Entebbe City Tour Adventure: the city is in Central Uganda located on Lake Victoria peninsular, a few metres north of the Equator. It is also approximately 40km south of modern capital Kampala in Wakiso district. It was capital of Uganda during the colonial era and became a British colonial administrative and commercial center in 1893. Sir Gerald Portal used it as a base and it was once the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda prior to independence in 1962. Entebbe was named Entebbe International Airport in 1951, Uganda’s largest commercial and military airport.
It was also known for the dramatic rescue of 100 hostages kidnapped by the militant group of the Revolutionary cell’s organizations. In addition, its the location of the State House, the official office and residence of the president of Uganda. In 1913, Sir Frederick Treves described Entebbe as “the prettiest and most charming town of the lake”. The word came from Luganda language “entebe” meaning “chair or seat”. Initially, Entebbe was a cultural site for the Mamba clan deriving the Luganda phrase ‘Entebe za Mugala’. Literally meaning the ‘Headquarters’ where the Baganda chief sat to adjudicate legal cases.
Attractions in Entebbe
The extensive Entebbe botanical gardens
The gardens were laid out in 1898 and lies at the shores of the world’s fresh water lake, Lake Victoria. It is an attractively laid-out fix of indigenous forests, cultivation and a bird paradise where tourists can go for birding. Bird species include; red chested sunbirds, marabou stork, black-headed heron, hamerkops. Long tailed cormorant, pied kingfishers, back headed Gonolek to mention but a few.
The garden is also a favorite place for botanists boasting with over 300 species of plants. These ranges from tropical, sub-tropical and temperature zones. Besides, several shrubs, butterflies and other plants regenerated naturally over the years. The gardens is also a habitat for tree squirrels and monkey species. The spider webs are also another interesting factor with different types of spiders to be seen. However, tourists can get a guided nature walk at the rocky area near the magnificent lake and to the forest canopy.
Entebbe Golf Club
This is the oldest golf course in East Africa and was established in 1900. This golf club is located a few yards away from the shores of Lake Victoria surrounded by the Uganda Wildlife Education. Golfers will surely enjoy the nice refreshing breeze from the Lake to the Zoo as animals cheering their good shots.
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (ZOO)
The Entebbe Zoo was established as a sanctuary for orphaned and injured or rescued wild animals in 1950. It was generally founded by the colonial government with the help from the Wildlife Conversation Society. Later in 1960, it became a traditional zoo where people would go to sight famous African wildlife. While at the zoo, you can have a comprehensive interpretation and briefing on the animals. It is filled with animals such as white rhinos, lions, giraffes, warthogs, crocodiles, peacocks. Parrots, shoebills, marabou storks, elands, impalas, African rock pythons, kobs, zebras, leopards etc. With over 120 species of birds and 23 species of primates (black and white colobus, Debraza monkeys, etc). Apart from animals the zoo also has abundant plant life (flowers, herbs and shrubs) and butterfly.
What to do at UWEC
A guide can be hired at a fee of $10 to show you the animals and answer all your questions. However, you can tour the zoo on your own after paying the entrance fee. One can also take a boat along the shores of Lake Victoria for a chance to spot water birds.
At UWEC you could get up close with the chimpanzees. While tracking Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park is rewarding, here you get to play and interact with the chimps. You can also participate in the Behind-the-scenes tour where you get a chance to prepare the animals’ food. You can as well take part in health checks and bring the animals back to their shelters. In addition, you can be a keeper for a day which is a more hands on tour. And while here, you take part in feeding some of the animals. More so, hang around with the animals as a zookeeper for a day.
In conclusion, the zoo is a place for all, adults and children. The guides are quite informative and the experience is fun and exciting. It is not exactly a national park but the animals still feel at home in their respective enclosures. Otherwise, as a conservational area, the animal’s comfort is what really counts.
Reptile Village
This village lies on the northwestern edge of Entebbe, 3km off the main road. The village’s major function is to educate people about reptiles so that they can overcome their fears and take interest in their conservation. Reptile village has over 20 reptile species like the boomslangs, the Gabon viper, forest cobra, leopard tortoise, Nile Monitor and Jackson’s chameleon. Visitors are even given an opportunity to lift the rock python under the supervision of the reptile guides.
The guides are quite informative and often share intriguing facts about the reptiles in the village. At the extreme edges of the sites, one can enjoy the sight of the swampy areas which are habitat to different reptiles, birds and monkeys inclusive. Around the swampy areas, tourists in reptile village can as well enjoy adventurous activities such as canoeing in the synthetic river around and sport fishing as well. Today, the village is enclosed in a fence and three large concrete structures stand in the middle as the home for reptiles.
Ziika Forest
The Ziika forest is among the many small forest in Uganda that has got exclusive mature trees and best for bird watching from Entebbe Road. Ziika means “overgrown” in Luganda language. A small trail network explores the forest at ground levels while a high metal tower provides a birds’ and monkeys’ eye view across and at the top of the forest canopy. This forest has numerous forest which is one of the main attractions you need to visit while on your safari to Uganda.
Bio diversity of swamps that is full of crocodiles, grasslands as well as forest types which spreads to Lake Victoria. There are over 140 types of woody plants, 60 moth types, leopards, snakes, mosquitoes, monkeys and antelopes that are found in this forest. This forest is a great place for bird watching yet also has a great educational advantage.
Mabamba Swamp
It is the natural habitat for the elusive Shoebill in Africa. Bird watching in this swamp is done mainly on a canoe which is run by experienced tour guides with developed skill and knowledge of special places where the rare shoebill stork can be viewed and also other bird species such as swamp flycatcher, African water rail, papyrus gonolek, lesser jacana, African jacana, white-faced whistling duck, blue breasted bee eater, goliath heron and countless others. Other wildlife in this part include; the antelopes, plant species, butterfly species such as gossamer winged butterflies, skippers, brush footed butterflies, emperor swallowtail, hairstreaks to mention by the few. Mabamba swamp can be accessed from Entebbe town which is a 1hour drive, and still a ferry from Nakiwogo landing site can be used which takes only 20 minutes to the swamp.
