Activities to do around Entebbe : Entebbe is the town which is closest to the international airport and it is located by the shores of Lake Victoria.
There are many activities to do when visiting Entebbe and they include the following;
- Visiting the Botanical gardens
The Botanical gardens are the ideal place to relax during a tour around Entebbe and it is surrounded by trees and is also located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
There are many bird species which can be seen around the Botanical gardens which is among the best places for birding. When visiting the gardens, visitors can enjoy nature walks, learning about tree species and bird species and also relaxing by the water shores.
- A tour around Uganda Wildlife Education Center
The Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) is among the places to visit around Entebbe for a chance to know about the wildlife of Uganda.
During visits to UWEC also known as the zoo, tourists can enjoy walks with a guide t learn about the animals in Uganda. Another exciting experience at Uganda Wildlife Education Center is the Behind the scenes tours during which visitors learn how to be a zoo keeper a day and feed the animals from inside their homes at the zoo.
The opening hours of the Uganda Wildlife Education Center is 08:30 am to 06:30 pm.
- Shoebill experience at Mabamba swamp
Another activity to do around Entebbe is engaging in the shoebill experience around the Mabamba swamps.
The Shoebill is among the unique bird species found in Uganda and the best place to see them is the Mabamba swamp which is among the wetlands located on Lake Victoria.
- Boat rides on Lake Victoria
Tours around Entebbe can also involve taking part in boat rides on Lake Victoria which can be done in the morning and in the afternoon.
Boat rides on Lake Victoria can also take visitors to the different islands and also as a leisure excursion. Lake Victoria is one of the largest lakes found in Uganda and is also the second largest fresh water body in the world.
During the boat rides on Lake Victoria, visitors can also enjoy going to the fishing villages around the lake and also watch as the fishermen cast their nets into the lake.
- Visiting Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary
Visiting the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary is another activity to do when visiting Entebbe and it is home to many orphaned chimpanzees.
At the Ngamba island, visitors get to see the chimpanzees closely and there are about 52 orphaned chimpanzees at the sanctuary. Visiting the sanctuary involves boat rides on Lake Victoria to get to Ngamba island and other activities done during the experience include feeding the chimpanzees.
- Bird watching
There are many spots for bird watching around Entebbe and they include the Entebbe botanical gardens, Mabamba swamps and also around Lake Victoria.
Some of the bird species which can be seen during bird watching around Entebbe include Shoebill stork, Saddle-Billed Stork, Black-Headed Heron, Red-chested Sunbird, Hamerkops, Pied Kingfisher, Grey Kestrel, Cormorants, Pink Backed Pelicans, Weavers, Black Crake, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow Throated Longclaw among others.
- Relaxing by the beaches
Entebbe has many beaches for relaxing during a tour around the town and they are the perfect spot to unwind by Lake Victoria shores.
Some of the beaches in Entebbe include the White sand beach, Spenah beach, Lido beach, Aero beach, Lutembe beach, Imperial resort beach among others. When visiting the beaches, visitors can try out the local food including fresh fish from Lake Victoria among other dishes.
- Visiting the equator
Another activity to do around Entebbe is visiting the equator which crosses Lake Victoria and can be visited on Lwaji island where the equator sign is found.
- Reptile village
Going to the Reptile village is another activity to do around Entebbe and it involves getting to know more about the different reptiles of Uganda.
Reptiles around Uganda which are injured or rescued are rehabilitated and taken care of from the reptile village. Some of the reptiles at the reptile village include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, chameleons and many others.
- Ssese islands tour
Visiting the Ssesse islands is another activity to engage in during tours around Entebbe and it is located on Lake Victoria.
The Ssese islands are among the white sand beaches of Lake Victoria and it is one of the best places to relax by the beach, enjoy swimming, camping or staying in the different hotels found by the shores of the lake.
It is the ideal location for a beach getaway during a tour in Entebbe. Other islands found on Lake Victoria include Banda island, Bugala island, Bulago island, Ngamba island, Koome island and many islands.
- Visiting the Budhist center
Tourists can also engage in meditation among other activities when visiting the Buddhist center located in Garuga in Entebbe.
- Bike tours
Biking around Entebbe is another way to explore the beautiful town and this activity can be done with a local guide around the different tourist sites.
These bike tours can take about 2 hours and take visitors across the different sites around Entebbe including the Botanical gardens among others.
- Walking tours
Walking tours can also be done around Entebbe and they are the perfect way to experience life of the locals and also visit different places.
The amount of time spent during the walking tours in Entebbe can be about 3 to 4 hours and the activity is led by a local guide.
- Craft shopping
There are different craft shops in Entebbe and the craft shopping experience involves purchasing local art and crafts such as paintings, clothing, jewelry among other items made by the locals.
- Visiting the local markets
Visiting the local markets around Entebbe is another exciting activity to take part in and they include the Nakiwogo market.
During this tour, visitors can buy the different food stuffs including different fruits of Uganda like pineapples, mangoes, pawpaw among others.
Many other activities can be done around Entebbe through the year apart from the ones listed above.
