10 Great (And One Unusual!) Things To Do In Entebbe Uganda

**I just got back from another visit to Entebbe Uganda, so this post has been freshly updated!**

When you arrive in Uganda, the chances are that unless you come overland, you’ll enter the country via Entebbe International Airport, about an hour south of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria.

At this point, most people hop in a car or a bus and are immediately whisked away to the capital city without a backwards glance.

But this is a mistake. 

Far from being just another dirty airport hub, Entebbe itself is a relaxed, friendly, and astonishingly lush tropical town, with plenty to see and do, and it’s definitely worth sticking around for a day or even heading there from Kampala for a nice weekend away.

About my visits to Entebbe in Uganda

I’ve been to Entebbe three times.

When I volunteered in Uganda I was based in Kampala, but I was determined to see as much of the country as possible while I was there. 

And with Entebbe just an hour’s drive away from the city, it was easy enough to leave work early on a Friday and head down to the lake for a relaxing weekend away from the heat and noise of the capital.

So, with a friend for company, that’s exactly what I did.

In fact, I liked the place so much that when another friend later came out to visit me for a two-week trip round Uganda, I took her there as well.

Then a few weeks ago I went back to Uganda, and our itinerary included two nights and a day in Entebbe, so I had the chance to revisit some places, check out some new ones, and see what’s changed since the last time I was there.

I’ve also written about Uganda for Lonely Planet, the Independent, Luxury Travel Magazine and Uganda Airlines. I’ve also written about and photographed other African safari destinations for Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Selling Travel and many more.

No AI was used to write this post, and all the photos were taken by me.

Where is Entebbe Uganda?

Entebbe is a town in Uganda located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake.

It’s situated approximately 37 kilometres (23 miles) southwest of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

Entebbe is home to Uganda’s main international airport, Entebbe International Airport, making it the main gateway to the country, and likely the first place in Uganda you visit when you arrive.

Entebbe is only small and a weekend is plenty of time to cover all the main things to do in Entebbe.

I’ve done almost all of these things!

Read more: 7 Best Weekend Trips from Kampala, Uganda

1/ Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC)

The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC), known locally as the Entebbe Zoo, was established in 1952 as a sanctuary for injured or orphaned animals.

Although it was originally set up as a zoo, UWEC now focuses on conservation education and animal rehabilitation. Many of their residents were rescued as orphaned babies or from the illegal pet trade and are habituated to humans, meaning you can get really close to them.

UWEC provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about Uganda’s rich biodiversity. It houses a wide range of animals, including lions, giraffes, elephants, and chimpanzees.

Educational tours and behind-the-scenes experiences allow visitors to interact with some of the animals. This did worry me before I visited as I’m not generally a fan of zoos, but the centre plays a vital role in wildlife conservation and education and is approved by wildlife specialists – so don’t worry.

I actually enjoyed the behind the scenes tour so much I went back and did it again!

Read more: Entebbe Zoo: Visiting The Uganda Wildlife Sanctuary

2/ Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island, located on Lake Victoria, is home to a sanctuary that cares for orphaned chimpanzees rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trade.

Established in 1998, the sanctuary allows visitors to observe and learn about the chimps in a semi-wild environment.

A boat trip from Entebbe takes you to the island, where you can watch the chimps during their feeding times and explore the island’s natural beauty.

The best place to see chimpanzees in Uganda is Kibale Forest, but if you don’t have time to go there, then a day trip to Ngamba Island is a good backup option.

Opening hours: Guided tours available from morning to early afternoon.
Location: 23 km by boat from Entebbe.

Read more: Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda: A Complete Guide With Photos

3/ Explore Lake Victoria and beaches

Entebbe is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa.

Although it’s a lake, not the sea, it has some small beaches which are a nice place to relax and enjoy the views.

Popular beaches like Aero Beach and Lido Beach provide opportunities for sunbathing, boat rides, and local food from nearby restaurants. You can also enjoy beautiful views and spot birdlife, including kingfishers, storks and cormorants.

