Entebbe is a small and beautiful town located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Much of it is surrounded by the lake except for a large chunk of land connecting it to Kampala city which is about 37 kilometers away. The name Entebbe comes from a Luganda word “Ntebe” meaning a seat. Before the colonial government penetrated the area, it used to be the cultural site of Buganda’s mamba clan and was locally referred to as Entebbe Ya Mugula. In the 1890s, the colonial government under the leadership Sir Gerald Portal decided to make it their main administrative office. After independence in 1962, Entebbe retained some of Uganda’s administrative offices including the main state house in Entebbe.
Although Entebbe remains a municipality and is not yet recognized as a city, it has many important structures and offerings that should change its status soon or later. Entebbe has the only international airport in Uganda. Entebbe has one of the largest United Nation peacekeeping bases in the world. Entebbe is the headquarters of the Special force command (SFC). This military unit is responsible for protecting the president of Uganda and other top government officials. Entebbe has the largest Virus Research institute in East Africa. The Uganda Virus Research Institute is where most of the deadly viruses like HIV, Ebola, Cholera and Covid19 are being studied.
Apart from the administrative offices, what really makes Entebbe special is the beautiful scenery and being near Lake Victoria. Entebbe has a cool climate throughout the year and is blessed with amazing beaches. These beaches have now been developed into resorts and hotels. Entebbe is also home to the only zoo and wildlife Education Centre in Uganda. Then there are the amazing botanical gardens and much more. All these natural features attract a lot of local tourists. In fact, Entebbe receives more local tourists than any other town in Uganda. Most come to explore the beaches or for educational purposes (zoo, airport, botanical gardens etc.). Entebbe is not only popular with local tourists. Many foreign expatriates prefer living in Entebbe due to its cool climate, beaches and natural scenery. Entebbe is growing at a very fast rate with giant shopping malls, accommodation facilities, banking structures and other amenities. You may also want to read about the tourist attractions in Uganda or what to do in Kampala. We also have information about the cost of hiring a car in Kampala or Uganda.
Entebbe at a glance
- Entebbe has the only international airport in Uganda
- Entebbe has a population of about 70,000 people
- Entebbe is 37 kilometers away from Kampala city.
- Entebbe is situated within the Lake Victoria peninsular. Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.
- Entebbe is where the main state house and presidential palace is located.
- Entebbe has a large international and expatriate community. This is mainly because of the presence of one of the largest UN bases in the town. Most tourists to Uganda also tend to spend a night or two in the town before and after a safari.
- One of the Tarzan movies was shot in Entebbe botanical gardens.
- The Mabamba swamp in Entebbe is one of the best birding sites in Uganda. The Mabamba swamp is the best place to see the elusive shoebill stork in East Africa.
- The first golf course in East Africa was established in Entebbe around 1900 by the colonial administrators. Entebbe has the most popular beaches in Uganda.
- Entebbe first rose to international fame in when a hijacked plane was allowed to land at the airport by Uganda’s dictator Idi Amin Dada. Israel sent commandos to rescue the 100 hostages from the Palestinian hijackers. The rescue of the hostages became one of the most successful commando missions the world had seen.
Things to do in Entebbe
Visit Lake Victoria: Lake Victoria is what defines Entebbe town. It is the main feature and the most popular tourist spot in the area. The lake has stunning views and amazing physical features that support tourism activities like boat riding, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, canoeing and relaxation in one the resorts. Lake Victoria is the biggest inland water body in Africa and only second to Lake Baikal when you consider world ranking.
Beaches: With a large lake like Victoria, there is no area in Uganda with more beaches than Entebbe. It is as if there is a recreational beach in every shore of the lake in Entebbe for revelers to unwind and relax. The famous beaches in Entebbe are Entebbe Imperial resort beach, White Sand Beach, Spenar beach, Sports Beach, Bido beach, Lutembe Beach, Nabinonya Beach, Aero Beach and Botanical Beach. Some of these beaches have accommodation facilities/resorts like Imperial Resort Beach, Botanical Beach Hotel, and Acacia Beach hotel. People who love fun always come to these beaches to fish, swim, sunbath, dance, relax and drink to loud music as they take photos to show off in their social media pages.
Visit the Entebbe Sailing Club or go for a sunset boat cruise: The Entebbe Sailing Club is the oldest in Uganda. Every weekend, people from all walks of life gather at the almost exclusive club to engage in boat racing, surfing and canoeing. The most memorable experience is the sunset boat ride in the evening that starts from the Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre to the Ssese Island (Bugala). The speed boat is always full of drinks and eats to ensure that the revelers are happy at all times.
Entebbe International Airport Tour: Entebbe Airport is the main and only international air transport hub in Uganda. The airport is built on the shores of Lake Victoria, 2 kilometers away from the 
main town center in Kitoro. Entebbe international airport is the place to be if you are interested in aviation. It is open for tourism (especially for students). On arrival, students are taken around the different departments before going to the arrival lounge and departure lounge. The final part of the tour would be to go to a spot where they can see the planes land and takeoff. The building structure is very modern and can appear very complex for some local tourists. If you are well-traveled, then you can also visit just to check out the different duty free shops and restaurants. Most travelers arrive when already tired and should make a separate tour of the airport when not traveling.
