Fort Portal

Fort Portal sits at around fifteen hundred metres in western Uganda with the Rwenzori mountains on the western horizon and tea estates spreading around it, and the altitude makes it noticeably cooler and greener than most of the country. It is the seat of the Toro kingdom, with the Karuzika palace on a hill above the town, and it works as the base for Kibale forest, the crater lakes, the Amabere caves and Semuliki. The town centre is compact and walkable.

What you actually see

• The tea estates - plantations spreading around the town on the hills.
• The Karuzika palace - the Toro king's residence on a hill above the town.
• The Rwenzori view - the mountains on the western horizon on clear days.
• The town centre - a compact walkable centre with markets and eating places.

When to go

June to September and December to February are the drier windows. Mornings are clearest for the Rwenzori, which are often in cloud. It is cool at night year round.

Honest expectations

The Rwenzori are hidden by cloud for most of most days. The town itself has few sights and works mainly as a base. The drive from Kampala takes five hours or more.

Nearby

Kibale is southeast, and the crater lakes are south.