Entebbe’s beaches are known for their lively weekend atmosphere, often featuring music, beach games, and local events.

You can also take boat trips to explore nearby islands, making the beaches a good starting point for further exploration around Entebbe and Lake Victoria.

However, be warned: swimming is NOT recommended and many signs tell you it’s not allowed.

Not because the authorities are fun sponges, but because there are crocodiles and hippos in the lake and they might bite your head off. Which would rather ruin your holiday, I feel.

4/ Visit Entebbe Botanic Gardens

Established in 1898, the Entebbe Botanic Gardens a tropical paradise filled with lush plant species and exotic trees.

The gardens are divided into different zones, including rainforest, bamboo, and palm sections.

My favourite area was the ancient rainforest zone, which is so perfectly wild and jungly that it’s said to have been used in the 1940s as a location for the original 1940s Tarzan movies – and you can see why!

Sadly I didn’t spot any muscular Hollywood actors swinging through the trees, but we did see quite a few primates of the monkey kind playing in the canopy.

In fact the Botanical Gardens are full of some of Uganda’s amazing animals, though you’ll need to be quick to spot (or photograph) some of it. 

There are scary African birds like this Marabou Stork, a yellow-billed kite on the hunt, and a perky little swamp flycatcher, as well as hornbills, nesting hamerkops, and plenty of other African birds.

The gardens are known for their tranquility and historical significance, offering a beautiful location for nature walks, picnics, and bird watching. I really enjoyed wandering around the garden and spotting wildlife and bird life in the trees and on the lakeshore.

With car and camera it costs about $10 to get in, and you could easily spend several hours there, particularly if, like me, you’ve brought your camera and zoom lens!

Opening hours: Daily, 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM.

5/ Look for shoebills in Mabamba Swamp

Mabamba Swamp, located west of Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria, is another great bird-watching destination, particularly known for the rare shoebill stork.

Accessible only by boat, the swamp offers guided canoe tours through the wetlands, where visitors can see not only the shoebill but also other species like papyrus gonoleks and blue-breasted bee-eaters.

The swamp is part of Uganda’s rich wetlands ecosystem and provides an immersive experience for birding enthusiasts – and one that is hard to find in other parts of East Africa.

Shoebills are incredibly weird and rare, so if you’re into birding and you do get the chance to go and look for them, you really should!

Read more: Top 50 African Birds: A Safari Photo Guide

6/ Shop for souvenirs and crafts

As you travel around Uganda you’ll see lots of people selling local crafts – but you may not have time to choose, or you may want to look around before making a final decision on what to buy.

That’s why Entebbe is a great place to finalise your purchases before boarding your flight home.

Head to Entebbe Crafts Village – on Entebbe Road, near the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre – where local artisans sell traditional Ugandan crafts, including handmade jewelry, wood carvings, baskets, and textiles. It’s an excellent place to pick up souvenirs while supporting local craftsmanship.

Bargaining is a common practice here, and visitors can enjoy engaging with the artisans to learn more about their crafts. The Crafts Village provides a great opportunity to experience Uganda’s artistic culture and pick up some gifts on your way to the airport.

Another, smaller but convenient place to try is either the Pearl Crafts Village, or the craft shop village opposite the Imperial Mall.

Read more: 32 Best Things To Do In Uganda (By A Safari Addict)

7/ Face your fears at Uganda Reptiles Village

Uganda Reptile Village, located just outside Entebbe, is a sanctuary for reptiles and amphibians.

Established to educate the public about the conservation of reptiles, the village houses snakes, crocodiles, chameleons, and tortoises.

Visitors can learn about the reptiles’ habitats and behaviours, and you can even interact with some (non-venomous!) species under the guidance of expert handlers.

At the time I visited it felt quite run down and was rather difficult to find – even, apparently, for our local taxi driver!

But with the help of Google Maps and, after a few wrong turns, we made it there eventually. 

