On the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the Rwenzori foothills give way to lowland rainforest, Sempaya Hot Springs is one of Uganda's most striking geothermal sites — two springs, steeped in local legend, sending up columns of steam from the forest floor of Semuliki National Park.
The Boiling Springs of Semuliki
Sempaya holds two springs, known locally as the "male" spring, Bintente, and the "female" spring, Nyasimbi, each tied to origin legends of the local Bwamba and Batwa communities. Nyasimbi in particular boils visibly and forcefully enough to cook an egg in minutes, and the surrounding ground steams and bubbles in a landscape that feels distinctly volcanic despite sitting in dense lowland forest.
What to See & Do
A guided boardwalk trail leads from the park gate through rainforest to both springs, with guides sharing the local legends behind each one along the way. Semuliki National Park itself, one of the few true lowland tropical rainforests in East Africa, adds birding and primate-watching opportunities for visitors who extend their stay beyond the springs themselves.
Best Time to Visit
The dry seasons (December-February, June-August) make the boardwalk trail easiest to walk. The springs themselves are active year-round regardless of season.
Getting There
Semuliki National Park is roughly 50km from Fort Portal via Bundibugyo road, about 7-8 hours from Kampala. It is often combined with the Rwenzori foothills or a wider western Uganda circuit given the distance involved.
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