The Crater Lakes Day Tour is one of the most scenic and rewarding excursions around Fort Portal, offering breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and unforgettable viewpoints. This guided day experience takes you through a chain of explosion crater lakes, lush forests, rolling hills, and waterfalls, with panoramic views stretching across Kibale Forest National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Fort Portal town.

Perfect for nature lovers, hikers, photographers, and travelers seeking an active but relaxed day outdoors, this tour combines nature walks, wildlife sightings, swimming opportunities, and cultural landscapes in a single memorable adventure.

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Detailed Itinerary

09:00 AM – Pick-Up from Fort Portal

Your day begins with a 9:00 AM pick-up from your hotel or lodge in Fort Portal. After a short briefing, you will drive approximately 11 km to the first crater lake, enjoying scenic views of tea plantations, homesteads, and the surrounding countryside along the way.

Visit to Lake Nkuruba – Forest Walk & Wildlife Viewing

Arrive at Lake Nkuruba, a beautiful forest-fringed crater lake. Begin with a guided nature walk through the surrounding forest, where you may spot up to four species of monkeys, including:

• Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys

• Red Colobus Monkeys

• Vervet Monkeys

• Red-Tailed Monkeys

The forest is also rich in birdlife and butterflies, making it an excellent spot for nature photography.

You will then descend through the forest to the crater lake below, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and scenic reflections on the water.

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Hike to the “Top of the World” Viewpoint

From Lake Nkuruba, begin a long but rewarding ascent to the famous “Top of the World” viewpoint. This is the highlight of the tour.

On a clear day, you will enjoy spectacular 360-degree panoramic views, including:

• Three crater lakes at once

• Kibale Forest National Park

• The lower ranges of the Rwenzori Mountains

• Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Fort Portal city center

This viewpoint offers some of the best photographic opportunities in western Uganda.

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Southern Crater Lakes Exploration

After descending from the viewpoint, continue your journey to the southern crater lakes region of Fort Portal. Visit additional crater lakes along the route, each with unique shapes, colors, and surrounding landscapes.

There will be time to relax, take photos, and—depending on conditions—swim in selected crater lakes that are safe for swimming.

Mahoma Waterfalls Hike

The tour concludes with a steep descent to Mahoma Waterfalls, a powerful cascade fed by the First Glacier Lake in the Rwenzori Mountains. Enjoy the cool mist, scenic surroundings, and refreshing atmosphere at the base of the falls.

Traditional Lunch & Return to Fort Portal

Enjoy a packed or local-style lunch along the route, accompanied by bottled drinking water. After the hike, begin your return journey to Fort Portal, arriving in the late afternoon.

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Total Duration: Approximately 6–7 hours

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Tour Highlights

• Guided crater lakes hiking experience

• Lake Nkuruba forest walk

• Monkey sightings (colobus, vervet, red-tailed)

• “Top of the World” panoramic viewpoint

• Multiple crater lakes exploration

• Mahoma Waterfalls visit

• Optional swimming in crater lakes

• Spectacular photography opportunities

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