City & Town in Uganda
Arrival gateway on Lake Victoria
Entebbe is a relaxed town on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and home to Uganda's international airport. It was the colonial capital, and it still has a green, quiet feel, with old gardens, shady streets and the lake at every turn.
For many travellers it is the first and last stop of a Uganda safari. The Boma Entebbe is a comfortable guest house close to the airport, and there is enough here to fill a half day or more: the botanical gardens, the wildlife education centre, and boat trips to Ngamba Island or the Mabamba swamp.
Entebbe is surprisingly good for birds. The botanical gardens and lake shore can produce great blue turaco, black-and-white casqued hornbill, African fish eagle, weavers and kingfishers, and black-and-white colobus and vervet monkeys live in the gardens.
A green peninsula on Lake Victoria, with botanical gardens, lakeside beaches and views of the water at sunset.
Activities here
The lake keeps Entebbe pleasant all year, with days around 24 to 28°C and nights about 16 to 18°C. Rain falls mainly from March to May and October to November, often in afternoon storms.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | 18 | 100 |
| Feb | 28 | 18 | 100 |
| Mar | 27 | 18 | 170 |
| Apr | 26 | 18 | 200 |
| May | 26 | 17 | 150 |
| Jun | 26 | 17 | 80 |
| Jul | 25 | 16 | 60 |
| Aug | 26 | 17 | 100 |
| Sep | 27 | 17 | 130 |
| Oct | 27 | 17 | 130 |
| Nov | 26 | 17 | 160 |
| Dec | 27 | 17 | 110 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
Entebbe works at any time of year. Plan it around your flights and the rest of your safari.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb, Jun to Sep
Entebbe International Airport is the main entry point to Uganda. Kampala is about 45 minutes to an hour away on the expressway, longer in heavy traffic.
A visa is needed for Uganda and can be applied for online before you travel. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Please see the Uganda page for details.
A yellow fever certificate is needed to enter Uganda. Entebbe has good clinics. Drink bottled or filtered water.
National ParkBwindi Impenetrable National ParkMountain gorilla trekking
National ParkKibale National ParkChimpanzee tracking
National ParkQueen Elizabeth National ParkKazinga Channel boat safari and tree-climbing lions
National ParkMurchison Falls National ParkThe Nile forcing through a seven-metre gorge
National ParkKidepo Valley National ParkRemote savannah wilderness
National ParkLake Mburo National ParkWalking safaris among zebra and elandOur take
“Use your arrival day”
We suggest a slow first afternoon in Entebbe rather than a rush onto the road. A walk in the botanical gardens, a sundowner by the lake and an early night make a real difference before a long drive. On departure days, Mabamba or Ngamba are good ways to spend the hours before an evening flight.
Safaris from
US$160 per person
Plan your time in Entebbe
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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