Lutembe Bay
This is Ramsar site and birder’s destination on Lake Victoria located on the eastern side of Kampala-Entebbe highway from Namulanda notable for its seasonal Palaearctic and Afro-tropical migrants. Lutembe bay being a wetland on Lake Victoria is home to lots of water and wetland associated birds, however the site extends beyond the papyrus filled lake shore to cover wooded grasslands, gardens and thickets which contribute to a high diversity of birds in Lutembe area. The wetland is home to 8 of the 12 Lake Victoria biome species in Uganda and also a home to over 108 bird species and these include; papyrus gonolek, African skimmer, papyrus yellow warbler, Madagascar Squacco heron, Gull-billed terns, black heron to mention a few.
Entebbe Heritage Sites
Entebbe Golf Club
After the Entebbe Golf Course was founded in 1901, this clubhouse was constructed (and later expanded) to act as a venue in which the British colonial administrators and expatriate community could indulge in leisure activities. It still contains some original furniture and fittings, and plays host to the Uganda Open golf tournament.
Independence Tree
Earlier known as the Freedom Tree, this tree became famous as the site of rallies in the 1950s, addressed by nationalist leaders such as I. K. Musaazi and J. W. Kiwanuka, prior to Uganda’s independence in 1962. Today it acts as a location for many community functions and markets
Entebe Za Mugula
This sacred site is where Chief Mugula Bukulubwawadda sat in a stone seat (hence the name “Mugula’s Seat” – Entebe Za Mugula) to preside over judicial cases and village meetings in the 19th century. It gave Entebbe its name, when early British visitors failed to pronounce the full name correctly! The cave, containing a shrine, and the nearby rock islands, are still places of pilgrimage for some Baganda who wish to pay homage to the spirits they believe reside in Lake Victoria.
Bugonga church
(Entebbe Catholic Parish)
One of the oldest permanent catholic churches in Uganda (built in 1902), this church marked the spot where the first catholic missionaries camped and prepared for their meeting with Kabaka Muteesa in 1899. The ancient tree next to the church is said to have grown out a tent peg placed by the missionaries.
Chadwick Namatte primary school
This historic school was founded as Entebbe central school by Walter Chadwick (1874-1917), an Irish Anglican Missionary. It is architecturally notable for both its original building (1910) and later extension dating from 1940, it is one of the earliest examples of schools set up to educate Africans.
Entebbe Post Office
Built between 1900-1910), Post office was among the first buildings constructed by the colonial government. It still contains a number of original features such as its individual post boxes on the verandah
Lake Victoria Hotel
Built in 1948, this handsome and well-preserved hotel is most famous for hosting Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Uganda in 1958, and continues to be a popular location for luxury holidays, weddings and VIP events
Ministry of Agriculture Building (1927)
Built in 1927 by the colonial government, this attractive government office still houses the same department for which it was constructed.
St John’s Church (1939)
Prominent along the main Entebbe-Kampala highway, this church’s octagonal bell tower gives it a fort-like appearance. Built in 1939 to replace an earlier structure, St John’s has served Entebbe’s Anglican community for almost 80 years
Entebbe Botanical Gardens
This is the earliest public gardens in Uganda (1898). It was originally set up for botanical research
These gardens are some of the oldest in Africa, and the earliest public gardens in Uganda. Originally set up for botanical research, the gardens were the location for filming the movie ‘Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle’ in 1954
The secretariat
(NARO building)
This is one of the grandest colonial administrative buildings in Entebbe, befitting its role as the Secretariat to the Governor’s Office, and where the Legislative Council (Leg Co) – Uganda’s first parliament – held its meetings from 1921 until 1955 when it moved to Kampala. currently housing National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) head offices in Entebbe
Entebbe Old Airport Tower
Entebbe Old Airport Tower (1952) Commissioned by colonial Governor Sir John Hall, this building is best known for being the setting of the 1976 hostage situation, when Israeli Defence Forces came to rescue their compatriots who had been taken hostage by Palestinian militants. It still bears witness to this event; note the bullet holes in its walls!
Stanbic Bank (c. 1950)
This historic bank premises stands proudly on Portal Avenue. It housed the Uganda Commercial Bank from the 1960s-1986, when it was acquired by Stanbic Bank.
Maps and Surveys Building (1930, 1951)
This building was home to the ministry which kept records of all maps and surveys done within Uganda, and today serves a similar purpose, being headquarters to the Department for Maps and Surveying under the Ministry of Lands, Urban development and Surveying. The building contains stores for photographic chemicals, printing and drawing rooms, and dark rooms. Some antique equipment can still be found on site, despite being obsolete.
Ministry of Agriculture Building (1927) This attractive government office still houses the same department for which it was constructed. Its high ceilings, verandahs and large windows are representative of colonial architecture in this period, designed to maximise air flow, and create shade from the sun and shelter from the rain
Where to stay
Luxury
- Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
- Protea hotel
- K Hotels
- Aquarius Kigo Resort
Mid-range
- Lake Heights Hotel
- Innophine Hotel
- Executive Airport Hotel
- Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel
Budget
- Anderitah Beach Hotel
- Gately Inn Entebbe
How to get there
One can reach to Entebbe by means of mini buses or taxis from Kampala which takes approximately one to two hours by road, depending on the traffic jam on the day you’re travelling. If you’re not sure of the fares or the location, you can inquire from the conductor.
