Things to Do in Entebbe : Operation Entebbe, a well-known hostage rescue operation executed by Israel Defence Forces commandos on July 4, 1976, took place at Entebbe International Airport. Members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine had hijacked an Air France Airbus carrying 248 passengers on June 27.
The declared goal of the hijackers was to release 40 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel in return for the hostages. After a layover in Athens, the flight which had left Tel Aviv with Paris as its destination was rerouted via Benghazi to Entebbe Airport. Under Dictator Idi Amin, the hijackers were welcomed and backed by the Ugandan government. The hijackers removed all Israelis and a few non-Israeli Jews from the main group and pushed them into a separate room after transferring all of the hostages from the aero plane to the airport building.
The non-Israeli hostages were freed and taken to Paris over the course of the next two days. Twelve members of the Air France crew and 94 Israeli passengers were still held captive, and the hijackers threatened to kill them if their demands for prisoner release were not fulfilled. The nighttime rescue mission was planned in response to this threat. For the expedition, Israeli planes flew 100 commandos over 4,000 kilometres to Uganda.
The 90-minute procedure required a week of planning. Three of the 106 hostages who were still alive were slain, and 102 were freed. One unit commander and five Israeli commandos were hurt. Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu passed away. Benjamin Netanyahu, the future prime minister of Israel, had an elder brother named Netanyahu. Forty-five Ugandan soldiers and all of the hijackers perished.
There are many different activities to do in Entebbe that are included in this list. We believe that little part of Uganda has something to offer everyone, regardless of their interests.
1. Visit The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), often known as Entebbe Zoo, is a great safari destination to see Uganda’s vast array of animals and the habitats in which they reside, as well as to learn about their diet, behavior, and way of life. In 1950, UWEC was first founded to provide care for confiscated and injured wildlife. These days, information and environmental education are UWEC’s primary concerns.
They fund numerous educational initiatives (school excursions) for nearby schools with the proceeds from tourism, bringing the next generation up to date on environmental preservation and animal care. You can engage in a number of activities at the centre that help the establishment make money, such as
Behind The Scenes Experience: guided by UWEC zookeepers, you will learn about the maintenance of the animals and have the chance to interact and feed a variety of creatures, including lions, leopards, crocodiles, tigers, zebras, and elephants. You will discover how the animals’ health is tracked, what behaviours they display, and how to report these things. Both young and elderly will find it to be a highly engaging and informative experience!
A close-up look at a chimpanzee is an amazing experience for those who enjoy primates. The chimpanzees at UWEC are traumatized. It is possible to stroll among chimpanzees in this protected natural area. Chimpanzees may even climb on your back or grasp your hand. Making direct physical touch with the chimpanzees is a unique and uncommon experience.
- Explore Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Found on the shores of Lake Victoria Entebbe Botanical Gardens is a lakefront haven of flowers, luxuriant foliage, ancient, gnarled Ugandan trees, birds, and hordes of gorgeous colobus monkeys.The gardens are arranged in various zones and were planned in 1898, when Uganda was still a colony. They’re a great place to take a leisurely stroll. The ancient rainforest zone is one of the most breathtaking parts of the garden. It’s so untamed and lush that it was selected as a backdrop for the first Tarzan movie in the 1940s, and it makes sense! Look for hornbills, turacos, kingfishers, sunbirds, and colobus monkeys among other wildlife when you stroll along the dirt paths.
The grounds are also home to marabou storks, those distinctive storks who were heavily poisoned and removed because of their ugly appearance before British Queen Elizabeth’s state visit in 2007. Seeing the marabou stork is a must-do when visiting a city in Uganda!
The Milege Music Festival, hosted by an Afrojazz band from Uganda, is something you may experience if you visit the National Botanical Gardens in November.
3. Watch Shoebill Birds In Mabamba Swamp Things to do in Entebbe.
The Shoebill is without a doubt one of Uganda’s most unique birds. With its enormous, yellow eyes that resemble human eyes and its big bill that like a shoe, this bird that looks prehistoric is definitely unlike any other.There are just a few thousand shoebill storks left in East and Central Africa, including the Ramsar Wetland of International Importance called Mabamba Swamp, which is located on the Ugandan borders of Lake Victoria. By motorboat from Entebbe, you may reach Mabamba Swamp, where you can observe various different water birds as well as the critically endangered shoebills.
4. Meet Orphaned Chimps At Ngamba Island.
Seeing wild chimpanzees in Uganda is a popular tourist destination, usually included in extended safaris. However, because there aren’t any trekking spots close to Entebbe, it may not always be feasible to go on a wild chimpanzee trek if you’re only visiting Uganda for a short while. Fortunately, it’s not necessary to have an extensive chimpanzee trekking tour in order to witness chimpanzees in Uganda.A visit to the chimpanzees at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is an alternative. Nestled in Lake Victoria, Ngamba is the home of fifty-two chimpanzee orphans. From Entebbe, the island is accessible by boat (by motorized canoe or speedboat), with a variety of trips offered. If you have extra time, you can stay overnight on the island in addition to going for a full or half day.
