Toro-Semliki Proposed National Park

National Park · Uganda

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Photo © Charles J. Sharp

Photo © Charles J. Sharp — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Albertine Rift's western escarpment rises above the Semliki River valley, a vast mosaic of forest, savanna and wetland converges to create one of East Africa's most biodiverse crossroads. Toro-Semliki's 1,785 square kilometres span elevations from lowland riverine forest along the Semliki—Uganda's only river flowing northward into the Democratic Republic of Congo—to montane woodland reaching across the plateau margins. The park's ecological signature is its position as a transition zone where Guinean forest-savanna species meet those of the Congo Basin, and where the region's dramatic geology of fault-scarps and riverine gorges has sculpted distinct microhabitats across its terrain. Dense gallery forests shelter populations of primates and small mammals adapted to the humid understory, while open woodlands and grasslands support grazing herbivores and the predators that follow them. Wetlands along the Semliki attract waders, waterfowl and herons that exploit seasonal water levels, while birds of prey quarter the skies above both forest canopy and open ground. The park's remoteness and minimal human disturbance have preserved intact food webs rarely found at this scale in the region.

For wildlife photographers and observers, Toro-Semliki demands patience and expertise—it rewards neither the casual drive-by nor the impatient lens. The riverine corridor offers the most accessible wildlife viewing, particularly during the dry seasons when animals concentrate along water sources and forest margins become more permeable to observation. Early morning light transforms the escarpment into a photographer's study of shadow and texture, while the canopy's varied strata means that different wildlife groups are active across different times of day and vertical zones. The park remains relatively undeveloped for tourism infrastructure, making it essential to work with experienced guides who understand both the landscape's topography and the seasonal movements of its fauna. Birdwatchers will find the transition zones between forest and savanna particularly productive, where mixed feeding flocks and edge-specialist species create concentrated observation opportunities. Access typically comes through the Ntoroko area on Uganda's western border, though logistics require advance planning and local partnerships; the effort, however, yields encounters with a cross-section of African fauna seen nowhere else in such concentrated form.

Balaeniceps rex

Great Blue Turaco

Corythaeola cristata

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus abyssinicus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Black-casqued Hornbill

Ceratogymna atrata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Pied Kingfisher

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Black-billed Barbet

Lybius guifsobalito

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Piping Hornbill

Bycanistes fistulator

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill

Bycanistes subcylindricus

Western Nicator

Nicator chloris

Fraser's Rufous Thrush

Stizorhina fraseri

African Green Pigeon

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Little Greenbul

Eurillas virens

Congo Pied Hornbill

Lophoceros fasciatus

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Polemaetus bellicosus

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Northern Red Bishop

Euplectes franciscanus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Falco ardosiaceus

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Actophilornis africanus

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

Merops variegatus

Red-throated Bee-eater

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Pycnonotus barbatus

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Black-headed Lapwing

Vanellus tectus

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Western Black-headed Batis

Batis erlangeri

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Green-throated Sunbird

Chalcomitra rubescens

Grey-headed Nigrita

Nigrita canicapillus

Ortygospiza atricollis

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Coturnix coturnix

Pternistis squamatus

Heuglin's Spurfowl

Pternistis icterorhynchus

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Caprimulgus natalensis

Caprimulgus inornatus

Long-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus climacurus

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Standard-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus longipennis

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Eastern Plantain-eater

Crinifer zonurus

White-crested Turaco

Tauraco leucolophus

Black-billed Turaco

Tauraco schuettii

Centropus senegalensis

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Centropus grillii

Ceuthmochares aereus

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

Yellow-throated Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx flavigularis

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo

Cercococcyx mechowi

Cuculus clamosus

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Speckled Pigeon

Columba unicincta

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

White-naped Pigeon

Columba albinucha

Western Bronze-naped Pigeon

Columba iriditorques

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Streptopelia semitorquata

Streptopelia vinacea

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Black-billed Wood Dove

Turtur abyssinicus

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

White-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura pulchra

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura elegans

Crecopsis egregia

Gallinula chloropus

Himantornis haematopus

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Terathopius ecaudatus

Beaudouin's Snake Eagle

Circaetus beaudouini

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Long-tailed Hawk

Urotriorchis macrourus

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Apaloderma narina

White-headed Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus bollei

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Black Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill

Lophoceros camurus

White-thighed Hornbill

Bycanistes albotibialis

Eastern Dwarf Hornbill

Horizocerus granti

Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill

Horizocerus cassini

Blue-throated Roller

Eurystomus gularis

Chocolate-backed Kingfisher

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Blue-breasted Kingfisher

Halcyon malimbica

African Dwarf Kingfisher

Ispidina lecontei

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Shining-blue Kingfisher

Alcedo quadribrachys

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet

Trachylaemus purpuratus

Speckled Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus scolopaceus

Red-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus atroflavus

Yellow-throated Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus subsulphureus

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Hairy-breasted Barbet

Tricholaema hirsuta

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

Double-toothed Barbet

Pogonornis bidentatus

Cassin's Honeybird

Prodotiscus insignis

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

African Piculet

Verreauxia africana

Buff-spotted Woodpecker

Pardipicus nivosus

Brown-eared Woodpecker

Pardipicus caroli

Fine-banded Woodpecker

Campethera taeniolaema

Yellow-crested Woodpecker

Chloropicus xantholophus

Speckle-breasted Woodpecker

Dendropicos poecilolaemus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Brown-backed Woodpecker

Dendropicos obsoletus

Falco tinnunculus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Psittacus erithacus

