Should you’re heading to Uganda, there’s a excessive chance you’ll fly into the worldwide airport in Entebbe. While many guests head straight out on a safari or gorilla trek, we expect there are many issues to do in Entebbe to make it value spending at the very least a day or two of your journey.
We’ve spent a variety of days exploring the sights of the Entebbe space, and we’ve put collectively this information that will help you plan what to see and do right here.
Entebbe was the previous seat of presidency, however after independence this moved to close by Kampala. Entebbe itself is pretty unfold out with few tall buildings, and has fairly a tropical laid-back model. It’s exhausting to think about it was the seat of presidency, particularly whenever you examine it to Kampala with its tall buildings and loopy visitors!
Whether or not you’re right here for a brief keep while ready for a safari to begin or a flight to depart, or you’ve just a few days to discover, this information will provide you with numerous concepts for issues to do in Entebbe.
From seeing chimpanzees to making an attempt conventional meals to buying regionally made souvenirs, Entebbe has one thing for everybody! Let’s get began.
14 Issues to do in Entebbe
This record of issues to do in Entebbe covers all kinds of choices. No matter your pursuits, we expect you will see one thing to get pleasure from on this nook of Uganda.
Take a Strolling Tour
A good way to get an summary of Entebbe is to take a regionally led strolling tour like this. We love taking strolling excursions, particularly once we are new to an space. We discover they’re probably the greatest methods to see the highlights, study concerning the tradition and historical past, and get ideas from locals on different actions.
We took a tour of Kampala with the corporate that runs the Entebbe tour, and it was glorious. Our information was educated concerning the space and historical past of the nation, and was additionally in a position to advise on issues like security, what to eat, and extra.
Most strolling excursions of Entebbe will doubtless embrace issues like making an attempt the native meals, seeing native monuments, visiting the Botanical Gardens, and visiting the craft market. Simply verify what’s and isn’t included within the tour value, and do not forget that tipping is at all times appreciated in Uganda.
Go to the Botanical Backyard
One of the well-known sights in Entebbe is the Nationwide Botanical Gardens of Uganda, usually simply known as the Entebbe Botanical Backyard. That is usually included on guests’ safari itineraries as a result of it is a wonderful method to get an introduction to a few of the vegetation and birds of Uganda.
Discovered on the shores of Lake Victoria, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens was established in 1898. They’re one of many oldest botanical gardens in Africa. The gardens are divided into a variety of areas which characteristic vegetation and timber from totally different areas of Uganda, in addition to different tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate areas all over the world. Over 300 species are represented.
In addition to the spectacular assortment of timber and vegetation, the backyard is nicely generally known as a very good location for birdwatching. Among the species you could spot right here embrace the large marabou stork, the palm-nut vulture, the African gray parrot, pink-backed pelican, yellow-billed duck, malachite kingfisher, and plenty of extra.
Hen lovers will certainly wish to embrace the Botanical Backyard on their record of locations to go to in Entebbe.
It’s additionally dwelling to a variety of monkeys, together with the attractive black and white Colobus monkey which you will be fortunate sufficient to identify. However you might be fairly certain to see vervet monkeys as there are a variety of them right here.
There’s an entrance payment to go to the Entebbe Botanical Backyard, and you too can pay additional for a neighborhood information. You possibly can rent a information on the backyard entrance, or be part of a tour resembling this metropolis strolling tour or this full day tour that features a guided go to right here.
There may be little or no signage right here so a information is an efficient funding if you wish to study extra concerning the native timber and wildlife.
Go to the Seashore
Entebbe sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, and there are a variety of stretches of seashore that may be discovered all alongside the lake. Among the small seashore areas are sandy, some rocky. These seashore areas might be discovered all alongside the lake entrance, from the airport space, to the Botanical Backyard and past.