5. Boat Cruise on Lake Victoria.
Why not take a boat ride on the biggest tropical lake in the world? Lake Victoria, which spans just less than 70,000 km2, is the biggest lake in Africa. Although the lake is referred to locally as Naluubale, British explorer John Speke gave it the English name, Queen Victoria. This lake, which shares waters with Tanzania and Kenya in Uganda, is what gave rise to Entebbe.Best seen from a boat, Lake Victoria promises an unmatched sunset that turns the lake into an orange glimmer. A unique cheese and wine cruise is available for foodies in addition to this sunset boat excursion; it’s the perfect way to celebrate the conclusion of a wonderful journey!
6. Sport Fishing On Lake Victoria.
Many people in the area rely mostly on fishing from Lake Victoria for their livelihood.The longest river in the world, the Nile River, flows into and out of Lake Victoria, where most of the fish you’ll likely eat in Uganda comes from one of these two sources. The Nile Perch, one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world, can be hooked in Lake Victoria.
Since its introduction to Lake Victoria in the 1950s, the Nile Perch has been subject to commercial fishing. Numerous native species have gone extinct or are in danger of going extinct as a result of its ecologically damaging introduction. Its eyes are a striking dark-black color with an outer ring of vivid yellow. It can grow to a maximum length of over 6 feet and a maximum weight of 200 kg.
You can go fishing for half or full days in the middle of Lake Victoria, which is a great spot. Sport fishing is an enjoyable diversion from the rough and tumble of safaris. When you fish from a boat, you will be surrounded by quiet, wildlife, and birds.
7. Visit Gorilla Conservation Café.
The Gorilla Conservation Cafe may be found in Entebbe at Plot 13 Portal Road. It was founded in collaboration with the highly regarded Conservation through Public Health (CTPH). With the earnings going towards the conservation of the Ugandan mountain gorilla population in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the cafe sells superb third-wave coffee from Uganda. To express your admiration for the mountain gorillas in Bwindi, send a gift of Gorilla Conservation Coffee. Purchase 100% Arabica from Uganda, single-origin!The iconic silverback gorilla Kanyonyi (RIP), a member of the Mubare family of the Bwindi Gorilla Families, is honored by the name of the coffee blend. Visit the Gorilla Conservation Cafe in Entebbe, purchase coffee from a variety of locations throughout Uganda, or order it online to honour his memory. You can purchase coffee beans to brew at home or place an order for fresh coffee. A fantastic present or memento is also coffee!
Gorilla Preservation Coffee is a social company that purchases coffee at a premium price from farmers who reside close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and donates the proceeds to support Conservation through Public Health’s vital health and conservation initiatives. Gorilla Conservation Coffee provides training to coffee growers on how to raise yield and improve coffee quality. Assisting farmers in forest conservation, which in turn helps to preserve and protect Ugandan mountain gorillas.
8. Relax On One Of Entebbe Beaches.
Lake Victoria is the body of water on which Entebbe is situated, and the lake is home to several beach sections. You can wander along the coast or sit on the beaches and take in the birdwatching. Common birds along the shoreline include pied kingfishers, cattle egrets, tiny egrets, and marabou storks. In addition, you may take in the views of the beach from a classy hotel, eatery, or bar that is located right on the shore. You can also relax and take in the refreshing lake breeze while sipping a fresh fruit juice or Nile Perch.
Relax On One Of Entebbe Beaches. If you have an interest in aviation, you might wish to visit Aero Beach, which has a restaurant, a bar and a small collection of vintage aircraft and aviation gear next to the beach. It’s a widely-liked spot for residents to hang out and swim, and there’s frequently music as well.
9. Take A Walking Tour Of Entebbe Town.
Taking a walking tour guided by locals is an excellent way to obtain a general overview of Entebbe town.It is among the greatest methods to explore the main attractions in Entebbe, discover the history and culture, and get advice on other things to do from locals. During the tour, you will see some of the major tourist safari attractions, the craft market, and the best places to eat street cuisine for lunch. You will also take a leisurely stroll around Uganda’s first capital and learn about its colonial past.
The name Entebbe, which translates to “a seat” in the indigenous Luganda language, may have come from the location where the Buganda chief of the Buganda Kingdom sat to decide legal disputes. When Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial commissioner, adopted Entebbe as a base in 1893, it became the first administrative and commercial hub of the British colony.
10. Shop At A Local Market.
Entebbe’s Kitooro Market is a fascinating spot. The largest arts and crafts retailer in Uganda, Entebbe Craft Village, is a great place to shop for locally made handicrafts and other gifts in a market environment. Items like soapstone ornaments and plates, jewelry, wood carvings, apparel and purses made of vibrant African textiles, place mats, sandals, oil and acrylic paintings, and authentic batiks are all available. Every pricing can be negotiated.You can also go to the well-known tourist destination, Victoria Mall. It is a fantastic spot to stop if you need to buy anything for your tour to Uganda. It opened in 2013. Additionally, there is an ATM, an Airtel SIM card store, and a Forex money exchange facility. It’s a fantastic spot to exchange money, get food or snacks, and buy any last-minute hiking or camping gear or apparel.
11. Relaxing On Ssese Islands Things to do in Entebbe
There are no less than eighty-four islands in the Ssese group in Lake Victoria.The larger islands, such Bulago Island and Bugala Island, are good places to rest after an arduous safari through Uganda; the smaller islands are uninhabited. The closest island to Entebbe is Bulago, which is conveniently reachable via a quick boat ride.
Because of the palm trees along the shore, the region appears tropical and is covered in greenery. The majority of the local population makes their living from fishing. The islands are home to almost 300 different bird species because of how heavily forested they are!
