Fort Portal

The town lies in the northern foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains about 50 km north of Kasese. It is the only town in Uganda with an English name. It was named after the British Consul General of Zanzibar, Sir Gerald Portal who came to Uganda in 1890s. Fort Portal is an excellent starting point to begin a tour to some of Uganda’s best activities and attractions.

Fort Portal is surrounded by beautiful and diverse nature and scenery. The green hills towards Semuliki National Park, with its hot springs and fascinating wildlife; the dense forest of Kibale Forest with its chimpanzees; the countless crater lakes and the nearby mountains of the Rwenzori Mountains invite you to explore and linger. Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki Wildlife Reserve (Toro) can also be reached easily from Fort Portal. The beautiful Toro Palace is located on a hill above the town and can also be visited.

Fort Portal is famous for its tea. The cool climate makes the tea a high grown and high-quality tea. This tea has 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. African tea is one of the most common drinks served in Uganda. Tours to a tea plantation can be arranged.

Accessibility:
By Car:
Fort Portal is about 310 km from Kampala and it takes about 4 hours to reach the town.

By Air:
You can fly to Kasese and drive for about 30 minutes to Fort Portal, or you can fly to Semuliki airstrip and drive for about 1 hour to reach the town.

Activities:
Town Tour
Nature walk (Cave, Waterfalls)
Tea plantation
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
Semuliki National Park
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Rwenzori Mountains