the Female Hot Spring in Semuliki National Park

The female hot spring in Semuliki National Park

Scientifically, the female hot springs were formed as a result of geothermal activity where underground water heated by hot rocks or magma rises to the ground through cracks. The most iconic feature at the female hot springs is the hot steam that shoots up from the hot springs and goes up to two meters, the streams of hot steam make bubbling sounds as they splash down on to the hot spring pool. The boiling temperatures at the female hot springs can go up to 100 degrees Celsius.

Cultural Significance of the Female Hot Spring

The hot springs in Semuliki National Park have a cultural attachment to the Bamaga clan which comprises of the Bamaga people that live in communities near the park. The people of the Bamaga clan originate from Bamaga, who they believe is their ancestor.

According to the traditional legend, Bamaga was a hunter of game in the forest and was married to Nyansimbi who was a daughter from the Basaiga clan. Bamaga and Nyansimbi had children and lived together. One day, Bamaga being a hunter went out into the forest to hunt game. Shockingly, on this day Bamaga did not return as he usually used to and his family did not hear from him for three days. Nyansimbi was worried after the three days and decided to consult her sons and neighbours who decided to go out in to the forest in search of him. They got to a section of the park while on their search for Bamaga where they found the spear at Nyabahuku hot spring (the present son hot spring), a dog and his bark cloth at Nyambu (the present male hot spring) where there was a pool of boiling water. On seeing the bark cloth they knew that Bamaga had died and the sons named this spot Bitente which translates to “he has gone”. This was how the male hot spring got its name Bitente.

The sons of Bamaga returned home with the spear, dog and bark cloth. They broke the news to Nyansimbi and when she heard this news about her husband’s death, it is said that she disappeared into the forest. The sons mounted another search this time for Nyansimbi which lasted three days, on the third day they found her bark cloths at the present female hot spring which they named Nyansimbi.

Visitors at the female hot springs with a ranger guide

The Bamaga clan therefore believe that their female ancestors stay at the female hot spring which they call Nyansimbi while their male ancestors stay at Bitente which is the male hot spring. The Bamaga visit the hot springs every year in the month of the November and during this time they carry out sacrifices to appease their gods. The items sacrificed include goats, hens, banana brew that is locally made etc. They believe that the hot springs cure diseases and ailments. Barren women visit to ask the gods for fertility, the poor come to ask for wealth while those with skin diseases come to bathe the water which they believe can heal their diseases. The spear that belonged to Bamaga and his bark cloth has been kept to date with the clan leadership and the items are used to perform rituals.

Things to do at the female hot springs

Boiling eggs and matoke at the female hot springs

The female hot spring trail includes a unique experience where you get to participate if interested in the boiling of eggs and matoke (green bananas) at the boiling section of the hot spring. This experience allows you to participate in the boiling with the help of your ranger guide and also watch the interesting way in which the eggs and bananas boil at the hot spring without fire. The hot temperatures at the hot springs have the ability to boil food in a few minutes. You have an opportunity to capture photos and videos of the experience. The items that you boil can take between 10-20 minutes to get ready after which you are free to eat them, the boiled eggs have a rich aroma and taste due to the hot spring waters that is different from eggs that are boiled in tap water.

Eggs and bananas in the boiling section at the female hot springs

Nature walk

The nature walk that leads to the female hot spring is a great way to get in touch with nature. For nature lovers, you have an opportunity to look out for trees, plants and butterflies. You also get to enjoy being surrounded by the lush vegetation of low land rain forest. The female hot spring also attracts birds so if you are a birder, you can stop here to look out for migratory birds, stints, snipes that like to feed on the insects and other invertebrates that are attracted by the algae and aquatic plants near the hot springs.

The nature trail that leads to the female hot springs

Best time to visit the female hot springs in Semuliki National Park

The female hot springs can be visited all year round and Semuliki National Park is open to visitors all year round. However if you want to combine a visit to the hot springs with other activities like chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and a wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, then its best to visit during the dry months.

The dry season months run from June to September and from December – February. The nature trails are dry and easy to navigate during the dry months as opposed to the wet months when the trails can get muddy and slippery due to heavy rainfall.

Semuliki National Park Location

A ranger guide in Semuliki National Park walking along a wooden walkway

The female hot springs are located in Semuliki National Park. The park which covers an area of 220 square kilometers is located in western Uganda along the border with the Democratic Republic of Uganda (DRC). The park is 387 kilometers away from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Semuliki National Park can also be accessed from Fort Portal city and you take the Nyakasura – Bundibugyo road to get to the park.