FORT PORTAL AS A TOURISM DESTINATION
Fort portal is one of Uganda’s beautiful towns. it is situated amidst lush rolling hillsides, rocky crater lakes, and tea plantations.
Fort Portal is located in western Uganda and the only town in Uganda with an English name built in the 1960s and was named after the British Consul General of Zanzibar, Sir Gerald Portal who came to Uganda in the 1890s to formalize British protectorates over Uganda. Because of the existence of the tourism sites in Fort Portal, there has been massive development in the town in terms of social and economic developments in the aspects of hotels, banks, and restaurants among others making the town to be ranked as the best tourist destination in Uganda.
Tourist attractions in Fort Portal include; Bigodi wetlands, Semulik National park, Tooro Botanical Gardens, Kibale forest reserve, and Tooro palace among others.
TOORO BOTANICAL GARDENS
The gardens were established in 2001 to pre endangered tree species and plants. The garden lies on 100 acres which is an important site for conservation, education, and research purposes.
During the visit to the garden, you get a guided nature walk in flora in the garden and different nurseries, butterflies breeding grounds, and the stone gardens. There are different bird species that are so eye-catching to tourists.
TOORO PALACE
The palace was built on Karuzika hill giving a 360-degree magnificent view of the town the structure was built in 1963 but it went into ruins after the abolition of the royal kingdoms by Idi Amin and was restored in 2001 by the late Colonel Gadaffi who donated money to the king for repairs of the palace.
AMABERE CAVES
Amabere caves are known as the ‘Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru’ which translates to ‘Breasts of Nyinamwiru’. The caves were named after the story of a king who cut his daughter’s breasts to make are less attractive to men but his plans failed because the daughter got pregnant and later hid in a cave as legend says it. visiting the cave gives tourists a chance to check out the waterfalls and the nearby crater lakes.
KARAMBI ROYAL TOMBS
This is where most Tooro kings are buried so the caretaker during the visit, is able to take you around the tombs, traditional drums, spears, and other personal effects of the Tooro kings and the Cemetery outside the tombs is the resting place for the various other royal family members.
RWENZORI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
The park was gazette in 1991 but achieved world heritage site status in 1994, home of over 70 mammal species and 217 bird species. The mountain ranges are best known for the beautiful view and the best hiking and mountaineering destination.
SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK
Home of 410 bird species and 53 mammal species and the park is famous for its hot spring known as Sempaya Hot Springs which gives a magnificent view of the park since the park doesn’t so much boost the wildlife, it is blessed with various bird species, butterflies.
The park is next to the Semulik and Lamia rivers, located on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
One of the most visited national parks because of the chimpanzee tracking activity and also finding them in their natural habitat. the park is also blessed with about 350 bird species which include; White-spotted Fluff tail, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Western Nicator, and Brown-crowned Tchagra among others.