Entebbe is a pleasant little city located on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Victoria. The city is located about 36 km (22 miles) south of Kampala. Entebbe is where Uganda’s main international airport is located. If you’re flying in or out of Uganda, you will have to pass through here. Entebbe is a small city with a population of just over 80,000.
If you’re flying in or out of Uganda, consider scheduling a few days in Entebbe before or after your flight. It would be a good place to relax after a long flight. It’s a nice little lakeside town. It’s very green and lush. Entebbe would also be a great destination for a weekend getaway from Kampala.
I’m currently living in Entebbe with my girlfriend. I moved here from Kampala about 2 months ago. I visited Entebbe as a tourist before I moved here. In this guide, I’ll outline the best things to do in Entebbe.
1. Entebbe Botanical Gardens (National Botanical Gardens of Uganda)
The Entebbe botanical gardens are a great place for nature walks, birdwatching, swimming, and viewing monkeys. There are trails running throughout the botanical gardens. There is also a nice beach area with a bar and restaurant. There is also space for large events. People do swim here but I would recommend against it due to the presence of bilharzia.
The botanical gardens are located right in Entebbe, on the shore of Lake Victoria. If you’re staying in the center of Entebbe, you could walk here. The entry fee for foreigners is 20,000 UGX (about $5.20). The entry fee for Ugandan citizens is 5,000 UGX (about $1.30).
It’s worth the price of entry. It’s a really pleasant place to walk around for a couple of hours. You can visit here any time of day. It doesn’t get too busy. I recommend visiting during the afternoon or early evening. There are lots of trees for shade and there is a nice cool breeze coming off the lake so it doesn’t get too hot.
I have visited here two times. My girlfriend and I ate lunch at the restaurant there both times. We ordered fried tilapia and chips and sat in the shade and watched the lake while we ate. After lunch, we took a walk on the beach then took a stroll along some of the trails. It’s a really peaceful and beautiful place. We spent around 2 hours there.
2. Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC)– Entebbe Zoo
UWEC is a wildlife sanctuary and zoo. It is located in Entebbe, on the shore of Lake Victoria. Here, you can view and learn about the animals of Uganda. They have elephants, rhinos, chimpanzees, Nile crocodile, shoebills, and many other species. There is also a nice restaurant on the beach.
The entry fee for foreigners is $15 (about 55,000 UGX). The entry fee for Ugandans is 20,000 UGX (about $5.20). They only accept credit cards and mobile money. Cash isn’t accepted. They do have a place where you can load cash onto your mobile money. I think they do this to reduce corruption. You can see all of the exhibits in 2-3 hours.
I went there with my girlfriend about 2 weeks ago. I’m glad I went but it was a bit of a disappointment to me. At many of the exhibits, the animals were either far away or sleeping. I think part of the problem is that we went during the hottest part of the day when the animals were sleeping. If you go, try to go during the morning or evening so the animals will be more active. Maybe my expectations were too high. It’s not the San Diego Zoo. It’s a small park.
The best exhibit was the chimpanzees. They have their own island. There are also little informational plaques about every chimp there. It was interesting reading about their different personalities and how they interact with the zookeepers and other chimps.
After we walked through the park, we went to the lakeshore and had a relaxing lunch at the restaurant. We sat right by the beach. While we were eating, we were surrounded by Marabou Storks. It was pretty cool.
If you’re visiting Entebbe on a layover, I recommend visiting the zoo. Just don’t set your expectations too high. It’s not a big modern zoo but it is a fun place to walk around for a couple of hours. It is located a couple of miles from the city center so you may have to take a boda or Uber to get there.
3. Lake Victoria: Beaches, Resorts, Swimming, and Sunsets
There are lots of beaches to explore in Entebbe. Unfortunately, most beaches are private. They are often located inside resorts. There is usually a small fee of 5,000-10,000 UGX ($1.30-$2.60) to enter. It would be nice if there was a free public beach but there really isn’t one.
One of the most popular beaches is called Lido Beach. This is one of Entebbe’s oldest beaches. It’s located near the airport. It’s a popular weekend spot. There is a bar and restaurant. On the weekends, there is live music. They also have beach volleyball courts.
Another interesting beach to visit is Aero Beach. This beach is also located near the airport. Here, you can view a collection of old decommissioned aircraft. There are passenger planes and some old fighter jets. It’s a really unique place to visit if you’re interested in aviation. The entry fee is 5,000 shillings.
Another nice beach resort worth checking out is White Sands Beach. This one is also located near the airport. Here, there is a restaurant and bar along with some volleyball courts and pool tables. It’s a cool place to hang out. I took my girlfriend here last month to view the full moon over the lake. It was a really nice evening. The entry fee is 10,000 shillings.
You can also go to the beach at the botanical gardens and at UWEC. Both are located on Lake Victoria.
You can swim in Lake Victoria. Whenever I go to the beach, I see people in the water. I don’t swim in any lake in East Africa. The reason is most of the lakes, including Lake Victoria, are contaminated with bilharzia (Schistosomiasis). This is a parasite that lives in a freshwater snail. When you could experience flue-like symptoms, a rash, and even organ damage. This infection can be treated with medication.
