{"id":7387,"date":"2026-02-01T17:20:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T17:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldoftravelling.com\/blog\/?p=7387"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:27:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:27:24","slug":"crater-lakes-tour-fog-boda-bodas-views-that-ruin-you-for-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldoftravelling.com\/blog\/?p=7387","title":{"rendered":"Crater Lakes Tour: Fog, Boda Bodas, And Spectacular Views"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some mornings begin gently. Others begin at 5am with coffee and me in my usual travel mode – a man with a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 07:30 I was breakfasted, layered up like an Arctic explorer (three layers, Uganda – three) and ready for an 08:00 escape from Fort Portal to explore the famous Crater Lakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside the hotel, I stopped a boda boda rider who bore a striking resemblance to my guide Charles from the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not Charles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy name is Patrick.\u201d He said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Close enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow much to Lake Nkuruba?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c15,000.\u201d He replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could sense that his English wasn\u2019t brilliant, so I asked him to write the price down \u2014 partly for clarity, partly to avoid that awkward moment later when we suddenly disagree on what I thought we had agreed on.  He wrote: 15,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excellent. A deal was struck. A journey begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fog, Layers & Rural Life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was cold and foggy \u2014 it made me feel as though I may have accidentally woken up back in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first 25 minutes of travel was smooth sailing – along nicely paved roads. Then we hit Kasiisi\u2026 and promptly left civilisation behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tarmac vanished. The road became dirt. At least it was dry dirt. A chunk of which I found in my ears when I showered later! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the next 15 bone-rattling minutes we bumped past villages, children, farmers, goats, chickens and the full morning theatre of rural Ugandan life. Beautiful, chaotic, and deeply authentic. I shook my head in disbelief, at this incredible scenario, on more than one occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually we arrived at Enfuzi Community Camp, the gateway to Lake Nkuruba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I paid Patrick the agreed 15,000 plus a 5,000 tip. Reading his body language, I got the impression that he was keen to take me back to Fort Portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShall I wait\u201d, he asked? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a better plan. Having clocked 20,000 steps yesterday, I didn\u2019t need to do anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I agreed that he could wait, then take me to the Top of the World (TOTW), then back to Fort Portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded, Ithink he understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which I guess in Uganda is basically a legally binding contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monkeys, Lakes & Accidental Hiking Partners.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then along came Richard, a local legend who explained the walking routes to the lake and onward journey (with the motor bike) to the Top of the World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I asked him to translate everything to Patrick. They had a long, animated discussion in their local language, during which Patrick decided he quite fancied joining me for the walk – according to Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I now had a driver, a translator, and an unexpected hiking companion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I paid Richard the 10,000 shillings entrance fee, and Patrick and I set off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within minutes we were joined by monkeys, who observed us with that familiar expression of mild disdain and possible criminal intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk down to Lake Nkuruba was magical \u2014 forest paths, birdsong, filtered sunlight and then suddenly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfectly still. Emerald green. Encircled by steep crater walls. One of those moments where your brain just shuts up for a while and lets your eyes do the talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stunning doesn\u2019t quite cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee, Bananas & Vertical Suffering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We then wandered through forest trails before returning to the camp and setting off towards Top of the World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This involved passing through banana plantations, coffee plantations, and a road that can only be described as optimistically navigable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brutal, steep, soul-testing uphill slog that made me question all my life choices \u2014 particularly the extra helping of breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But eventually\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top of the World (And Honestly, Not an Exaggeration).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reached the Top of the World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And wow!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The view across Lake Nyinambuga was utterly breathtaking. The water shimmered below, dotted with tiny fishing boats, framed by endless hills and sky. In the distance I could just about see Lake Nyabikere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood there for a long time, silently absorbing the panorama, knowing full well that moments like this are exactly why I travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some places don\u2019t just impress you \u2014 they recalibrate your expectations forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Perfectly Timed Return<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, I suggested to Patrick that we return to Fort Portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miraculously, everything worked like clockwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We rolled back into town at exactly 11:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I paid Patrick the remaining balance (plus a tip). He appeared delighted. I was delighted as well. The boda gods were satisfied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Verdict:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold fog, questionable roads, monkeys, crater lakes, epic viewpoints, accidental friendships and perfect timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What an adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it was only lunchtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Black and White Colobus Monkey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lake Nkuruba.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lake Nyinambuga.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lake Nyinambuga.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
My Boda Boda driver – Patrick.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some mornings begin gently. Others begin at 5am with coffee and me in my usual travel mode – a man with a plan. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7386,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[339],"tags":[341],"class_list":["post-7387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uganda","tag-fort-portal"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t