Attractions for Tourists in Fort Portal
Fort Portal’s tourist attractions consist of One of the main towns located in western Uganda is Fort Portal, and the area boasts several attractions including the following:
Touring the national park Kibale forest
Popular tourist site Kibale Forest National Park is located near Fort Portal and is well-known for primate visits in Uganda.
Tours in Kibale Forets National Park, well-known for chimpanzee visits, show around 375 bird species. Among other primate species found there are l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons.
Trekking in Kibale forest national park, chimps in their natural habitat communicate in the morning and in the afternoon. Spending one hour with the chimps, visitors intently observe their actions.
Permits for the chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park cost 250 USD for foreign nonresidents, 200 USD for foreign residents and 200,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens. Those above the age of twelve should engage in this exercise.
Around Kibale forest national park, other activities include guided nature walks, bird viewing and community tours, chimpanzee habituation experiences.
Seeing the Amabere cavernues
Found a few kilometers from Fort Portal town, the Amabere caves are among the attractions there.
Among the locations to see at Fort Portal, the Nyakasura area include the caverns. To reach the Amabere ga nyina Mwiru caverns, visitors hike and tour waterfalls and surroundings.
They are named for the breasts of the Bachwezi daughter of the king, whose story the residents claim had her breasts severed to prevent attracting males. About three hours separate the hike to the caverns from which visitors might see black and white colobus monkeys as well as other bird species.
Visitors of the Amabere caverns can also enjoy the stunning surroundings by visiting several crater lakes. The Nyakasura area boasts roughly three crater lakes, which visitors can view throughout the trekking paths around the site.
Nkuruba Nature Reserve in Lake
About five kilometers from Kibale Forest National Park, in the southern section of Fort Portal town, lies the Lake Nkuruba nature reserve, where visitors may engage in guided nature walks among other activities.
Visitors to the Lake Nkuruba natural reserve can explore the crater lake there as well as observe a variety of wildlife including the Great Blue Turaco, Hornbills among others.
The Ororo Palace
Visiting the Tooro palace—also known as the Karuzika palace—gives one understanding of the customs of the people living there.
Situated on Karuzika hill, the palace is run under King Oyo, one of Uganda’s younger kings. Built in 1960 and refurbished by Gadhafi, former Libyan ruler during his trip to Uganda, the Tooro palace boasts exquisite architecture.
Viewpoints of Fort Portal town from the palace allow visitors to come to know more about the Batooro people, their kingdom, culture and traditions among other things while touring the palace.
Kyaninga’s lake
One of the crater lakes in Fort Portal town, Lake Kyaninga is close to Kyaninga lodge, one of the luxury resorts within Kibale forest national park.
Among the numerous crater lakes located near Fort Portal are the Kasenda lakes, Lake Nkuruba, Lake Nyabikere, Lake Nyinabulitwa, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Nyanswiga, Lake Mubiro among others where visitors may engage in viewing and also boat excursions among other activities.
Attractions for tourists in Fort Portal Lake Kyaninga Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Located in Kibale forest national park, the Bigodi wetland paradise is another stop on trips near Fort gateway town.
One of the well-known bird viewing locations in western Uganda, the Bigodi wetland reserve hosts a variety of bird species visible on excursions. Apart from bird viewing, visitors can participate in guided nature hikes and community visits throughout the surroundings.
Among the bird species found around the Bigodi wetland sanctuary are Papyrus Gonolek, Grey crowned cranes, Great Blue Turaco, Yellowthroated Tinkerbird, Blue Throated Roller, White Shrike Flycatcher, Western Nicator, Papyrus Gonolek, kingfishers, Waxbills, Cuckoos among others.
Toro Semuliki refuge for wild life
Another place visited during trips around Fort Portal town is Toro Semuliki game reserve.
Among other species found in the wildlife reserve are black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, gigantic forest hogs.
The Toro Semuliki natural reserve also boasts several bird species. Among the pursuits available around the area are bird watching, guided nature walks, community visits and wildlife viewing.
Albert from Lake
One of the lakes visited on Uganda’s western portion around Fort Portal town is Lake Albert.
On the edge of Democratic Republic of Congo, the lake is among the rift valley lakes in Uganda.
How might one reach Fort Portal?
Driving from Kampala along the Mubende-Fort Portal path takes roughly five to six hours, allowing tourists access to Fort Portal.
Ideal visit date for Fort Portal
With the dry season the optimum time to explore Fort Portal, tours around the site can be undertaken all year.
Along with approximately December, January, and February, the dry season lasts in June, July, August, September, and October. Part of the low season, tourists can also visit Fort Portal attractions in November and between March and May.