Once we’d paid our $5 entry fee, we were introduced to our guide, Simon, who gave us a personal tour (we were the only visitors there).

The centre was set up as a way of promoting respect for reptiles within local communities, and as a place to house venomous snakes when they show up in populated areas.

Read more: Uganda Animals: The Amazing Wildlife of Uganda

Simon told us one of his main roles is to act as an emergency response when someone reports finding a snake in their home or workplace. 

When the team gets a call, they immediately travel to the location, armed only with one of those litter-picking tools and a bag, to capture the snake alive and bring it back to the reptile village.

The snakes are then housed at the centre in tanks like these and, where possible, many are released back into the wild, well away from people.

Simon told us that he’s been bitten six times in the course of this extremely dangerous work. 

Astonishingly, the team doesn’t carry any kind of anti-venom with them as it’s simply too expensive to keep in stock, so if they get bitten, all they can do is drive as fast as possible to the nearest hospital, which may be several hours away.

The only protection they carry with them against bites is a type of folk medicine called a black-stone or snake-stone, an animal bone or porous stone which is placed on top of the wound. 

I found it rather alarming that these guys should be doing such a dangerous job while relying only on highly doubtful ‘alternative’ medicine to protect them, though there are some reports that the black-stone does have some effect because its use calms the victim down, which helps slow the spread of the venom around the body.

On one occasion Simon was bitten by a Gaboon Viper, which produces the largest quantity of venom of any poisonous snake. He nearly died – but it hasn’t put him off doing his job.

The village also houses other reptiles, including crocodiles, monitor lizards, tortoises, and an enclosure full of chameleons that you can handle – that’s if you can find them amongst all the green!

Opening hours: Daily, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Read more: Demystifying Gorilla Trekking: Permits, Planning And Packing

8/ Entebbe Golf Club

Disclaimer for this entry! I’m not a golfer, have no interest in golf, and haven’t been to Entebbe Golf Course…

However, I have been reliably informed that if you like golf, Entebbe Golf Club is the oldest golf course in East Africa and offers an excellent golfing experience.

Open to visitors, the club also offers a restaurant, clubhouse, and caddies to enhance the golfing experience.

Even non-golfers can enjoy the peaceful environment, making it a popular spot for relaxation and leisure. The course also hosts several local and international tournaments.

Read more: My Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks (By A Safari Expert)

9/ Shop at Victoria Mall

Victoria Mall is a small-ish shopping centre in Entebbe that offers a range of retail stores, restaurants, and a cinema.

There’s a decent pharmacy and a large Carrefour supermarket – a great place to pick up Ugandan gin, coffee or chocolate to take home as gifts without paying airport prices.

If your luggage didn’t arrive, this is also the place to come to do an emergency re-stock of underwear and toiletries.

While I wouldn’t suggest coming here for a fun day out, it’s definitely the place to come for your regular shopping needs.

10/ Entebbe Central Market

This where the locals shop. Not a tourist souvenir market or a shopping mall, Entebbe Central Market is a warren of fruit and vegetable, spices, meat, homeware and fabric stalls inside a purpose-built market facility.

Head here to explore the colours, sights and smells of a real Ugandan market.

Read more: 13 Top Tips For Taking Great Travel Photos Of Markets

11/ Aero Beach

This is the weird and unusual entry on my list of things to do in Entebbe!

Far more than just a beach (in fact the beach is pretty small), Aero Beach is very quirky bar, club, and family hangout on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Fans of planes and military memorabilia will find it fascinating because it’s home to a bunch of rusted old aircraft including a complete old Uganda Airlines passenger plane and a graveyard of military fighter planes from the time of Idi Amin, Uganda’s notorious dictator.

There are a whole bunch of weird statues of famous African figures. We were able to identify Nelson Mandela and possibly Gaddafi (?) but the rest were anyone’s guess!

There is also a small sandy beach where you can relax during the day, and in the evening there’s drinking, music and dancing till late in the interestingly-named ‘Rising Titanic’ bar. Apparently it’s very popular with the local young people.

