Fort Portal is a beautiful little city located in Western Uganda on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. The city is known for its crater lakes, tea plantations, chimp trekking, and hiking. Fort Portal was designated as a ‘Tourism City’ by the Government of Uganda.
I visited Fort Portal with my girlfriend late last year. We were looking for a place to go for a long weekend getaway. We wanted to get out of Kampala for some fresh air. We decided on Fort Portal because neither of us had been before. It turned out to be an excellent choice.
A visit to Fort Portal makes for a great weekend trip from Kampala. It’s a great destination for nature lovers. It would also be a good stopover destination for those visiting the Semuliki National Park or the Rwenzori Mountains. In this guide, I’ll outline the top 5 things to do in Fort Portal, Uganda.
1. Amabere Caves & Waterfall
Amabere ga Nyinamwiru is a historic limestone cave located just outside of Fort Portal. The caves and waterfall are the main attractions. When you visit, you’ll go on a loop hike. You’ll see the caves and waterfall as well as a crater lake. You can see some beautiful rolling hills and the Rwenzori Mountains in the distance.
The name Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru means “the breasts of Nyina Mwiru” in the local languages. They are named this because of a set of stalactites that look like breasts. A milk colored calcium carbonate drips from these formations.
The entry fee for foreigners is 50,400 shillings ($13.35). The entry fee for Ugandan citizens is 17,000 UGX ($4.50). You can pay with cash or mobile money. You do not need to make reservations in advance. You can just show up and buy tickets.
The entrance to the Amabere Caves is located about 10km (6 miles) or 15 minutes from Fort Portal by car. We took a boda (motorcycle taxi) there. I don’t remember how much we paid but it wasn’t more than a few dollars. You could also hire private transport. If you have your own car, you could easily drive there. There are some gravel roads but the roads are all in good condition. It’s not a walkable distance.
I really enjoyed this place. It’s an easy and peaceful hike. It’s very scenic. The waterfall and caves are small but interesting. If you want, you could take a dip in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. There is a small visitor’s center with some information about the site. We spent about 3 hours there.
One thing I didn’t care for is that you have to use a guide. It would be nice to be able to explore alone. The trail is well-marked and well-maintained so I don’t know why a guide is required. The guide service is included in the price of the tickets so you don’t have to negotiate with the guide.
2. Crater Lakes
There are around 50 volcanic crater lakes located around Fort Portal. These are great for hiking, swimming, birdwatching, and cycling. You can also visit some local villages and plantations on the lakeshores. A few of the most popular lakes in the area include Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Nyabikere, Lake Kyaninga, and Lake Nkuruba. If you visit the Amabere Caves, you’ll pass by Lake Kigere during the hike.
The most popular Crater lake to visit is Lake Nyinambuga. It’s located about 25 km (16 miles) south of Fort Portal. This lake is famous for being on the back of the 20,000 shilling note. You could get there by boda or private taxi or take a tour. The ride there can be bumpy and dusty so it’s best to go in a car if you can.
If you plan to hike here, it’s a good idea to hire a local guide. The reason is that some of the trails pass through private property. There is a lot of community farming going on here. A guide makes it easier to avoid trespassing and deal with the language barrier if you encounter any villagers.
If you just want to drive out and look at the lake from the road or a lodge, you can without a guide. If you plan to do any serious hiking, a guide is recommended but not legally required. You can find guides for hire at the trailheads. You can also swim in Lake Nyinambuga. It is bilharzia free, unlike most East African lakes.
3. Kibale Forest / Chimpanzee Tracking
One of the most popular activities to do in the region is chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest. Fort Portal makes a great base for this. I didn’t go chimpanzee tracking due to the cost. It was out of my budget for this trip but I would love to do it in the future.
The chimpanzee trekking permit costs $250 for foreigners and 150,000 UGX for Ugandan citizens. The fee includes park entrance and an official Uganda Wildlife Authority guide. You get to spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees once you find them.
The trip from Fort Portal to Kanyanchu Visitor Center at Kibale National Park takes around an hour. That is where most chimpanzee trekking starts.
You can get there by hiring a private taxi or tour vehicle from Fort Portal. If you’re on a tight budget, you could also take a boda (motorcycle taxi). It’s a long ride but doable. You could also take a shared taxi but it would be difficult to get there on time because these don’t run on a schedule.
4. Take a Walk Around Town
Fort Portal is a pleasant place to walk around. There are a few reasons for this. Fort Portal is known as one of Uganda’s cleanest cities. There is also a wide sidewalk along the main road. It is also cooler because it sits at a higher elevation (around 1500 meters or 5000 feet) and it is near the Rwenzori Mountains. While you’re visiting, I recommend you take a stroll around town.
The city is surprisingly small. For some reason, I thought it was a mid-sized city but it is really just a town. There is one main road passing through town with several smaller side roads. It’s not a one street town but close. You could walk across the whole city in like 20 minutes. I think most of the population lives in the surrounding area.