A number of issues to notice. Among the seashores are a part of lodge or restaurant property, and so are solely accessible to prospects. The various lake ranges can have an effect on how a lot seashore (if any) is accessible. In recent times, rising water ranges within the lake and erosion has prompted most of the former seashore areas to turn out to be inaccessible. Lastly, there’s a danger of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), so many individuals advise towards swimming within the lake.
Though we haven’t swam right here, we get pleasure from strolling alongside the shoreside, sitting on the seashores, and watching the birds. Maribou storks, little egrets, cattle egrets, and pied kingfisher are frequent birds you’ll see alongside the shore. You can too get out on the lake by taking a ship tour.
Should you like aviation, you could wish to head over to Aero Seashore the place you will see a small assortment of outdated airplanes and aviation tools (entrance payment to go to) subsequent to the seashore space in addition to a restaurant and bar.
Our advice is to benefit from the seashore views from a pleasant beachfront restaurant or bar, and benefit from the cool breeze coming over the lake as you sip a neighborhood beer or recent glass of fruit juice. For instance, we frequently eat on the shoreside restaurant of the 2Friends Seashore Lodge.
See the Monuments and Historic Websites
Entebbe was the seat of presidency and administrative hub till Uganda gained independence in 1962 and Kampala grew to become the capital. However Entebbe is dwelling to Uganda’s State Home, which is at present the official dwelling and workplace of the President.
The State Home and most of the former colonial administrative buildings usually are not open to the general public. Nonetheless, you’ll undoubtedly see a few of these colonial-era buildings as you discover Entebbe.
The principle historic website to go to is Muzinga Sq. Park, the place you’ll discover just a few essential monuments and memorials.
These embrace:
- A cannon in Muzinga Sq. Park, which was left by Tanzanian troops as a part of the battle to overthrow Idi Amin. Two statues of troopers have been added subsequent to the cannon.
- The Independence Tree, or Freedom Tree, the place conferences have been held through the motion to realize independence from British rule.
It’s value noting that relying on whenever you go to Entebbe, entry to varied monuments could also be restricted or you could be requested by guards to not take images. That is doubtless as a result of close to proximity of those areas to State Home.
Word that though Entebbe might be finest identified worldwide for being the situation of the 1976 aircraft hijacking and subsequent profitable hostage rescue scenario, generally known as Operation Entebbe or Operation Thunderbolt, there’s not a lot info on show about this. There was information {that a} museum was deliberate to open in 2007 on the Previous Entebbe Airport, the place the incident came about, however we couldn’t discover any present details about any museums. There are a selection of books and movies about this occasion.
Town additionally has a variety of historic church buildings, each Catholic and Anglican. Some date again to colonial instances. The Bugonga Catholic Church in Entebbe dates from 1902, making it the earliest everlasting Catholic church in Uganda. St. John’s Church historical past dates again to 1908 with the present Anglican church buildings relationship again to the Nineteen Thirties with a brand new constructing additionally being constructed right here.
These of you curious about non secular historical past may additionally wish to go to the Kigungu Missionary Touchdown website, the place the primary Catholic Missionaries, Brother Amans and Father Mon Maple Lourdel, arrived in Uganda.
Right here there’s a plaque, monument, and statues of the 2 missionaries. It’s a preferred place of pilgrimage. That is situated simply exterior Entebbe so you have to transport to go to. This full day tour of Entebbe and the encircling space at present features a cease and go to to the Kigungu touchdown website.
If you’re all for delving into the historical past of Entebbe, we’d counsel contemplating hiring a neighborhood information or becoming a member of a tour.
Play a Spherical of Golf
Golf lovers will certainly wish to embrace a go to to Entebbe Golf Membership as a part of their journey to Uganda. Based in 1901, that is the oldest golf course in East Africa.
Right here amongst the tall pines, you’ll discover a Par 71 18-hole golf course. The course is open to non-members, and you may see the charges for a spherical and e book on the official web site right here.
Should you’d moderately watch golf than play, the golf membership additionally hosts tournaments year-round, which you’ll be able to see on their web site.
