Among Uganda’s most attractive physical features are the hot springs in Semiliki National Park. Scientists describe a hot spring as a spring produced by the emergence of geothermal-heated groundwater from the earth’s crust. Hot springs are formed when water come into contact with the heated rock. If water percolates deeply enough into the crust, it will be heated as it comes into contact with hot rocks.
Hot springs are formed by cracks extending down towards the exceedingly hot temperatures of the mantle, and water seeping downwards is heated and forced back up under pressure to bubble. Uganda’s hot springs are found in four main locations:
- The Fort Portal Area
- Queen Elizabeth National Park Area
- Around Murchison falls national park Area
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Area
The Fort Portal Area
Semiliki National Park is situated in south western Uganda. In this park, hot springs are the major tourist attraction. The hot springs here include:
The Sempaya hot springs are Semiliki’s most famous attraction. They are set in a lush swampy clearing close to the south eastern corner of the forest of Semiliki. These two hot springs are in 2 sites, and are each distinct from each other. There is the Female Spring and the Male Spring. The female spring has water boiling at an impressive 103 degrees, and it spewing hot water up to 2m above the ground, while the male spring is more distant from the female spring and is reached by following a trail.
Water from hot springs is believed to cure certain diseases, such as ringworm. There are also legends and customs related to the hot springs that you will get in detail by the help of our professional tour guide. The female spring is visited by women who hope for a cure for infertility and other problems. Communities living near hot springs in Uganda usually have both spiritual and superstitious attachments to them.
Warm up to the hot springs
Uganda’s hot springs are often popular tourist destinations and locations for rehabilitation clinics for those with disabilities. The trail to the springs leads you through a patch of rain forest where red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked Mangabey and black and white colobus monkeys are common. Bird-watching safaris are also stunning, during which you will see different bird species, such as the forest horn. Tourists have been seen boiling eggs, cassava and green bananas in the two geothermal heated springs.
The Buranga Hot springs – Warm up to the hot springs
The only edge that Buranga hot springs have over Sempaya hot springs is the number of hot springs. Buranga hot springs are formed by three hot springs dispersed in a walk-able distance from each other. These are Mumbuga springs, Nyansimbe springs and Kagoro springs. You can visit them on your way to the Rwenzori Mountains and the Kibale Forest National Park.
The Sempaya hot springs
Semiliki’s most famous attraction. They are set in a lush swampy clearing close to the south eastern corner of the forest of Semiliki. These two hot springs are in 2 sites, and are each distinct from each other. There is the Female Spring and the Male Spring. The female spring has water boiling at an impressive 103 degrees, and it spewing hot water up to 2m above the ground, while the male spring is more distant from the female spring and is reached by following a trail.
Water from hot springs is believed to cure certain diseases, such as ringworm. There are also legends and customs related to the hot springs that you will get in detail by the help of our professional tour guide. The female spring is visited by women who hope for a cure for infertility and other problems. Communities living near hot springs in Uganda usually have both spiritual and superstitious attachments to them.
Uganda’s hot springs are often popular tourist destinations and locations for rehabilitation clinics for those with disabilities. The trail to the springs leads you through a patch of rain forest where red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked Mangabey and black and white colobus monkeys are common. Bird-watching safaris are also stunning, during which you will see different bird species, such as the forest horn. Tourists have been seen boiling eggs, cassava and green bananas in the two geothermal heated springs.
The Buranga Hot springs.
The only edge that Buranga hot springs have over Sempaya hot springs is the number of hot springs. Buranga hot springs are formed by three hot springs dispersed in a walk-able distance from each other. These are Mumbuga springs, Nyansimbe springs and Kagoro springs. You can visit them on your way to the Rwenzori Mountains and the Kibale Forest National Park.
The Rwagimba Hot springs. This is the most unique of all hot springs, found in river Rwimi, Bunyangabu district. These hot springs offer steam baths that draw multitudes to this place.It is also a recommended destination on your way to Kibale Forest National Park, the Rwenzori mountains, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park Area
The Kitagata Hot Springs. This hot spring is located one kilometer from the Kitagata trading center and has water temperatures as hot as 80 degrees centigrade. The springs also have historical importance as one was used by the King of Ankole and hence referred to locally as ‘Ekyomugabe’, meaning the King’s Spring, while the other adjacent one is more known for its medicinal value and referred to as Mulago in reference to Uganda’s national referral hospital which is Mulago. Kitagata hot springs are a must visit to anyone visiting Bushenyi district and are on the route that easily connects to Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo National Parks.
Many visitors travel to Kitagata to treat themselves to the hot baths or just to catch a glimpse of people bathing in these natural hot Spas. Kitagata hot springs are also well known for their curative waters. Patients from as far as 100 km flock the springs to soak themselves in the spring waters to heal them, some other patients drink the Sulphur-rich waters of the hot springs for cure from rheumatism and arthritis.
A medical research is yet to be conducted to prove the claims of the above cures. Among all the hot springs in Uganda, Kitagata hot springs might be the busiest attracting over 20 people on a good day trying to take a bath in this natural warm water as well as boiling some eggs, cassava, bananas and sweet potatoes in springs of hot water. The hot springs have several pools just around the hot springs from which people collect some warm water for drinking while at the springs.
The Murchison Falls National Park Area
The Amoropii hot springs. These are found in northern Uganda. They are also believed to do miracles for its visitors. These hot springs are rooted in the worship traditions of the Alur people because it’s believed to have divine powers. Amoropii hot springs got its name from Alur words meaning hot water. “Amoro” means hot and “pii” stands for water.
It is believed that barren women bathe in the hot spring as well as those in need of a fairer and tender skin. However, one must first get permission to visit these springs and illegal visiting of these hot springs may cause you problems such as snake bits. It is also believed that hot springs are related to traditional belief. For instance, every six months, a big sheep is slaughtered as a sacrifice to the gods of Amoropii. The mutton is left in the open, and the following day, it’s gone, believed to have been taken by the gods of Amoropii.
Kibiro Hot Springs – Warm up to the hot springs
The Kibiro Hot springs are some of the least known and the least visited hot springs in Uganda. This is partly because of it remote location compared to all the other hot springs. However, with a well-planned itinerary and good safari cars, the place can easily be accessed on a non-rainy day. It is also a recommended as a destination in case you are coming from Murchison falls national park heading to Kibale Forest National Park or accessing Murchison Falls National Park via Hoima town.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Area
The Ihimba Hot Springs. This is highly recommended for anyone doing gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and visiting Lake Bunyonyi. These hot springs are located in Kabale, western Uganda. They have a long history of the Bahima people, which make them a special destination for anyone who loves culture. You can also visit the local Bahima people in this area, garnishing your western Uganda trip with a feel of culture and hot spring scenery. Like all the other hot springs in Uganda, Ihimba hot springs has a long trail of notable healing among the local people, though not yet scientifically proven. With all these hot springs that await you, make it your aim to come and see, smell and feel the heat of these natural beauties. Indeed, warm up to these natural Spas.