Visit the UN Base in Entebbe: The United Nations base is located in the old Entebbe airport. This military base is responsible for controlling staff/cargo movements to countries affected by conflicts around Africa and especially the Democratic Republic of Congo. The base is out of bounds to the public but can be spotted from a distance while driving to Entebbe international port. If you have connections to UN officials, you may be given a pass. On a normal day, large UN military helicopters and planes can be seen in the large facility.
Visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens: This is one of the oldest Eco-tourism sites in Uganda. It was established in 1901 by the British colonialists. The gardens have different species of trees which are home to a variety of birds and monkeys (Vervet and Colobus monkeys). People come to visit the gardens 
for picnics, meditation, relaxation and spending some quality time. Entebbe botanical Gardens is also a popular photo and video shooting site. Many Uganda musicians have shot videos from the Entebbe botanical gardens. Some of the songs shot from the gardens are Kipepeo by Jose Chameleon, Hellena by Radio and Weasel (Featuring David Lutalo). Perhaps the greatest scenes captured were during the creation of one of the very first Tarzan Movies. If you are birder, this is the place to go before going to the national parks. Birding in Entebbe botanical gardens exposes you to species like the yellow billed duck, glossy ibis, lesser jacana, giant/pied kingfisher, red chested sunbird, black headed herons and the grey headed gull just to mention a few.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre tour: This Centre is found in a small tropical forest on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre was established as a zoo in 1952. It began as a sanctuary for injured and rescued animals from Uganda’s national parks before 
turning into a zoo. The zoo has now grown into what is now known as the Uganda Wildlife Education center. The Center has most of the wildlife species you will find in protected areas across the country apart from a few like mountain gorillas. The animals to look out for while at the Center are pythons, cobras, chimpanzees, monkeys, lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, elands, warthog, buffaloes, leopard and cheetahs just to mention a few. If you love birds, then expect to see ostriches, the common booboo, sunbirds, egrets, great blue turaco and the shoebill stork. For a more quality experience, do not forget to hire a resident Guide. The Guide will take you around the facility and explain how the animals where introduced into the Centre. After a 2-hour exploration of the facility, you can engage in other activities like donkey riding, swimming at the nearby beach or eating at the restaurant.
Uganda Reptiles Village: If you are interested in crocodiles and snakes, this is the best place to go to when you have time. The Reptiles Village has some of the most venomous snakes in Africa. You will find 
cobras, vipers, puff adders and black mambas. There are also pythons and green snakes that aren’t venomous. Then there are other reptiles like chameleons, geckos, turtles, tortoises and crocodiles. The Reptile Village is located off Entebbe road in Abaita Ababiri, a commercial town before Entebbe. The snakes in the reptile village are not as deadly as they should be. Their venom is removed by the reptile experts allowing visitors to touch and take pictures with them.
Visit the Uganda Virus Research Institute: As we already mentioned in the introduction, this is one of the most prominent Virus research institutes in Africa. Its formation dates back in 1950 as the East Africa Virus Research Institute before turning into the Uganda Virus Research Institute in 1970. It 
is now under the Uganda National Health Research Organization. It has some of the best tropical virus Researchers out there. The Institute is responsible for the discovery of the Kadam virus, Zika Virus, Chikungunya virus, Bwamba virus, O’nyong’nyong virus, West Nile virus and Semliki Forest virus. Many of the communicable diseases are tested and researched about in this institute. The Uganda Virus Research Institute has been the front runner for the treatment and further research on the new COVID19. The institute receives researchers/academicians from across the globe to learn and take part in research projects.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary: This is one of the few places where tourists can get up and close with chimpanzees in a way that is impossible in large national parks. The sanctuary started with 
the purpose of providing a new home for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees. Instead of keeping the primates in a cage like it is in Entebbe zoo, the Centre allows the chimps to move freely in the tropical forest found in the island. Tourists get a chance to see the chimps up-close during feeding or if they choose to go for the volunteer or caretaker for a day programme. There are now over 40 orphaned chimpanzees at the sanctuary. The number is regulated to avoid the overcrowding which could make the place unmanageable. There are also other things to do while visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary like canoeing, swimming and visiting the fishing villages.
State House Entebbe: The Entebbe state house is the official residence of the president of Uganda. It is located along the main Entebbe road. It sits on a huge chunk of land right in the middle of the town. Unfortunately, it is very hard for one to get close to it because security personnel are all over the place. It was also designed in such a way that people cannot easily view what is happening in the inside. There are a lot of trees and building surrounding the main building. To access it, one needs a special invitation from the president’s office.
