Entebbe

Entebbe is located about 40km from Uganda’s capital Kampala and it is the primary entry point for flights into Uganda.

Entebbe has a population of around 75,000 and is built on a peninsula poking into Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest lake and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. So Entebbe offers a welcome breeze of fresh air from the lake and there are lots of green trees and lush tropical vegetation.

There are several lakeside beaches offering relaxed spots to chill out by the water. Swimming is possible, but at one’s own risk as the water may be polluted and the lake supports both hippos and crocodiles.

Entebbe’s biggest claim to fame is probably the Entebbe airport terrorist attack on June 27, 1976, where Palestinian and German terrorists hijacked an Air France plane, and held over 100 Israeli and Jewish hostages, prompting the Israeli commando rescue mission on July 4, 1976. 

Aside from that, Entebbe is a small, sleepy but charming suburb and nowadays it is famous for the botanical gardens.

The peninsula offers scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and a vibrant local culture. From Entebbe you can do island exploration and visit Ssese islands as there is a ferry from Entebbe to Kalangala island.

Also Entebbe is a great place to get on a boat to Mabamba Swamp where the rare and fabled shoebill stork resides.

The Mabamba Swamp, renowned for its diverse birdlife, offers an unparalleled birdwatching experience and is one of the last places in Africa to see the shoebill stork.

It’s a fascinating experience to navigate the papyrus channels in a traditional canoe and hunt for the Shoebill Stork among more than 260 other bird species in this stunning wetland.

Entebbe botanical gardens

The Entebbe Botanical Gardens are known to many as the place to go to in Entebbe to escape the bustle of the city and it is a popular place among locals for picnic outings.

The Entebbe Botanical Gardens are a small patch of greenery that is mostly forest, measuring about 40 hectares located on 1.5km shore line along Lake Victoria, right behind Victoria Mall. There is about 15 minutes’ drive from Entebbe International Airport, and 40 minutes’ drive from Kampala, the capital City of Uganda.

History of Entebbe botanical gardens

The botanical gardens were established by the British in 1898 as a place for the British colonial administrators to relax. It was later turned into an agricultural research center and exotic tropical plants were introduced in the gardens. The gardens therefore are endowed with both indigenous and exotic plants and tall trees. The Botanical Gardens has more than 500 species of trees and plants and around 100 species of birds.

In contrary to inside a deep jungle, the trees here are free standing giving better visibility, and so the filmmakers from Hollywood decided to shoot many scenes for the early classical Tarzan movies here, starring Johnny Weissmüller as Tarzan.