Should you’re searching for someplace to remain close to the golf course, the 4* Lake Victoria Lodge is an efficient choice. It’s a colonial-era lodge with views of Lake Victoria, simply 10 minutes’ stroll from the golf course.
Go to Chimpanzees
Many individuals coming to Uganda hope to see chimpanzees within the wild, usually as a part of a chimpanzee trekking expertise. Nonetheless, in case you are solely in Uganda for a quick time frame, it isn’t at all times sensible to do a trek as there aren’t any trekking areas inside a brief drive of Entebbe or Kampala.
The excellent news nevertheless is that you just don’t have to do a full chimpanzee trekking expertise to see chimpanzees in Uganda. You possibly can as a substitute decide to go to the chimpanzees on the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Ngamba island is present in Lake Victoria, and is dwelling to a variety of orphaned chimpanzees. The island additionally has a variety of different native hen and wildlife species. A go to provides assured chimpanzee viewing and the chance to study all about chimpanzees. It additionally avoids the necessity for a trek. There are additionally no age restrictions right here, so it’s good in case you are visiting Uganda with youthful youngsters, as they gained’t be allowed on a chimpanzee trek.
Ngamba island might be reached by boat (by both motorized canoe or speedboat) from Entebbe, and there are numerous journeys obtainable. You possibly can go for a half day or full day, in addition to keep in a single day on the island when you have extra time.
If you need to go to, you should have your Ngamba Island tickets booked upfront earlier than heading to the island. You possibly can see extra on the official web site right here.
Word that you just can’t carry your individual meals or drinks onto the island however there are meals choices obtainable on the island.
In Entebbe, you too can see chimpanzees on the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Training Centre, which we’ll cowl later on this article.
Eat a Rolex
Uganda has lots of scrumptious meals to strive, however maybe probably the most well-known and standard avenue meals that guests should style is a rolex.
Regardless of the identify, this meals has nothing to do with the watch of the identical identify. The identify comes from the preparation. It’s created by combining an egg omelette (usually with sliced greens) on prime of a fried chapati, after which rolling it up. The result’s “rolled eggs”, which has been shorted to “rolex”.
You might discover a Rolex on the menu at your lodge or guesthouse, or as a part of a packed breakfast. Nonetheless, we extremely suggest discovering a stall promoting rolex and shopping for them recent. They style lots higher when eaten sizzling and proper from the pan!
In Entebbe, you may get a rolex from the road distributors on Nsamizi Highway. Should you take this guided tour, you’ll go to a rolex stand and see how they’re made, with the choice to purchase one. They’re a reasonable and scrumptious snack meals, and one you should strive when in Uganda.
When it comes to avenue meals, one other standard dish is kikomando. That is a reasonable dish made from sliced chapati and fried beans. It might additionally include further toppings resembling gravy, meat, or avocado.
Whereas in Entebbe, we additionally suggest you strive the native fish and seafood from Lake Victoria. You’ll discover native perch and tilapia on numerous native restaurant menus. If you’re self-catering, you should buy your individual recent seafood from the little roadside fish markets.
Go to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Training Centre
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Training Centre, additionally also known as Entebbe Zoo, is a 72-acre Zoo which is dwelling to over 250 animals. These embrace chimpanzees, giraffes, lions, and rhinos, in addition to the uncommon and distinctive trying shoebill stork.
Many of those animals have been rescued from poaching or unlawful trafficking, and the centre focuses on care and rehabilitation of those animals. They’ve a robust deal with offering as pure an setting as doable, with bigger enclosures that mimic the animal’s pure habitats the place doable.
After all, in a really perfect world it would be best to head out on safari in Uganda to see a few of these animals within the wild, however the conservation middle is actually a very good choice when you have restricted time and would love a extra assured viewing expertise.
