Fort Portal is an important town and centre of the Kabarole District in Western Uganda.
Fort Portal's on the edge of Uganda’s equatorial rainforest. It's an enchanting land full of lakes, grasslands, marshes and forests on the lower slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda.
There are many wonderful lodges within Kibale forest where you can spend a night or two in a tree house experiencing the sounds of the forest's inhabitants including 8 species of monkey, chimpanzees, the forest elephant, bush pig and giant forest hog.
Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park which is less than an hour's drive from Fort Portal on the way to Mbarara. The wide bio-diversity of habitats means that Queen Elizabeth National Park contains the most astonishing number of species - almost 100 types of mammal and 606 different birds! The Kazinga Channel alone is said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippos, but interestingly enough not many crocodiles! Other wildlife includes warthogs, buffalo, rare aquatic sitatunga antelope, giant forest hog, beautifully horned Uganda kob, topi, waterbuck, elephant and leopard.
This is a wonderful national park, sometimes dubbed 'the Pearl of Africa or Switzerland of Africa'. Quite simply this fertile equatorial area is especially scenic, with two lakes connected by a channel overlooked by a high peninsula. You will also find volcanic craters, grassy plains and tropical forest. As a result it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings in the world. Hunting exhibits such as stuffed lions, leopard skins, deer heads and elephants tusks may still be found adorning some hotels and lodges, but the emphasis is certainly more on shooting with a camera these days. Many of Uganda's safaris were poached out in the past, especially elephants, but now the area is protected and elephants numbers are boosted by those entering the park from the Congo, where poaching is still a problem.
There is also a really funny statue of Sir Gerald Portal on the main road of the town. Yes, he does have a gun in his pocket and yes, he is pleased to see you.
Golfing: The town has a nice golf course, just on the main road. Entrance is USh 30,000, and you'll probably have to find someone there to rent you their set of clubs.
- Kabarole Tours and Safari, Molidina Street Plot 1, +256 774 057 390. Crater lake tours and a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park or chimp and gorilla tracking permits or bike and car hire.
- Nature and Wildlife tours, Fort Portal-Mbarara Road, Kiko Town council, 8 km from Fort Portal, +256 773527979. Crater lake tours and a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park or chimp and gorilla tracking permits.
Kabarole Tours and Safari, Molidina Street Plot 1, +256 774 057 390. Crater lake tours and a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park or chimp and gorilla tracking permits or bike and car hire.
Nature and Wildlife tours, Fort Portal-Mbarara Road, Kiko Town council, 8 km from Fort Portal, +256 773527979. Crater lake tours and a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park or chimp and gorilla tracking permits.
Fort Portal is famous for its tea. This area is gifted by nature with a cool climate which ensures a relatively slow plant growth rate. This naturally makes the tea a high grown, high quality tea.
The consumption of this tea is associated with many health benefits. These include anti-allergy, anti-oxidation, anti-hypertension, anti-viral, anti-obese, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, enzyme inhibition and many other human health problems. You can buy the tea in any local shop or even better visit one of Fort Portal's tea plantations.
- Stanbic Bank, Lugard road. Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
- Kenya Commerial Bank. Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
- Andrews Supermarket. Sells fresh bread.
Stanbic Bank, Lugard road. Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
Kenya Commerial Bank. Has a MasterCard/Visa ATM.
Andrews Supermarket. Sells fresh bread.
The two "foreigner" restaurants in town are the Gardens Restaurant just opposite the Shell petrol station on the main Lugard Road, and the Dutchess Restaurant (and hotel) on Mugurusi Road, right after the Uganda Human Rights Commission building. Both places have good pizza and other Western and local dishes, starting around UGX10,000.
There are also many good local restaurants in Fort Portal, and they are much cheaper. But go early, as food preparation in Uganda takes time. Half an hour for some simple fast food is not uncommon.
- Sweet Aromas Bakery, Malibo Road, +256 790-91615. 9AM-9pPM. Sells cakes, tea and coffee. Cakes from USh 2000.
- Little Rock Cafe, Kasese road, +256 483422814. 8AM-8PM. Home of hamburgers from USh 6000, chips USh 3000 and pot of tea USh 2000.
- Momo Tea Room. 6AM-9PM. A good place for breakfast: eggs USh 2000, chips USh 2500, bread USh 1000, black tea USh 700, milk tea USh 1000, soft drinks USh 1500.
Sweet Aromas Bakery, Malibo Road, +256 790-91615. 9AM-9pPM. Sells cakes, tea and coffee. Cakes from USh 2000.
Little Rock Cafe, Kasese road, +256 483422814. 8AM-8PM. Home of hamburgers from USh 6000, chips USh 3000 and pot of tea USh 2000.
Momo Tea Room. 6AM-9PM. A good place for breakfast: eggs USh 2000, chips USh 2500, bread USh 1000, black tea USh 700, milk tea USh 1000, soft drinks USh 1500.
The many varieties of tea, fresh fruit juices including pineapple, passion fruit and mango. And for the less health conscience Uganda have some excellent beers, Nile, Bell, and Pilsner.