Fort Portal – Western Uganda
Fort Portal, a major town in western Uganda, has a refreshingly cool climate and offers the traveler many exciting, interesting, and relaxing options. These include access to three national parks and two wildlife reserves.
The areas that surround Fort Portal contain an amazing amount of biological diversity, even for a country with as much diversity as Uganda (which, despite its small size, has one of the highest for any African country). Thus, the town provides access to afro-montane habitat, high tropical forest, savannas, woodlands, papyrus marshes, lakes both large and small, and the only true lowland tropical rain forest in all of East Africa.
Because of this many different types of mammals can be found and the number and variety of bird species is incredible.
On the human side of things, Fort Portal is still the capital of the Toro Kingdom, one of the four major kingdoms in Uganda. Besides the Batoro, the other main tribes in the area include the Bakonzo of the Rwenzoris, the Bwamba of Bundibugyo District, and the Mbuti of the Semuliki Forest. Each tribe has its own language, culture and traditions, making a rich if sometimes confusing human tapestry.
Despite the overblown accounts in the world media of insecurity affecting western Uganda, the problems are highly localized and easily avoided. In fact, most of the people are surprisingly friendly, laid-back, and helpful to the extreme, which makes casual strolls and short walks of exploration a popular pastime with residents and tourists. So the Fort Portal area offers safe options for several travel styles including adventuring, bird/mammal watching, and complete relaxation.
Here are some of the activities, places, and opportunities eager to welcome you to Western Uganda
Kibale Forest National Park has the highest density of primates in the world and is an important scientific research center. Forest walks to see primates (such as Red- tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, Red colobus, Black and white colobus, Vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and especially the habituated chimpanzees), birds, butterflies, plants, and the forest ecosystem itself are popular with visitors. Night walks to catch glimpses of the elusive nocturnal primates, three species of bushbabies and the potto, are a new and unusual addition to the park’s attractions.
The Northern Spur of Rwenzori Mountains National Park has been developed for tourism by a community group who will take you on a mountain hike to visit some low peaks and see mammals and birds found only in the Rwenzoris. Cultural entertainment such as Batoro and Bakonzo dancing is also offered and is well worth seeing.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve is another excellent place for bird watching. It is currently developing a community wetlands education center with tourism facilities attached. As part of this project a canal through the Katonga River marsh is being cut for tourism and education. Seeing the heart of a papyrus marsh in a quietly poled canoe is a rare opportunity that should not be missed.
The Crater Lakes that surround Fort Portal are another popular destination for visitors. There are many of them, each differing in size and character and several have well developed visitor facilities. These lakes have fishing, swimming, great birding, easy access to Kibale National Park, and a solitary hippo that timeshares between a few of them. The crater lakes are bilharzia-free and perfect places to spend a few inexpensive and idyllic days resting, relaxing, and recovering from the rigors of travel.
Magombe Swamp, Bigodi, is located close to Kanyancu, the tourism center of Kibale National Park, and is developed for tourism by a community group. A trail and boardwalk take you around and through the swamp where birding is good and several species of monkeys are apt to be seen, as well as the interaction between human needs and the needs and benefits of conservation.
Bird watching deserves mention by itself. Uganda has over one thousand species of birds and each of the protected areas mentioned here , except Rwenzori NP, has from 300 to around 400 species. Some of the best places for bird watching are Katonga WR, Semliki WR, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, the Crater Lakes, Itwara Forest Reserve, and Magombe Swamp. Because of the broad diversity in such a small area, western Uganda probably has the best birding in a country that has some of the best birding in the world.
In Fort Portal itself are the old and new palaces and parliament of the Toro Kingdom, and the resting places of three of the kings (Karaambi Tombs) is only a short ride away. Bicycle tours are a popular way of seeing some of the sights and views close to town (including the Crater Lakes and Amabere Caves).
While you are here, you will find numerous opportunities to buy handicrafts in shops and markets that are hard, impossible, or expensive to find in other places. These include instruments, weapons, papyrus baskets and hats, and other things made and used only by the local tribes as well as crafts made in other parts of Uganda. It is generally agreed that the best baskets in Uganda are made from natural materials in Rubona, close to Fort Portal on the Kasese road.