Fort Portal (Kabarole) is known as the Tourism City of Uganda. Located in the Western Region, the town is the perfect base to have the best of both worlds. Or actually, the best of three worlds. In close proximity you can discover the rain forest with the Kibale Forest National Park being right at our door step; you can hike in dizzying heights in the Rwenzori mountains, and if you don’t mind driving a short distance you can experience the once in a lifetime Uganda safari you have been dreaming of.
Take a tour around town and look for birds. Even in the buzzing town centre you will already see some species that you won’t know from home. You can decide whether you are a proper birder who would like to participate in a tour with a trained guide, or whether you just came to Uganda to see all the animals depicted in The Lion King. In the latter case it will be enough to keep your eyes open while driving on a Boda through town and you will already be able to tick some birds of your list.
Visit all the crater Lakes
Well, that might take you a bit longer than a week, as Fort Portal is surrounded by over 50 crater lakes, some of which are hard to reach. However, if you feel active you can walk a trail of 18 km on which you can see at least 5 crater lakes, volcanoes and waterfalls or you can take a Boda or a driver and visit the Kasenda Crater Lakes. There you can swim in Lake Nkuruba and hike up a small hill to the Top of the World viewpoint from where you have the perfect view over crater lakes and the Rwenzori mountains.
Hike in the Rwenzori
After spending some days looking at the mountain range in the background of Fort Portal you might feel the urge to actually hike them. This will be the perfect opportunity to meet local communities and learn how they make their living. Being greeted by smiling children who are happy to see visitors in their villages will make the climb much easier. You can either hike up the hill for one day or, if you feel like an adventure, stay for up to a week in the so-called Mountains of the Moon.
Look for our closest relatives
Just outside of town, the famous Kibale Forest National Park has its roots. Go on a short walk through the deep green forest and then see for yourself, the primates are having a blast in the bushes. See how Chimpanzees live their family lives and that the babies are driving their mothers crazy just as well as ours. Spend up to a whole day with the chimps and see what you can learn from them.
Look for forest elephants on a nature walk
Granted the chances to actually see a forest elephant in Kihingami swamp are very slim, and that should be absolutely fine. Forest elephants are not used to humans and go into full attack mode if you cross their path, and yet one cannot stop wishing to find them anyway.
However, on your nature walk through the wetlands you will be able to see several monkey species. For birders, the swamp can offer you over 300 different species of birds. On top of that the income generated by visitors will be used to support communities and local schools.
Finally see wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Prepare yourself for an early start when you drive accompanied by the Ugandan sunrise towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Have your breakfast on the way so that a hungry lion won’t steal it from you, and off you go on your first game drive. Since awing at African wildlife surely will make you hungry again, you will spend your lunch on the shores of the Kazinga Channel.
You can decide whether you would like to go on a boat ride or immediately do another game drive. If you think that one day with elephants can’t ever be enough, you can even stay for one or two more days in the park, trailing deeper and looking for rare tree climbing lions.