Entebbe hotels: where to stay

For my first visit, after a couple of weeks of the Kampala bustle, I was keen to get some fresh air, so we decided to stay a little outside the town centre on the shores of Lake Victoria. 

A quick internet search (and a dose of luck) led us to Nambi Road, a palm-lined lakeside promenade lined with bars, restaurants and hotels, that reminded me a little of parts of Australia’s Queensland coast. 

It felt a bit touristy, but there are quite a few places to eat and stay, and the breeze coming off the lake makes it feel cool and relaxing after the heat of the city.

Beachfront: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

The top hotel on Nambi Road is 2 Friends Beach Hotel is a cute and charming hotel right on the shores of Lake Victoria and just a few minutes from Entebbe airport. Rooms are clean and comfortable with air conditioning, mosquito nets and private balconies, while the open-air restaurant serves fresh fish and wood-fired pizza with lake views.

There’s a small pool and the beach bar is popular with non-residents too – so worth a visit even if you’re not staying. It’s also easy to walk to other bars and restaurants from here. Booking.com rating: 8.6. Click here to read reviews.

Central and modern: K Hotels Entebbe

Located in central Entebbe close to the Botanic Gardens, K Hotels provides modern rooms, a rooftop bar, and excellent dining options. The addition of a well-equipped gym and proximity to the Victoria Mall make it great for business travellers or anyone who prefers to be closer to the city centre. Booking.com rating: 8.4.

Boutique luxury: The Boma Hotel Entebbe

On my most recent visit we spent two nights at the Boma Hotel Entebbe. This is a rustic colonial-style guesthouse set in tropical gardens just a few minutes from the airport, so ideal for a restful first or last night in Uganda.

Rooms are spacious and characterful, with mosquito-netted beds, African textiles, private verandas overlooking the gardens, and a really good hot shower. There’s also a decent pool and the food in the restaurant was great, with load of choice and good-sized portions.

Midrange: Hotel Horizon Entebbe

Another one in a good location that consistently gets good reviews. Hotel Horizon has an outdoor pool and a garden, plus clean rooms with air-con and WiFi, and there’s a restaurant serving African and international dishes that gets rave reviews from guests. Booking.com rating: 8.4.

Budget: Jet Villas Entebbe

Jet Villas is a decent three-star hotel offering budget-friendly comfort with free bikes and a garden. It’s further away from the lake but beds are big and comfy, there are mosquito nets and good hot water. It’s an excellent option for travellers on a budget. Booking.com rating: 8.9

Bars and restaurants in Entebbe Uganda

Here are a few suggested places to eat and drink in Entebbe, based either on my own experience or local recommendations.

• Muti Garden Café & Restaurant: A nice garden café offering brunch, lunch and dinner with vegetarian-friendly fare and good coffee.
• Palms Beach Restaurant: Another spot on Nambi road on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe, this restaurant is attached to a decent hotel of the same name and offers fresh fish and seafood with wide lake views.
• Cafe Javas is a popular Ugandan chain where I ate many times when I lived in Kampala. This branch in Victoria Mall is as reliable as the others. I recommend the almond croissants!
• Goretti’s pizzeria and grill has a great setting on the Lake Victoria waterfront but I have heard that the service has gone downhill due to the place’s popularity.
• Emiboozi Restobar is a lively venue with a blend of fresh dishes and chilled drinks with indoor and outdoor seating. Live music on certain nights and friendly service add a fun social edge to this popular spot.

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Where to next?

Why not explore some of my other Uganda posts? There are masses of them – but here’s a selection.

• Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda: Is It Overhyped?
• Uganda Animals: The Amazing Wildlife of Uganda
• An Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks
• Uganda Orphanages: The Story of Safi and Amir
• Visiting The Magical Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda
• The Batwa People: How To Visit This Unique Uganda Community
• Gorilla Trekking In Uganda – The Real Inside Story
• Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda: A Complete Guide With Photos
• 28 Brilliant Things To Do In Uganda