As the only city in Uganda with an international airport, Entebbe serves as the premier gateway to the country for most tourists. I found it to be quite a pleasant introduction with its leafy streets, friendly locals and superb location on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Victoria.
With a number of worthwhile sights, including an interesting Botanical Garden and a couple of historical monuments, there’s no reason not to hang around for a day or two before venturing further afield.
Alternatively, it’s a good place to decompress after your explorations of the country, and the Wildlife Education Centre located in town makes for a good destination to check out the local wildlife you may have missed in Uganda’s National Parks. Read on for my recommendations on the best things to do in Entebbe, Uganda.
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The best things to do in Entebbe
National Botanical Gardens
Established in the late 19th century, the Botanical Gardens are a good place to get a first glimpse of Ugandan Nature while taking a stroll through the pretty grounds. We took a guided tour, which certainly improved our visit, as we learned a fair bit about tropical plants and their historical and current use.
The gardens are a good place to observe hyperactive Vervet Monkeys and more relaxed Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys, as well as countless bird species. You’ll likely also see huge amounts of golden orb spiders weaving their nets between the trees (shudder) as well as some insanely big termite hills.
In the centre of the garden sits a grove of tall trees, which was used as a filming location for several Tarzan Movies starring Johnny Weissmüller in the 1940s. The gardens are open daily from 9AM to 7PM and the entrance fee is 10,000 Shillings (plus another 10,000 for the guide, should you decide to take one).
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)
While on the surface it may look like a zoo, the UWEC actually is a conservation and wildlife rescue center providing a sanctuary for injured and orphaned animals. It aims to promote education and awareness about the issue through exhibits and educational programs and is involved in various conservation efforts, including breeding and reintroduction programs for endangered species.
Plenty of animals that have been rescued from poachers and captivity can be visited on the grounds of the centre, including lions, giraffe, chimps, rhinos, zebras and crocodiles. It’s a great place to drop by after your trip to see some animals you might have missed in the wild (for us, these were the elusive Shoebill birds).
The Centre is open daily from Daily 08:30AM to 6.30 PM. The entrance fee for foreign residents is 50,000 Shillings.
Zika Forest
Fittingly translating to “Overgrown Forest”, this small forest reserve along the road to Kampala is a good destination if you’re into bird-watching. For instance, while we were here, we spotted a couple of Crowned Hornbills even without actively looking.
Apart from exploring some small paths through the jungle, you can climb a metal observation tower (by ladder, there are no stairs) for some nice views of the forest canopy and towards Lake Victoria.
Make sure to bring insect repellent as there are tons of mosquitoes here. As a matter of fact, the reserve has been used for Mosquito studies for decades and the infamous Zika Virus is named after the forest. Matatus headed for Kampala will drop you at the highway near the forest. There’s no entrance fee.
Hanging out at Lake Victoria
Entebbe’s location near Lake Victoria is one of its nicest features and there are many opportunities to hang out on the shores of Africa’s biggest Lake, including in the Botanical Gardens and at the Wildlife Education centre.
There are even some small beaches to the south of the airport (Aero Beach), to north of the Botanical Gardens (Freedom Beach) and along the highway to Kampala (Ssesse Gateway Beach), although I would advise against swimming in the Lake due to the risk of contracting Bilharzia.
Still, the beaches are nice places to kick back with a Nile Special Beer and just enjoy the views and atmosphere.
Exploring the small historical Centre
It may not hold many must-see sights, but if you have an hour or so to kill, there are some modest destinations for a stroll in Entebbe’s Centre. One of these would be the regal-looking Entebbe State House along Nakiwogo Close.
The small St. John’s Parish Church slightly to the south and the Military Monument a little to the east of that at the intersection of the Airport Road and the Kampala Road are also worth checking out.
Other things to do in Entebbe
Apparently you can also visit the old Terminal of Entebbe’s Airport, which was the dramatic scene of the 1976 Entebbe Hostage Crisis. We weren’t aware of this, so I can’t give you any first-hand information. Have a look at this website for more information.
Map of Entebbe
All the places mentioned above can be found in this map of Entebbe and its surroundings.
Guided Tours of Entebbe
If you prefer the company of a knowledgeable guide, there are various tours of Entebbe available. This 3-hour walking tour has great reviews. Have a look below for more options.
Practicalities
How to get to Entebbe
The city has regular matatu connections to Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, where you can connect to buses and matatus headed for destinations all over the country.
They start from the taxi park in the back of the 7 Seasons Hotel on Kiwafu Road, or you can wave them down along the highway. The trip to Kampala takes about an hour and should cost about 5,000 Shillings.
Entebbe is also home to Uganda’s only International Airport, which has direct connections to plenty of cities in Eastern and Central Africa, as well as to some destinations in the Middle East and to Brussels and Amsterdam.
Finally, there are daily ferries going to Buggala Island, the biggest of the Ssesse Islands in Lake Victoria, from Nakiwogo Port to the north-west of the centre.
The best hotels and hostels in Entebbe
Entebbe has plenty of hotels and guesthouses for every budget.
The dormitory at Elementis Entebbe, which sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, is a great budget option, while Precious Guesthouse has good midrange rooms in a nice spot near the Botanical Gardens.
If you’re after a bit of luxury, the Protea Hotel Marriott Entebbe near the Airport would be the perfect choice. Have a look at the map above for more options.
Where to go next
Kampala, Uganda’s vibrant capital
Jinja, the country’s adventure capital and home to the Source of the Nile