Entebbe Golf Club: The Entebbe golf course is the oldest in Uganda. The Clubs is situated in a valley off the main road and near Lake Victoria resort hotel. Entebbe Golf Club/Course was set up by the British colonial administrators in 1901. It is an 18-hole golf course which host different international and local tournaments. The green and well-manicured lawns catch the eye of all visitors who come into the country. Everyone is welcome to play golf on the grounds as long as he/she can afford the fee which is paid at the golf club office. Beside the golf course, there is a cricket oval and basketball court for members of the club. There are also indoor games like darts, snooker and more.
Visit Entebbe’s main Markets: There are two main local markets in Entebbe. There is the one adjacent to the shell petrol station (off the main Entebbe road) and the grand one in Kitoro town center. These markets sell agricultural products like fruits, spices and vegetables. They also sell general commodities like electronics, textile and shoes. These markets are usually congested but are the cheapest places to get local products and fresh fruits/vegetable.
Explore Kitubulu Forest and Beach: This is the first beach and forest you spot as you enter Entebbe from Kampala. The forest has a beach area where people go to relax and swim but at their own risk. There are also Eco-cottages to stay while at Kitubulu. The forest has some great trails for nature walks and birding.
Visit Zika Forest: Zika forest is a tropical rain-forest in Wakiso district but within Entebbe peninsular. This is where the Zika virus was first detected in 1947. The Zika forest is a research center which attracts researchers from all over the world to do scientific work. The forest is rich in terms of flora and fauna. 
One can spot beautiful flowers, different species of trees, birds, reptiles, butterflies and small primates. You don’t have to worry about the Zika Virus because there have been no human infections for many decades.
Nkumba University: This is a popular institute of higher education in Uganda. It was established in 1994 as an institute for business studies but has now grown to include the faculties of science, technology and arts. The University is hidden away from the main road but located in an area with beautiful scenery overlooking Lake Victoria. Nkumba University now has over 5000 international and local students to its name.
Mabamba Swamp: This wetland is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. The swamp is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is covered with papyrus and miscanthus. The key attraction is the rare and elusive shoebill stork. The shoebill is a lone bird with an appearance that reminds one of the Jurassic age. Apart from the Shoebill stork, there are over 250 species of other birds to look out for. Birders can also spot the rare Sitatunga (swamp antelope) which live within the wetlands. The Mabamba Wetlands Sanctuary can be accessed from Entebbe by speed boat and then hop into a local canoe to pass through the papyrus reeds.
Sport Fishing on Lake Victoria: Lake Victoria is home to a variety of fish species and landing sites. The main species of fish caught from the waters are the silver fish, lung fish, tilapia, Nile perch, tiger fish, catfish and barbell. Of all the species mentioned, the most delicious is the tilapia and Nile perch. If you are an angler, the main species to look forward to catching is the Nile Perch. Nile Perch can grow to weigh over 100 kilograms. Both Nile Perch and Tilapia taste great whether boiled or fried. They get even better when spiced and served with boiled cassava or French fries.
Visit the Ssese Islands: The Ssese Islands are a group of Islands found in Lake Victoria with most under the District of Kalangala. The most notable is Bugala island where the Kalangala district headquarters are found. Bugala island is the most developed and visited of the 84 Ssese Islands. The island has fancy resorts for accommodation and lots of activities to take part in like swimming, sunbathing, nature walks, primates viewing, canoeing, sport fishing, quad or mountain biking. Apart from Bugala, you can also read more about the other Ssese Islands including Ngamba Island.
Go shopping: Entebbe does not have so many shopping malls to visit like Kampala given its small size. The main shopping malls are Imperial mall and Victoria mall. The rest of the shopping centers are 
supermarkets. The two main shopping malls in Entebbe consist of commodity shops, restaurants, supermarkets, children’s parks, banks and hotels. The shopping malls in Entebbe are excellent for hanging out or window shopping with family and friends.
The Entebbe Craft Village: This artisan Centre is located along the main road coming from Kampala. The craft site was put in 2002 with all kinds of African art, curios, traditional attires, cultural dresses, suits, female tops, skirts, bags, necklaces, head gears, paintings, sculptures, footwear and a lot more. The fabric found in the craft village is original, locally made and very durable. The village is a favorite place for tourists who are interested getting some souvenirs before leaving the country.
Eat Out: Food joints, restaurants and other eateries are spread all around the town of Entebbe. You can find them in shopping malls, beaches, resorts, the different lodges and even in the town center itself. The most popular eateries are those that specialize in both local and international dishes. There are so many 
restaurants in Entebbe that it would be so unfair if we mentioned only a few here. All a visitor needs to do is visit one of the popular places in Entebbe and there will be a good place to eat.
Go Drinking and Clubbing: Though Entebbe has historically had a quiet nightlife compared to Kampala, things are changing. There are more night clubs, bars and restaurants as the town grows. It may never reach the level of Kampala but the clubs are still good enough to impress those who love to party. The great thing about the Entebbe nightclubs is that they tend to attract the affluent class and UN expatriates living in the town. Some of the best night spots in Entebbe include riders’ bar, red rooster, sports bar, de bar O’s bar and so forth.