There’s a payment for visiting the Zoo, and you may see extra on the official web site right here. You are able to do the usual admission, or you may pay additional for a behind the scenes tour or Keeper for a Day tour. The latter present a way more immersive hands-on expertise the place you may study much more concerning the centre and its work, and is certainly value contemplating when you have the time and finances.
You possibly can go to the centre by yourself, and it’s additionally included on this full day tour of Entebbe.
Take a Boat Tour / Go Fishing on Lake Victoria
Entebbe sits proper on Lake Victoria, one of many African Nice Lakes. That is the world’s largest tropical lake, and the most important lake in Africa by space. Lake Victoria spans throughout three nations: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The lake has many native names, however the English identify comes from the British explorer John Hanning Speke who named it after Queen Victoria.
The lake supplies the livelihood for a lot of locals, primarily by fishing. A lot of the fish you might be prone to eat in Uganda is both going to return from Lake Victoria, or the Nile River which flows out and in of it.
As a customer, you too can get pleasure from a while on the lake. Standard actions embrace taking a ship tour, which afford wildlife watching alternatives or the possibility to look at the sundown. You can too take a fishing tour on the lake.
Ask regionally at your lodge, they need to be capable of offer you some tour choices. The vacationer boats will normally cease at a number of factors to select up individuals and your lodge may also help you prepare it.
Discover Native Markets
Should you get pleasure from looking native markets whenever you go to a vacation spot, then you’ll undoubtedly get pleasure from Entebbe. The city has a variety of common indoor and out of doors markets, which supply a wide range of totally different produce.
One standard market is Kitooro Market. This can be a massive coated market space with many native distributors promoting primarily recent produce, meat, and groceries. It underwent important renovation, and re-opened in 2021 in a brand new construction. You’ll additionally usually discover distributors within the streets exterior the market constructing itself. It’s usually open each day.
There are additionally commonly different markets in Entebbe, together with numerous avenue markets on various days. For instance there’s a Saturday market on the Works Sports activities Floor. This market sells a little bit of every thing together with clothes, meals, dwelling furnishings, and many others.
The Entebbe Farmer’s Market is held on the primary Sunday of each month at Muti’s Backyard Cafe, and it options all kinds of meals and craft gadgets from native growers and creators.
Store for Souvenirs on the Craft Village
The Entebbe Juakali Centre, higher generally known as the Entebbe Crafts Village, is situated nearly straight reverse Victoria Mall, and is an efficient place for memento procuring. There are a selection of stalls right here providing a wide range of gadgets, together with souvenirs, crafts, jewelry, artwork, clothes, sculptures, tableware, scarfs, and luggage.
There are fairly just a few stalls right here and the choices do range by stall, so do browse a bit. Pricing is just not fastened and haggling is anticipated, though we discovered the preliminary costs have been comparatively cheap once we visited.
We visited right here after stopping at Victoria Mall, you may simply stroll throughout the road. We purchased just a few issues right here. This was really the one craft market that we visited throughout our time in Uganda.
The stallholders, nearly all girls, have been very pleasant and well mannered and we loved looking the stalls, even when it was pouring with rain once we visited!
Go to Victoria Mall
Though probably not a vacationer attraction, Victoria Mall is a well-liked vacationer cease. Opened in 2013, this shopping center is an efficient place to cease if you should purchase something on your Uganda journey.
The shopping center features a good-sized grocery store, a number of outlets promoting clothes, footwear, out of doors gear, and presents, a restaurant, a fast-food restaurant, a pharmacy, a watch clinic, and a cinema. There may be an ATM, a spot to purchase SIM playing cards (Airtel), and a Foreign exchange cash trade workplace.
It’s an important place to select up groceries or snacks, get a SIM card, get cash, trade forex, or purchase any last-minute wanted clothes, mountaineering, or tenting stuff. The shopping center has good safety, and you may go to on foot or park on website.
We visited and purchased just a few souvenirs from a small craft store, in addition to some toiletries and snacks from the grocery store.
