Lake Nyabikere in Fort Portal

Among Fort Portal’s pristine natural wonders is Lake Nyabikere, which is found in proximity to Kibale National Park. Lake Nyabikere is one of the Ndali-Kasenda craters, the hidden gems of Fort Portal that attract thousands of visitors every year. The remarkable Crater Lake is around 21.7 kilometers south of Fort Portal City. Like other crater lakes in the Ndali-Kasenda area, Lake Nyabikere was formed by volcanic activity. Over 10,000 years ago, these processes caused a depression that was later filled with water to become Lake Nyabikere.

Attractions at Lake Nyabikere

Lake Nyabikere comes up as a top attraction in the Ndali-Kasenda crater area because of its potential to have incredible attractions, as mentioned below.

Fauna

Firstly, Lake Nyabikere is also known as the ‘lake of frogs. This is because it gets its name from the presence of these innumerable amphibians living in and out of the water. This creates a surreal natural spectacle for visitors to Lake Nyabikere, especially the croaking sounds they make during nighttime. Primates like vervet monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys often visit Lake Nyabikere.

Hundreds of bird species have been recorded at Lake Nyabikere and surrounding areas. Most of them come from the bird paradise, Kibale Forest. These birds include hamerkop, malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle, goliath heron, pied kingfisher, blue-breasted bee-eater, and African broadbill, etc. Lake Nyabikere is also home to distinct species of reptiles, including lizards. A lot of colorful butterfly species also find shelter at Lake Nyabikere.

Scenery

The lake itself is a remarkable attraction, with the silvery surface reflecting the blue sky above. Surrounding the lake are steep hills covered by emerald vegetation with some tall grasses and trees. Beautiful swamps and the forest are also exciting physical features that offer perfect scenery. The local communities also carry out peasant farming in the nearby communities. Lake Nyabikere is among the best places where you can get clear views of the snow-capped Rwenzori ranges.

What to do at Lake Nyabikere?

The stunning beauty of Lake Nyabikere pushes it to the edge of adventure during incredible discoveries through the activities done at this lake. Below are some of these things to do.

Nature walk

Along the various hiking trails at Lake Nyabikere, any visitor can enjoy exploring the place on foot. This is a perfect way of getting panoramic views of the scenery and the local wildlife living there. Besides enhancing your physical fitness, you get to interact with the local people while soaking in the cool air around you. Walking through the forest and the Kanyabuhuka wetland offers more exciting opportunities of encountering plenty of birds and primates.

Birdwatching

This is a highlight for visitors who are eager to spot diverse bird species outside the boundaries of Kibale National Park. Lake Nyabikere has a lot of aquatic bird species besides those that can be observed inside Kibale National Park. Birders should expect to see kingfishers, herons, egrets, and many others. Bird species can also be seen while moving along the rivers, swamps, and towards the waterfall.

Cycling

Equally exciting as the nature walk is a cycling tour along the numerous trails. On a hired mountain bike, you will ride around Lake Nyabikere to get scenic views up close. Birds, primates, and other local wildlife species can be spotted while on a mountain bike. You will also greet the local people along the way to get a glimpse into their daily lifestyles. Stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the tea plantations of Fort Portal can also be got while on a cycling tour.

Canoeing

Paddling in a lovely canoe on Lake Nyabikere is an exciting alternative to exploring the pristine water body. With the help of a local guide, this is an experience that offers both scenic views and local legends surrounding the place. While canoeing, you will learn more about Lake Nyabikere, including its formation. This is also a much better way of meeting the fisherfolk and interacting with them.

How to travel?

Road transport is definitely the best mode if you desire a scenic drive to Lake Nyabikere. The drive from Kampala to Lake Nyabikere covers around 306 kilometers via Mityana, Mubende, and Fort Portal. Driving in a 4-wheel safari car will take a little over 6 hours from Kampala city to Lake Nyabikere. This is guaranteed if the roads and traffic conditions are fine. The journey includes pauses for lunch and unmissable views of landscapes along the way.

However, for a much quicker mode of transportation, domestic flights are offered to the nearest airstrip, situated in Kasese district. A flight starting from Entebbe International Airport takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to Kasese Airstrip. Flights are offered by AeroLink Uganda. From the airstrip, you will arrive at Lake Nyabikere by road transport. This covers only 51.8 kilometers from Kasese Airstrip, which is in the southwest of Lake Nyabikere. Time taken is around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Best time to visit

Lake Nyabikere can be explored throughout the year, even during public holidays. But the dry season is preferred as the trails around are not as muddy and slippery compared to the wet season. This is thanks to the reduced rainfall experienced at the lake during this period of the year. The dry season is mostly experienced at Lake Nyabikere from June to August and also from December to February.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.