4 Days FortPortal and Semliki National park Safari

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Safari overview

This four-day adventure safari in Semliki and cultural tour in Fort portal provides a chance to explore Uganda’s renowned tourism city and abundant wilderness in the remote Semuliki wildlife reserve. The safari takes visitors to the isolated Semuliki valley located on the outskirts of Ituri forest, East of D.R. Congo.

Among other mammals to watch include buffaloes, leopards, white tailed mongoose, cats, slender mongoose, hyenas, huge forest elephants as well as lowland chimpanzees, monkeys and abundant populations of birds. Whereas Fortportal is home to Toro culture, magnificent craters and evergreen flora.

Among other activities include thrilling night game drives, viewing hot springs, nature walks, hiking to the craters, city walk and amazing culture encounters.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Kampala to Fortportal. City Walks and palace tour.

The voyage to Fortportal tourism city begins from Kampala at 8:50am, driving through the historical towns of Mubende, Mityana, and later to Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and be ushered into the evergreen Kabarole district. Along this 5-hour journey, enjoy fascinating sceneries of tea estates, eucalyptus tree plantations, and you will be making occasional stops to capture a photo or two for these beautiful landscapes.

Arrive in Fortportal for lunch, check in at your hotel and continue to explore this historical town - now turned into a tourism city. This is a century – old town which was named after a British colonial master, Sir. Gerald Portal (the then British consul in Zanzibar).

While here, you will take a tour to the Karuziika palace – a seat of the Tooro king, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru. Learn about the history of this ancient kingdom that dates back in 18th C and you may be lucky to meet the king. Proceed to visit Toro botanical gardens, Mpanga central market, and different monuments around the town.
Continue to your hotel after this excursion for dinner and accommodation.

Day 2: Explore Fort portal city: Amabere Ga Nyinamwiru caves and hike to crater lakes.

Wake up at 7:30am, have breakfast from your lodge and drive south of the town to Nyakasura crater hills; this is where ancient Amabere Ga Nyinamwiru caves are found. This area alone hosts over 4 different craters, caves, waterfalls and other historic features like Lake Kigere (which resembles a human foot), Kyeganywa hill – the highest of all hills in this region, Lake Saaka, plantations, native homesteads, and so much.

While on this exploration, engage in nature walks to visit Nyakasura waterfalls, the stalactites and stalagmites of Nyakasura, hill climbing and canoeing. Also you may have an optional visit to the magnificent Amaraga hotel – first of its kind in Uganda to have accommodation pods and unequalled views of distant Rwenzori Mountains.

Return to your lodge in Fortportal; have dinner, BBQ dinner and a bon fire in the night.

Day 3: Transfer to Semuliki reserve; Sempaya hotsprings, chimp trekking and game drives.

Have breakfast and prepare to leave Fortportal to Semuliki wildlife reserve. Drive for about 34km southwest wards to Semuliki valley along the shores of Lake Albert.

Arrive at park headquarters as early as possible, to begin your chimp trekking experience. Unlike chimp trekking in other areas like Kibale forest or Budongo forest, chimpanzees in Semuliki national park are quite few in number, hence there are limited chances of seeing them during day as they tend to hide –but nevertheless luck maybe on your side.

Other primates one can meet during this exploration include monkeys, baboons, and watch several bird species such as Congo serpent eagle, black-throated coucal, red-rumped tinker bird, black-wattled hornbill, chestnut owlet, Zenker’s honey guide, Bates’s nightjar and spotted-breasted ibis.

Also visit magical Sempaya hotsprings located in the middle of the park where you have a chance to learn the geothermal processes that led to creation of these hotsprings and geysers.

You will return later after the adventure to your lodge in Semuliki and have dinner.

Day 4: Return to Kampala from Semuliki Game Reserve

On this last day of the trip, begin with a leisurely breakfast and drive through breathtaking landscapes of Ntoroko and Bundibugyo regions. Drive past Fortportal and to Mubende town for a coffee stop and lunch. Continue to Kampala to mark the end of your 4 days tour in Fortportal and Semuliki national park.