Because Entebbe’s beaches face East, they aren’t ideal for viewing sunsets. You could catch a beautiful sunrise over Lake Victoria.
4. Walking Around Town
Entebbe is a small city but it is pretty spread out. The city is built on a peninsula with the airport at the end. It is built along Kampala-Entebbe road. There are beaches along the East side of the city. In the city center, there is a mall, the express taxi stand, and a few bars and restaurants and hotels. There are some nice resorts along the lakeshore.
You could walk across the main central area in 15 minutes or so. Entebbe is much smaller than Kampala. It is a city of 80,000. To compare, Kampala has 5 million or more in the metro area.
Victoria Mall is the main mall in the city. Inside, there is a Carrefour supermarket, movie theater, and a few clothing stores and restaurants including a KFC and Cafe Javas. There are also a couple of ATMs. You’ll also find service centers for MTN and Airtel there.
If you want to go for a swim, there is a nice rooftop pool at K Hotels. They charge 20,000 UGX to use the pool. They also have a rooftop bar and restaurant. There are great views of the lake here. There is also a nice beach bar and restaurant called 2 Friends. It is located right on the water with great views. It’s a great place to grab a drink. I also enjoy Nepalaya Restaurant. It is located near Victoria Mall.
Every Saturday, there is a market day. The market is located near the city center, along Katabi Road. At the market, you can find everything from clothes to food to home goods to souvenirs.
Entebbe isn’t a big exciting city. It’s a lakeside town. The city is very green and lush. The air is much cleaner than the air in Kampala. It’s also more organized. It’s a nice little city.
Day Trips from Entebbe
If you’re staying in Entebbe and you want to take a day trip, one of the most popular options is Mabamba Swamp to go birdwatching. Mabamba swamp is located 12 km from Entebbe. It is home to the famous Shoebill as well as many other wetland species. You can book a tour in Entebbe. I haven’t done this yet but I plan to.
You could also visit Ngamba Island. This is an island in Lake Victoria about 23km from Entebbe. Here, you can visit a chimpanzee sanctuary. Chimps roam freely on the island. I haven’t been here either but it sounds really cool.
You could also take a day trip to Kampala. With the express taxi, you can get to Kampala in less than an hour.
If You Only Have a Layover in Entebbe
If you have a 6-8 hour layover or longer, you could leave the airport and visit Entebbe. This would be enough time to take a walk through the botanical gardens, visit the zoo, relax by the lake, or just take a walk through town. If you had 12 hours or more, you could go into Kampala.
Usually, it takes less than 30 minutes to get through immigration. The airport is only 10-15 minutes from town. Taxis are always available. Most nationalities will need to arrange a tourist visa or transit visa in advance to enter Uganda. If you’re from East Africa, you likely won’t need a visa.
When you head back to the airport, you should arrive for your flight at least 3 hours early. There are multiple security checkpoints and there can be long lines. It takes quite a bit of time to get checked in for your flight.
Where To Stay
The first time I visited Entebbe, I stayed in a little guesthouse by the lake called Elementis Entebbe. I think I paid about $15 to stay in the dorm room. They had excellent breakfast. The people running the place were very nice. I would recommend it.
The next time I visited Entebbe, I stayed at a place called Rebecca Cottages. It is located away from the lake, a few blocks from the express taxi stand. I paid about $18 per night for a room for 2 people. If you want a private room on a budget, I recommend it. Even though it wasn’t on the lake, the location was very central. It was walkable to everything. They also served a nice breakfast.
If you’re on a higher budget, consider K Hotels. I haven’t stayed there but I have swum in their pool a couple of times and I have eaten in their restaurant. It is a nice hotel right in the city center. There great views from the rooftop. They have excellent service.
Getting There
To get to Entebbe town from the airport, the best option is to just take an airport taxi. The ride will cost around 40,000-50,000 UGX ($10-$13). You could also order an Uber or SafeCar. The price will be around the same. From Entebbe airport, a taxi is usually the best option because rideshare can take a while to arrive.
If you’re on a tight budget, you could walk out of the airport to the main road (Kampala Road). From there, you could take a taxi or boda boda (motorcycle taxi) into town. A motorcycle taxi would probably cost 10,000-15,000 UGX ($2.60-$3.80). This would only be a good option if you’re travelling light because it’s about a 20 minute walk from the airport to the road.
If you’re traveling from Kampala to Entebbe, you can take a private taxi or take the express taxi. A private taxi will cost around $40. The express taxi costs 6,000-7,000 UGX (around $1.50-$1.80).
For more in depth information on this journey, check out my guide: How to Travel from Entebbe to Kampala.
Final Thoughts
Entebbe is a laidback lakeside town. Staying in Entebbe is a good way to avoid the chaos of Kampala. It’s a good choice for people who want to enjoy the outdoors instead of going out partying. There are enough things to do to keep you busy for 2-3 days. If you’re flying in or out of Uganda, I recommend you spend some time in the city.
I have been living in Entebbe for the past couple of months. My girlfriend and I moved here to escape crowded and dusty Kampala. It was a great move. The air is clean. Life here is a bit slower. It’s also nice being near the lake.
For more in-depth info, check out my guide to living in Uganda as a foreigner
Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 68 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor experience. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. He is currently based in Entebbe, Uganda. For more information on his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.