The lodge, the Finest Western Premier Backyard Lodge, is linked to the procuring middle. Friends have direct entry to Victoria Mall so it’s a useful place to remain for many who plan to go to the mall and craft market.
Take a Day Journey to Kampala
If you’re in Entebbe for just a few days, you must undoubtedly take into account taking a day journey to Kampala. Kampala is the capital metropolis of Uganda, and there’s lots to see right here. Due to the categorical freeway that opened in 2018 (requires tolls), it’s now solely round a 30-minute drive from Entebbe to Kampala, though visitors in Kampala itself might be very sluggish.
We’ve spent a while exploring the highlights of town, each on our personal and as a part of a guided strolling tour. We are able to extremely suggest a guided strolling tour because it was a great way to study concerning the historical past and tradition of town, in addition to get ideas from a neighborhood on security.
We additionally visited different locations on our personal, utilizing a trip sharing app to get round. We extremely suggest contemplating placing the Kasubi Royal Tombs, Uganda Museum, the Baha’i Temple, Gaddafi Mosque, and Kabaka’s Palace (Mengo Palace) in your itinerary.
You possibly can undoubtedly go to all these areas by yourself but it surely does require some coordinating as websites are unfold out. If you’re visiting Uganda as a part of a safari, you may additionally be capable of get your safari firm to incorporate a tour of Kampala’s highlights on the itinerary as nicely. It’s additionally doable to e book a tour like this which visits each Kamapala and Entebbe.
Get together on the Night time Golf equipment
If you wish to have some late-night enjoyable, Entebbe has a number of late-night bars and night time golf equipment the place you may dance the night time away.
The Avenue Membership Entebbe is a well-liked choice. This can be a restaurant and lounge by day and an evening membership by night time. An alternative choice is the Knight Riders Discotheque
If you’re planning on going out at night time, do learn our tips about security in Entebbe and plan your transport upfront.
Excursions from Entebbe
There are a selection of standard excursions that you could take from Entebbe, together with day excursions of native sights in addition to longer multi-day safari excursions that cowl extra of Uganda.
The most well-liked day journeys are going to be to Kampala, Mabama Swamp, and Jinja. The closest nationwide park for wildlife viewing goes to be Lake Mburo. However you too can be part of a variety of multi-day safari excursions from Entebbe that embrace issues like safari recreation drives, village visits, chimpanzee trekking, and gorilla trekking.
Listed here are some choices to contemplate.
- This full day tour contains the highlights of Entebbe in addition to a visit to the Mabamba swamp the place you’ve an opportunity to see the elusive and odd-looking shoebill stork
- If you’re primarily targeted on hen watching, then take into account reserving a tour with Mabamba Shoebill Excursions. They run a half-day tour to the swamp from Entebbe, together with a ship trip, which provides the chance to see a variety of uncommon birds together with the shoebill stork.
- Birders may additionally take into account this 2 day tour, which incorporates each Mabamba Swamp and the Entebbe Botanic Gardens.
- If you’re on a brief journey to Uganda, maybe for enterprise, and actually wish to expertise a safari recreation drive, you are able to do so with a day journey to Lake Mburo Nationwide Park from Entebbe. This can contain lots of driving, however it’s an choice when you have restricted time.
- If you need to go to the highlights of Entebbe and Kampala, try this two-day tour which does simply that.
- In search of a extra adventurous tour? Try this two-day journey to Jinja which has horse-riding, quad biking, and white water rafting in addition to a strolling tour of Jinja itself
- There are additionally many multi-day safari targeted excursions from Entebbe, together with excursions which characteristic chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking. You possibly can see a few of the finest choices on GetYourGuide right here and Viator right here.
