Sempaya hot spring viewing free, UWA declares

The tourists intending to view Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki National Park will have an opportunity to encounter this spectacle without payment of any fees.

According to Bashir Hangi, the Public Relations Manager of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the fees for a guided nature walk to view Sempaya hot springs have been scrapped.

"The people who go to sempaya to have an enhanced visitor experience will not pay," said Hangi, adding that the visitors to Semuliki have been paying entrance fees and also paying for viewing Sempaya hot spring. "The only charges that will remain are entrance fees."  

Previously, foreign visitors were paying $15 (sh55,000) and Ugandan tourists had to pay sh10,000 to have an encounter with the Sempaya hot springs.

A man boiling eggs at Sempaya hot springs

 
"We look at making money but also enhance tourism," said Hangi, adding that tourists going to Sempaya are likely to increase and that this means increased revenue.

In a statement sent to New Vision by Hangi stated that UWA Executive Director, Sam Mwandha says the scrapping of the fees is aimed at improving visitor experience in Semuliki National Park.

"This measure will greatly improve visitor experience in the park and we hope even the nationals will now find it more convenient and exciting to visit the park since they will no longer be required to pay separately to view the hot springs," Mwandha said.

With this new measure, visitors to the hot springs will now only pay the park entrance fees and no further charges will be levied, according to the statement.

Other products such birding and nature walks will be paid for as per the Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff which is accessible on our website.