Fort Portal located in western Uganda boasts one of the best scenery and panoramic landscapes that is dotted with dozens of crater lakes, calderas, expansive tea-covered hillsides, farmlands and rainforests. Numbering over 50, Fort Portal’s craters were formed by volcanic forces that shaped the rift valley and divided into two distinct clusters namely; the Ndali-Kasenda and Fort Portal cluster of crater lakes.These crater lakes differ in character and form with several filled with water while others with tropical forests that teem with a diversity of both primates and birdlife.
Tours and Activities
Tailored tours to and around Fort Portal’s craters lakes are a major adds-on highlight to many of our Best of Uganda Safaris, offering numerous and pocket-friendly adventures in the backdrop of stunning scenery. Activities range from short hiking and cycling experiences to immersive community guided walks that offer a typical rural uganda lifestyle.
Dedicated naturalists and birdwatchers will be awed by the quality sightings of forest-proper bird species that occur within various tropical forest patched that line the steep sides of most crater lakes. A good selection of primates and butterflies occur in these small forests.
Activities to do around Fort Portal cluster of Crater Lakes
- Hiking Amabere ga Nyina-Mwiru Caves, Lake Saka and Kigere Crater Lakes
The Fort Portal cluster of crater of lakes which lie about 5 km north of the town offer the most rewarding adventures including; hiking, cycling and horse riding tours. A hiking tour here follows a scenic walking trail that extends up to a viewpoint for excellent all-around views of the three craters of Lake Saka, Lake Kigere and distant Rwenzori Mountain ranges. The hiking trail run past rims of these craters lake to come into Amabere ga Nyina-Mwiru caves that derives their name from the dripping stalactite formation that resembles a woman’s breasts.
Translated as (Breasts of Mwiiru’s Mother), Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru cave is an important cultural site to the local Batooro, who believe their founder Ndahura, was raised here. Legend says a young princess whose breasts were cut off by her furious king father sought refuge here and was met and impregnated by King Isaza. The princess conceived a son, Mwiiru, whom she fed on the milky limestone substance that dripped from hanging stalactites. It is said the young Mwiiru grew strong to later become King Ndahura, the founder of the Bachwezi dynasty that eventually conquered the Great Lakes kingdoms.
Trail Duration and Difficulty
The scenic walking trail that leads around the three crater lakes and Amabere Cave is roughly 8km (2/3 hrs) long and considered a moderate-level trek with a short, sharp ascent to the main viewing point. Rewards include stunning views of the surrounding farmlands, distant mountain ranges, and wide valleys.
Activities to do around the Ndali/Kasenda Crater Lakes
Lying some 30km south of Fort Portal town, the Ndali – Kasenda cluster of crater lakes spreads across a 15 km² area crater-field, revealing the most intense and violent volcanic eruptions that shaped this entire landscape. A number of these crater lakes are filled with crystal-clear blue waters hemmed in with steep forested hillsides, while others are wide and gentle-sided shallow depressions heavily cultivated. The surrounding volcanic-rich soils are the most fertile in the country, supporting large estates of coffee, tea, and bananas.
The towering scenic landscape around these crater lakes is lined with a wide range of accommodations offering a serene environment and a perfect base to explore a plethora of adventure activities including chimpanzee trekking at KIbale Forest NP.
Popular Adventure Activities around the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes
The Ndali – Kasenda crater lakes offer a wide range of adventure activities from hiking, motorbike tours, coffee, vanilla and banana demonstrative tours, and nature walks. These experiences are led by informative local guides who will lead you along local footpaths past humble homesteads, bustling day markets, and schools to reveal a typical Ugandan rural lifestyle. Tours range from as short as 2-4 hours to a full-day experience.
- Crater Lakes Hiking Tours
Hiking is the most popular activity around these crater lakes which offers stunning views of the entire crater lake-pocked landscape characterized by green carpets of tea, rainforests and banana farms. These tours mostly tailored to your available time and interests.
- Banana, Coffee and Vanilla Farm Tours
Favored by a high altitude and high rainfalls, the fertile volcanic soils here are the best in the country, dominated by large estates of tea, coffee, and vanilla as the main cash crops, along with banana varieties. Guided community walking tours offer combined hiking and demonstrative experiences where you visit and learn about coffee and vanilla farm tours to gain insights on these high-demand crops grown locally.
- Hike to Mahoma Falls
One scenic trail combines a trek around Lake Mwamba extending to the characterful Mahoma Falls set in a small forest gorge beyond Kabata village.
- Birding and Primate Viewing Guided Nature Walks at Lake Nkuruba
Bird watchers and naturalists will be rewarded by guided walks along the forested crater lake rims that are rich with a variety of forest birds and a number of primates. Of these sites, Lake Nkuruba stands out with well-established forest trails and knowledgeable guides. The primate list at Lake Nkuruba includes black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed and vervet monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.
Adventures beyond Ndali – Kasenda Crater Lakes
- Trek along the chimpanzee in Kibale National Park
The main trailhead and visitors’ reception of Kibale National Park, known for its epic chimpanzee trekking experiences, lie within a 20-30 km distance, requiring some minutes from any of the accommodation here.
- Hike the Rwenzori Mountain ranges
Staying around the Ndali/Kasenda craters, you can visit the Rwenzori Mountain ranges on a multi-day hike or just a day tour. The nearest park trailhead of Nyakalengyija lies some 40 km or an hour’s drive from here.