ENTEBBE
Far from being a big, noisy African city, Entebbe retains a sense of wild Uganda. This is reinforced by the sensation that the Zika Forest , The Entebbe Botanical Gardens, a nice place with huge rare tree species of the true African rain forest and Lake Victoria are physically trying to reclaim the space. Entebbe offers a gentle introduction to Uganda, and is a great start and end point to your Ugandan adventure.
Where Entebbe fits in a Ugandan adventure
Your Ugandan adventure will begin and end at Entebbe International Airport. However, Entebbe is not the focal point of your adventure, and this will be reflected in the amount of time that you spend here. There’s just too much to do in the countryside beyond.
Your visit to Entebbe will most likely last for a half-day or day whilst you wait for transport to your next destination.
Entebbe is a great place to stretch your legs after a long flight. You can do this at Mabamba Swamp, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, or the Entebbe Botanical Garden.
What to do in Entebbe
Mabamba Swamp
12km west of Entebbe lies the Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar Site and Important Bird Area that is an excellent place to see the famous shoebill stork
A road transfer will take you to the village of Mabamba, where a local boatman will take you out in local dugout canoes to look for the famous Shoebill.
This is a lovely half day excursion that works well when you have a few hours between flights.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
Opened in 1952, this animal orphanage is a sanctuary for animals that are unable to survive in the wild. It is also an important base for conservation work in Uganda.
A standard visit allows you to see lions, two re-introduced black rhinos, and the aviary.
There is also a 2 hour ‘behind the scenes’ tour which provides insight into how the centre cares for its animals. This tour allows animal lovers to get closer to the lions and elephants.
The ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour allows you to get up close to the animals.
Entebbe Botanical Garden
Established in 1898, the Botanical Garden is the perfect place to stretch your legs between arrival and a later internal flight, or for a short excursion.
The gardens contain a rich variety of plants of the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones. There is a captivating blend of indigenous forest, cultivation, and horticulture.
The gardens contain a strong bird population, including the palm nut vulture, the red-chested sunbird, and the giant kingfisher.
The gardens are also home to several primates, including the black-and-white colobus and the white-tailed monkey.Entebbe Botanical Garden is home to the red-chested sunbird.
