Entebbe

Entebbe Uganda serves as the gateway to Uganda’s wildlife riches and is far more than a transit hub. This leafy lakeside town on the shores of Lake Victoria, 37 km from Kampala, is home to Uganda’s international airport and a number of attractions worth building into any Uganda itinerary. Entebbe Uganda’s most celebrated wildlife attraction is the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre — a well-run wildlife sanctuary housing shoebill storks, lions, chimpanzees, and other rescued animals in large, natural enclosures. It provides an accessible introduction to Uganda’s wildlife without entering the bush. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens, established in 1898, spread along the Lake Victoria shoreline and shelter a variety of forest birds, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys in a peaceful lakeside setting. The gardens featured in the original Tarzan films. Lake Victoria itself — the world’s largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater lake — can be explored by boat from Entebbe, with trips to the Ssese Islands offering a relaxing island escape just two hours by ferry. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a short boat ride from Entebbe and offers close encounters with rescued chimps. Entebbe is an ideal first and last night on any Uganda trip, with excellent hotels and restaurants within easy reach of the airport.