The place to Keep in Entebbe
There are a selection of lodging choices in Entebbe throughout a spread of value factors. We suggest the next as a place to begin/
- 2Friends Seashore Lodge – it is a good worth choice situated by the shores of Lake Victoria and 10 minutes drive from the airport. The lodge has comfy air-conditioned rooms, some with lake views, all with personal loos. There’s an on-site restaurant and seashore bar, small out of doors swimming pool, and the workers are very pleasant. That is the place we now have chosen to remain on each of our visits to Entebbe.
- Papyrus Visitor Home – it is a good worth choice providing peaceable lodging a bit of means from the centre of Entebbe. If you’re searching for extra of a standard visitor home feeling, it is a good choice to contemplate. Rooms are all en-suite and there’s an on-site restaurant for meals. Simply observe rooms have followers moderately than air-conditioning.
- Finest Western Premier Backyard Lodge – conveniently situated proper subsequent to Victoria Mall, this 4 star lodge can be near many different sights in Entebbe together with the Botanic Gardens. All of the rooms are air-conditioned with en-suite amenities.
- Imperial Botanical Seashore Lodge – this lodge is situated subsequent to the shore and has a superb location subsequent to each the Botanical Backyard and Wildlife Centre. It additionally has its personal seashore entry. En-suite rooms are air-conditioned and there’s an on-site restaurant.
- Lake Victoria Lodge – this colonial period lodge was initially designed because the leisure centre for the Governor of Uganda, and it’s the place Queen Victoria stayed on her go to to Uganda in 1958. It’s conveniently situated for each Entebbe Golf Membership and Entebbe Cricket Floor. It provides 4* lodging with a pool and restaurant.
- The Boma Lodge – this luxury boutique lodge is present in a Forties period dwelling and provides personal en-suite lodging with air-con. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar in addition to a pool, and it’s conveniently situated for many sights.
- Admas Grand Lodge – this nicely reviewed 4* lodge provides high quality lodging close to Entebbe’s essential sights. Rooms are en-suite and air-conditioned, and there’s a swimming pool, health centre and restaurant on-site, in addition to a sizzling tub, spa and wellness centre.
After all, there are numerous extra choices in Entebbe throughout a spread of costs. You possibly can see extra choices for Entebbe on reserving.com right here.
Find out how to Get to Entebbe
Entebbe is the situation of the principle worldwide airport in Uganda, so that is the place most guests to Uganda arrive. It’s common for these on safari to be picked up straight on the airport and to spend their first night time in Entebbe. Additionally it is a preferred final night time in a single day keep.
Entebbe can be nicely linked to Kampala. There may be an categorical freeway between the 2, which solely takes round half-hour to journey by automobile. Word it is a toll highway, however the payment is nicely value paying because the outdated Entebbe-Kampala highway can take over 2 hours to traverse as a consequence of visitors.
If you’re arriving into Entebbe airport and staying in Entebbe or Kampala, your lodge may be capable of prepare an airport switch for you. You can too e book this your self utilizing a service like this.
There may be additionally a shared shuttle bus service from Entebbe to Kampala and Jinja generally known as the Pineapple Categorical. This provides an reasonably priced scheduled service from a variety of Entebbe areas together with the airport, and you may e book this on-line right here.
Find out how to Get Round Entebbe
There are a selection of how to get round Entebbe. First, the city is just not very huge, so you possibly can stroll between most of the sights your self. You are able to do this your self, or on a guided strolling tour like this.
We walked round most of Entebbe and had a good time, simply bear in mind that it may be extremely popular so it would be best to put together with a hat, sunscreen, and loads of ingesting water.
Nonetheless, some sights are fairly unfold out, relying on what you wish to go to, and you could have to take transport. Your two essential choices in Entebbe are boda boda and automobile taxis.
Boda bodas, that are motorcycle taxis, are simple to search out alongside the streets and drivers will usually cease and ask if you’d like a trip in the event that they see you out strolling. Or you may take an everyday automobile taxi. You should use a ride-sharing app like Uber to rearrange transport or ask at your lodge who may also help prepare transport.