Fort Portal is a much nicer place to walk around than Kampala. The air is much cleaner. It’s not as dusty. There is less traffic. It’s less overwhelming. You can walk around comfortably.
For a nice walk, head up the hill to visit the Karuzika Royal Palace (Tooro Palace). This is the residence of the Tooro king. It is located at the edge of the city on the top of Karuzika Hill. You can walk there from the city center in 15 minutes or so. You can take a guided tour of the palace if you choose. Entry costs around 55,000 UGX or $15.
Fort Portal is located in an agricultural region in Uganda. Lots of matoke, cassava, and fruits and veggies are produced there. You can get some great fresh food. I didn’t really notice anything that I couldn’t get in Kampala though. The food seemed mostly the same to me. There was a nice pork joint near our hotel. I also had some nice roasted goat meat.
5. Tea Plantation Tour
Another popular activity in Fort Portal is visiting a tea plantation. We did not do this activity during our trip. We did drive past plenty of tea plantations on our way there. You’ll see them from the bus.
A guided tour of a tea plantation costs around 38,000 to 58,000 UGX ($13-$15). A basic tour lasts about 2 hours. You’ll walk through a plantation with a guide and learn about how tea is produced. There are longer tours that last half a day and cost around $35. These walk you through the whole production process and show you how tea is made. If you’re driving to Fort Portal, you can just pull over on the side of the road and admire the plantations for free.
6. Tooro Botanical Gardens
Another popular attraction in Fort Portal is the botanical gardens. These aren’t manicured gardens like you might expect. It’s more like a forest you can wander through. There are maintained trails. It’s a nice area to walk around for a couple of hours.
The entry fee for foreigners is 30,000 UGX (around $8) and 10,000 UGX for Ugandans (around $2.65). This is the basic entry fee without a guide.
You can hire a guide if you choose. We didn’t. I don’t think you really need a guide. There are around 3km worth of trails. You can also use your phone to navigate the gardens.
If you want to learn more about the indigenous trees and plants, a guide may be useful. They can teach you about some medicinal plants and some community farming projects going on in the gardens.
When you go, I highly recommend you bring mosquito repellant. Unfortunately, we forgot ours in our hotel room. The mosquitoes here were thick. We cut our visit short because it was so bad. We couldn’t get away from them. It’s also a good idea to wear closed toe shoes and high socks for protection from ants.
Where to Stay in Fort Portal
We stayed at a small BnB called Gaia Eco Hub. It’s located on Kiboga Road, just a couple of blocks from the city center. It’s also within walking distance of the Link Bus station.
We paid about $15 per night for a small room for 2 people. The room had a private bathroom with hot water. A nice breakfast was also included. We had waffles and coffee every morning. The wifi was decent. There was also a great green outdoor space that I believe they use for events. It was nice. I think they have a dorm too. I’d recommend the place if you’re on a budget.
Getting to Fort Portal
If you’re traveling from Kampala, the best way to get to Fort Portal is to take the Link Bus. This is a direct bus that leaves hourly. Tickets cost 40,000 UGX (about $10.60) one way. The ride takes about 6 hours. It’s about 300 km from Kampala to Fort Portal. In Kampala, the bus station is located downtown.
You could also hire private transport to Fort Portal. From Kampala, the trip will cost around $200-$250. If you have a car, you could drive yourself. The roads aren’t all paved but they are in decent condition.
For more in-depth info on the bus and how to take it, check out my guide to traveling from Kampala to Fort Portal.
Getting Away
Fort Portal is a nice stop if you’re traveling to Western Uganda. From Fort Portal, you could travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s about 100km or 2-3 hours by road away. You could get there with a bus, shared taxi, or a private car.
You could also continue on to Kasese. This is another popular base for travelers who are visiting the Rwenzori Mountains or Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is located about 75km south of Fort Portal. You could also get there by bus, taxi, or car in about 1.5-2 hours.
If you want to travel back to Kampala, you have the same transport options. You could take the Link Bus. The buses leave every hour throughout most of the day. The ticket costs 40,000 UGX. You could also hire private transport or drive.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Fort Portal made for a great getaway trip from Kampala. I particularly enjoyed the cooler weather and fresh air. It was nice to get out of the city to see some nature. I also liked that it is a smaller city. It’s easy to get around. I will definitely go back.
If you’re in Uganda and you’re looking for a place to take some hikes, visit the Rwenzori Mountains, go chimpanzee trekking, visit some crater lakes, or tour a tea plantation, I recommend Fort Portal. It’s one of Uganda’s best tourist destinations.
For more general information on Uganda, check out my guide to living in Uganda as a foreigner.
Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 68 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor experience. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. He is currently based in Entebbe, Uganda. For more information on his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.