The gateway to Uganda, Entebbe town is a charming historic town set in a lush green environment along the northern lakeshores of Africa’s biggest inland sea; Lake Victoria. It’s serene tropical environment, quite streets, variety of hotels and guesthouses makes it a perfect base for tourists and visitors set to explore attractions far inland and beyond. Entebbe lies only 40km south of the capital city Kampala and a home to Uganda’s international airport.
Entebbe is a destination in its own right abounding with a variety of adventures activities that are easily explored from 2-hrs to full-day tours. Read on…
Activities and Attractions to do in Entebbe
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Go Birding for the Shoebill at Mabamba Wetlands
With time to spare in Entebbe, go birding the expansive Mabamba wetlands set along the shallow marshy bay on the northern shores of L. Victoria. Only an hour and half drive east of Entebbe town, the community protected and ran Mabamba wetland offers reliable chances to encounter the prehistoric Shoebill.
The 2-3 hour birding experience is carried out on motorized canoes to access a maze of channels across this Ramsar site where individuals and sometimes pairs stalk almost motionless for lungfish and other crustaceans abundant here. It’s this motionless stalking hunting technique that has earned this species a name “statue”. Dedicated birdwatchers will also look out for wetland specialists including the beautiful Papyrus Gonolek, the dashing and quick Lesser Jacana, Carruthers’ Cisticola, the skulking White-winged Swamp Warbler, the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, the Blue-breasted Bee-eater and other good species.
Even closer to the town Entebbe is the Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area of Lutembe. This extensive marsh, lies some 20km north of Entebbe and the best place to see visiting Palearctic migrants between September-April including up to a million White-winged Terns, thousands of Whiskered Terns, Slender-billed Gulls, several Sandpipers species while local waders include Grey-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Spur-winged Goose, African Marsh Harrier and more.
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Explore the Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Established in 1898 as the first agricultural research unit, the excellent botanical gardens provides a quick exposure tour to not only Uganda’s rich botanical diversity but also a seed bank with over 5000 seed specimens preserved here. Of interest is a wide variety of herbs and exotic horticulture varieties. The layout of these gardens reflects which attracts both botanists tourists and naturalists portray the rich Ugandan biodiversity of habitats consisting of rainforests, savanna woodlands, tropical forests and wetlands.
Entebbe botanical gardens are Uganda’s prime birding spot with a stunning checklist of over 200 species a mere fraction of the country’s rich avian biodiversity. The 1.5km Lake Victoria shore line is patrolled by various migrant and local waders plus pairs of Nile Monitor while resident primates in the gardens include Guereza, Vervet and Red-tailed Monkeys. Knowledgeable site guides are available at the reception and share extensive knowledge on medicinal plants and avian biodiversity here.
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Visit the Chimpanzee Island of Ngamba
For visitors in Entebbe with short time to travel to the far western Uganda to trek along the chimpanzee in their tropical forest homes, the 50-hactares Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary Island located 23km off Entebbe mainland is a suitable place to observe up-close and personal man’s closest relative. On this forested island of Ngamba, the chimpanzee population is more than 50 individuals composed mainly of rescued individuals from pet traders across the region.
Booked visits on a half/full day program target the daily feeding sessions of these incredible apes, giving visitors to see and observe various social behavior and human-like traits. Transport from the mainland is by boat and takes up to 45 minutes. With lots of time, take overnights at the on-ground lovely ecolodge overlooking the expansive Lake Victoria.
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Take a Visit to the UWEC
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) formerly called the Zoo is an animal sanctuary set for educational purposes on Uganda’s rich fauna. Sitting on the shores of L. Victoria, the sanctuary offers interpretive tours and up-close experience to several mammals. Residents include 4 out of the famous Big 5 list, dozens of Chimps, Lions, Leopard, Cheater and a great collection of foreign species the latest being a pair of Tigers.
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Take a Sunset Cruise to the Equator Crossing on L. Victoria
With an afternoon to spare while in Entebbe, take a boat cruise to the equator crossing located just an hour off Nakiwogo ferry landing. At latitude 0 disembark from your boat for photographs. Take it slow while here to enjoy the incredible sunset and watch merchant and fishermen boats heading out for night expeditions on this Africa’s biggest inland sea.
Other Attractions visited as Day-Activities from Entebbe include;
- Ssesse Island Tour
- White-water rafting on the Nile at jinja
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Birdwatching at Mabira Forest reserve
- Birding at Mpanga Forest