The Male Hot Spring in Semuliki National Park : Semuliki hot springs, hot springs in Uganda
The male hot spring is located in Semuliki National Park and is part of the Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki. Located in western Uganda, Semuliki National Park is popular for its hot springs and is one of the main attractions to the park. The male hot spring can be seen and visited while on the hot springs trail in Semuliki National Park that starts at the Sempaya visitor centre. The hot springs trail usually starts with a walk to the female hot spring after which you then head to the male hot spring.
The trail to the male hot spring has stunning views of the escarpment and the lush vegetation on the edges and on the ground separated by wooden walkways. The beauty once you leave the forest and enter the section of the park that leads to the male hot spring will leave you in awe. Semuliki is located in the western section of the East African Rift Valley hence the dramatic escarpment.
Photo taken while heading to the male hot spring in Semuliki National Park
Formation of the Male 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 male hot spring is like a pool of hot boiling water with an ever present cloud of steam that can be seen 2 km away from the hot spring. The boiling temperatures at the male hot spring can go up to 103 degrees Celsius and temperatures at the male hot spring are hotter than temperatures at the female hot spring (100 degrees Celsius). You will notice the sign at the male hot spring that warns you not to go beyond a certain point as temperatures are too hot, your ranger guide will have also informed you of this as part of the guide lines.
Cultural Significance of the Male 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 male hot spring in Semuliki National Park
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 went on 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 name Nyansimbi.
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. You will also see a worshiping place (hut) for the Bamaga clan just near the male hot spring while on the trail, this is one of the worshiping places that they use for their rituals in the month of November.
The worshiping place used by the Bamaga clan during their rituals
Best time to visit the male hot spring in Semuliki National Park
The male hot spring can be visited all year round and Semuliki National Park is open to visitors all year round. However if you want to combine the visit to the hot springs with other national parks like Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking and Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife safari, 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
The male hot spring is 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. The park can also be accessed from Fort Portal city and you take the Nyakasura – Bundibugyo road to get to the park.