Rufous-sided Broadbill

Smithornis rufolateralis

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Chestnut Wattle-eye

Dyaphorophyia castanea

Brown-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira cyanea

Jameson's Wattle-eye

Platysteira jamesoni

Many-colored Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus multicolor

Bocage's Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus bocagei

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Albertine Sooty Boubou

Laniarius holomelas

Lühder's Bushshrike

Laniarius luehderi

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Papyrus Gonolek

Laniarius mufumbiri

Black-headed Gonolek

Laniarius erythrogaster

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

African Shrike-flycatcher

Megabyas flammulatus

Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike

Campephaga phoenicea

Petit's Cuckooshrike

Campephaga petiti

Oriolus brachyrynchus

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Velvet-mantled Drongo

Dicrurus modestus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone rufiventer

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Mackinnon's Shrike

Lanius mackinnoni

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Ptilostomus afer

African Blue Flycatcher

Elminia longicauda

White-shouldered Black Tit

Melaniparus guineensis

White-winged Black Tit

Melaniparus leucomelas

Slender-billed Greenbul

Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Red-tailed Bristlebill

Bleda syndactylus

Pale-throated Greenbul

Atimastillas flavigula

Swamp Palm Bulbul

Thescelocichla leucopleura

Joyful Greenbul

Chlorocichla laetissima

Simple Greenbul

Chlorocichla simplex

Honeyguide Greenbul

Baeopogon indicator

Red-tailed Greenbul

Criniger calurus

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul

Eurillas latirostris

Eurillas curvirostris

White-throated Greenbul

Phyllastrephus albigularis

Icterine Greenbul

Phyllastrephus icterinus

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Phyllastrephus scandens

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

Hirundo angolensis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Cecropis senegalensis

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Sylvietta virens

Chestnut-capped Flycatcher

Erythrocercus mccallii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Whistling Cisticola

Cisticola lateralis

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Chubb's Cisticola

Cisticola chubbi

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Carruthers's Cisticola

Cisticola carruthersi

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

White-chinned Prinia

Schistolais leucopogon

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Grey-capped Warbler

Yellow-browed Camaroptera

Camaroptera superciliaris

Olive-green Camaroptera

Camaroptera chloronota

Green-backed Eremomela

Eremomela canescens

Green White-eye

Zosterops stuhlmanni

Brown Illadopsis

Illadopsis fulvescens

Scaly-breasted Illadopsis

Illadopsis albipectus

Turdoides plebejus

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Black-lored Babbler

Turdoides sharpei

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

Purple-headed Starling

Hylopsar purpureiceps

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Splendid Starling

Lamprotornis splendidus

Purple Starling

Lamprotornis purpureus

Stuhlmann's Starling

Poeoptera stuhlmanni

Narrow-tailed Starling

Poeoptera lugubris

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

White-tailed Ant Thrush

Neocossyphus poensis

Red-tailed Ant Thrush

Neocossyphus rufus

Fire-crested Alethe

Alethe castanea

Brown-backed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas hartlaubi

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Northern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis edolioides

Dusky-blue Flycatcher

Bradornis comitatus

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Cassin's Flycatcher

Muscicapa cassini

Swamp Flycatcher

Muscicapa aquatica

Brown-chested Alethe

Chamaetylas poliocephala

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat

Cossypha niveicapilla

Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat

Cossypha cyanocampter

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Grey-winged Robin-Chat

Sheppardia polioptera

Semicollared Flycatcher

Ficedula semitorquata

Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Myrmecocichla nigra

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Grey-headed Sunbird

Deleornis axillaris

Little Green Sunbird

Anthreptes seimundi

Grey-chinned Sunbird

Anthreptes tephrolaemus

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Green-headed Sunbird

Cyanomitra verticalis

Cyanomitra olivacea

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Olive-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris chloropygius

Cinnyris regius

Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Cinnyris mariquensis

Red-chested Sunbird

Cinnyris erythrocercus

Cinnyris superbus

Cinnyris cupreus

Passer domesticus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Slender-billed Weaver

Ploceus pelzelni

Ploceus luteolus

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Black-billed Weaver

Ploceus melanogaster

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Northern Brown-throated Weaver

Ploceus castanops

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Ploceus cucullatus

Vieillot's Black Weaver

Ploceus nigerrimus

Black-headed Weaver

Ploceus melanocephalus

Yellow-mantled Weaver

Ploceus tricolor

Blue-billed Malimbe

Malimbus nitens

Red-headed Malimbe

Malimbus rubricollis

Crested Malimbe

Malimbus malimbicus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops

Red-billed Quelea

Pachyphantes superciliosus

Euplectes gierowii

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Southern Red Bishop

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Magpie Mannikin

Spermestes fringilloides

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Mandingoa nitidula

White-breasted Nigrita

Nigrita fusconotus

Black-faced Waxbill

Brunhilda erythronotos

Black-crowned Waxbill

Estrilda nonnula

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

Estrilda melpoda

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda paludicola

Estrilda astrild

Black-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda troglodytes

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Black-bellied Seedcracker

Pyrenestes ostrinus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Black-bellied Firefinch

Lagonosticta rara

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Crithagra frontalis

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Thick-billed Seedeater

Crithagra burtoni

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

African Black Duck

Butorides striata

Black-faced Rufous Warbler

Bathmocercus rufus

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Colobus guereza

Ashy Red Colobus

Piliocolobus tephrosceles

De Brazza's Monkey

Cercopithecus neglectus

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