Unless you have a reason to hurry to Kampala, Entebbe Town offers a relaxing introduction to Uganda. It is Uganda’s cleanest town so far. Many of our clients prefer to stay in Entebbe for a few days instead of staying in Kampala, which has heavy traffic. This town is also a good place to end your Uganda safari. It is very close to Uganda’s only international airport (Entebbe International Airport), which makes it easy to catch late-night and early-morning flights.
Entebbe Town sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, one of the largest lakes in the world. There is so much to see here. It was once the capital city of Uganda during the early days of the British rule. Today, it is a calm place with many attractions that make it special.
There are many great things to see in this town. You can visit Entebbe Town with these recommended tour and travel operators.
History of Entebbe
The word “Entebbe” means “a seat” in Luganda. The town got this name because it was the first place where a Buganda chief sat to judge locals who had legal cases. In 1892, Entebbe became a trading center for the British colonialists. Sir Gerald Portal used it as a base.
Most foreigners know Entebbe as the home of Entebbe International Airport, the only international airport in Uganda. This airport started operations in 1929. It is from this airport that Queen Elizabeth II, the royal who Queen Elizabeth National Park was named after, left Africa to return to England.
Location of Entebbe
Entebbe Town is located in Wakiso District, on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 37 kilometers southwest of Kampala City.
Uganda’s Cleanest Town Status
In 2013, Entebbe was declared Uganda’s cleanest town by New Vision. The town scored 68.7% in a survey that ranked over 100 towns, municipalities, and divisions based on cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene. Fort Portal came second with 65.5%, and Jinja was third with 52.8%. Kampala City was not on the list.
Even without the survey, Entebbe is still a very clean town. The roads are clean and there is little litter.
What to Do – Tourist Activities
There are many things to do in Entebbe Town, including primate visits, historical tours, bird watching, beach visits, and other excursions. Here are some of the best activities:
- Visit the Botanical Gardens: Established in 1898, these gardens have many types of plants. There are over 309 plant species here. 199 are native to Uganda, 109 are from other countries, and 122 are known for medical use. Over 100,000 people visit the gardens each year.
- Go Beaching: Entebbe has some of the best beaches in Uganda. It’s a good way to relax before or after your safari. Beaches include White Sand Beach, Lido Beach, Aero Beach, and more.
- Visit Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC): Also called Entebbe Zoo, this is a place to see and learn about animals. It started in the 1950s to help injured and orphaned wildlife. Animals like chimpanzees, cheetahs, lions, crocodiles, and monkeys can be seen here for a fee.
- Visit Uganda Reptile Village: A great place to learn about reptiles. You will find forest cobras, gabon vipers, leopard tortoises, chameleons, and monitor lizards. This place was started to help people learn not to fear reptiles.
- Visit Mabamba Swamp: This is one of the best places in Africa to see the Shoebill Stork. It is often featured in Uganda tourism brochures and is a top birding site in Entebbe.
- Birding: Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens are the top birding sites in Entebbe. If you love birds, visit these two places.
- Visit the Muzinga Square Park: This park is located just below the Entebbe State House. It has a cannon left by the Tanzania Militia after they helped remove Idi Amin from power. It is one of Entebbe’s top landmarks.
- Visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary: This island was made to protect orphaned chimpanzees. It is one of the best places for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda.
- Visit Ssese Islands: These islands are among the best honeymoon places in Uganda. It is a nice place to relax. You will enjoy the sunrise and sunset views.
There are many more places to visit in Entebbe, but the above are the most popular.
Where to Stay
There are many places to stay in Entebbe, from budget to luxury. Based on your budget and how long you will stay, contact these Uganda tour companies for help organizing your stay.
Booking Your Safaris
If you want to enjoy your visit to Entebbe, contact our recommended tour and travel companies. You can also find many others online. One or two days is enough to visit most of the places listed.
Entebbe Facts You Should Know
- Zika Virus was first found in Zika Forest in Entebbe
- Entebbe is home to Uganda’s only international airport
- Entebbe was once Uganda’s capital city
- The final peace talks to end the M23 rebellion were held in Entebbe
- Queen Elizabeth II left Africa through Entebbe Airport after her father died
- Over 70,000 people live in Entebbe
- Sir Gerald Portal, a British colonialist, used Entebbe as his base in 1893
- Entebbe is a top destination for bird watchers
Wrapping It Up
If you plan to visit Uganda, Entebbe Town is a great place to start and end your journey. Most tourists do not take time to explore Entebbe during their visit. Be different. Spend a day or two and enjoy some of the places listed above.
