3-Day

Tour Overview

Fort Portal is widely known as Uganda’s "Tourism City" because it sits in the heart of the most beautiful crater lakes, royal history, and primate forests in East Africa.

For Journey Junction Tours and Travel, this 3-day itinerary covers everything from ancient legends to boiling geysers.


Fort Portal is widely known as Uganda’s "Tourism City" because it sits in the heart of the most beautiful crater lakes, royal history, and primate forests in East Africa.

For Journey Junction Tours and Travel, this 3-day itinerary covers everything from ancient legends to boiling geysers.


3-Day "Tourism City" Gem: Fort Portal & Semuliki

Day 1: The Tooro Kingdom & The "Breasts" of Nyinamwiru

Morning: Karuzika Royal Palace: Visit the official home of King Oyo.

History: The palace sits on the highest hill in the city. It was built in the 1960s, fell into ruin during Uganda's wars, and was beautifully restored with help from the late Col. Muammar Gaddafi. It represents the Tooro Kingdom, which broke away from the Bunyoro-Kitara Empire in 1822.

Afternoon: Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves: * History & Legend: "Amabere" means breasts. Legend says King Bukuku cut off his daughter Nyinamwiru’s breasts to make her unattractive so she wouldn't marry and fulfill a prophecy that her son would kill him. Scientifically, these are stalactites formed from calcium carbonate that drip a milky-white substance.

Evening: Hike to the "Top of the World" viewpoint to see the sun set over three crater lakes simultaneously.

Day 2: The Sempaya Hot Springs Adventure

Full Day: Semuliki National Park: Drive down the winding rift valley escarpment to the Sempaya Hot Springs.

The Legend: The Bamaga clan believes the springs house their ancestors. The "Male" spring (Bitende) is where a legendary hunter disappeared, and the "Female" spring (Nyansimbi) is where his wife disappeared while searching for him.

The Experience: The water boils at 103°C. You can bring eggs and matooke (bananas) to boil in the natural geysers!

Evening: Visit the Bambuti Pygmies to learn about their ancient forest-dwelling culture.

Day 3: Primate Capital & Tea Estates

Morning: Kibale National Park: Chimpanzee tracking in the "Primate Capital of the World."

History: This forest is home to 13 species of primates and has been a protected research site for decades.

Afternoon: Tea Estate Walk: Walk through the rolling green tea plantations that surround Fort Portal. Learn how tea is harvested and processed.

Evening: Departure back to Kampala or Kasese.

Why is it called "Fort Portal"?

The city is named after Sir Gerald Portal, a British Special Commissioner to East Africa. In the late 1800s, a fort was constructed on the hill where the current golf course stands. This fort was built to protect the Tooro Kingdom from the aggressive raids of King Kabalega of Bunyoro. The name simply stuck: the Fort of Portal.