Should you determine to take a boda boda, we extremely suggest you’re taking one that gives a helmet to riders. We personally persist with automobile taxis as of late for security causes, however boda bodas are an affordable and simple type of native transport.
Is Entebbe Secure?
Entebbe is pretty secure, though it would be best to concentrate on your environment and take primary precautions when visiting.
The principle challenge guests to Entebbe will want to concentrate on is opportunistic crime. Issues like bag snatches and pickpocketing are one thing to concentrate on, as is the chance of mugging.
As a customer, you wish to minimise the dangers. This implies not carrying costly jewelry or carrying some huge cash. We’d additionally advise you to maintain any digital camera tools or costly telephones out of sight in a bag, and solely carry them out whenever you intend to make use of them. Additionally it is a good suggestion to keep away from strolling after darkish if doable.
We walked throughout Entebbe and took many images utilizing our small compact digital camera and telephone, and we by no means felt in any hazard. Nonetheless, we did primarily go to standard areas in daylight and stored our smartphone and digital camera tucked away in a bag when not in use.
Scams are additionally one thing to concentrate on. We suggest reserving any excursions upfront with a licensed respected tour operator. If you’re nervous about strolling round, then a strolling tour is a good choice.
If you’re uncertain of something, we strongly suggest asking for recommendation at your lodge or from a trusted information.
We suggest studying up on the newest journey recommendation offered by your authorities earlier than visiting, as we suggest for any nation. For instance, you may see the recommendation for visiting Uganda on the UK authorities web site right here, and the US state division web site right here.
Sensible Issues for Entebbe
Listed here are some sensible ideas on your time in Entebbe and Uganda that will help you plan your journey.
Language
The official languages of Uganda are English and Swahili; nevertheless, there are lots of native languages spoken in Uganda. Essentially the most broadly spoken language within the space is Luganda. Though Swahili has been made an official language, we not often heard locals talking it.
As a vacationer in Entebbe and Kampala, you may get by fairly nicely with English as most individuals within the tourism trade right here communicate at the very least some English. At sights and museums, the knowledge is commonly written in English.
Consuming Water in Uganda
The faucet water in Uganda is mostly not thought to be secure for guests to drink. You must drink bottled water, or take into account filtering your individual water. See our information to secure ingesting water when touring for some urged choices.
Web Entry in Uganda
If you wish to get on-line, you’ve two essential choices in Uganda. You possibly can depend on WiFi, which is mostly obtainable at no cost at most inns in addition to many different areas resembling cafes and eating places.
You can too spend money on a SIM card. We purchased an Airtel SIM card at Entebbe airport on arrival. You can too get a SIM card at Victoria Mall in Entebbe. It was excellent worth and we loaded it with sufficient knowledge to final for our complete go to. It labored reliably throughout the vast majority of the nation, with some exceptions in probably the most distant areas.
Simply bear in mind there’s a registration course of which entails a scan of your passport, fingerprinting, and a photograph. It’s not troublesome, but it surely does take about 10 minutes or so.
If you need extra recommendation on web entry when touring, see our information to getting on-line when touring for some ideas and recommendation.
Cash in Uganda
Uganda makes use of the Uganda shilling, or UGX. We suggest at all times having some native forex readily available for tipping, markets, and different small purchases. It’s best to tip native workers in native forex as they then don’t have to pay to have it exchanged.
Ugandan shillings might be simply withdrawn at ATMs throughout the nation, though these could cost a small payment for doing so. We suggest doing this from an ATM on the airport or one connected to a financial institution. There are additionally locations the place you may trade forex on the airport in addition to in Kampala, Entebbe, and different bigger cities.
Bank cards are broadly accepted for transactions at most tourist-focused companies, particularly for bigger transactions.
Most vacationer targeted companies can even settle for the US greenback (USD) and a few can even settle for the UK pound sterling (GBP) and the Euro. However the very best overseas forex to have and most generally accepted is the U.S. greenback. The payments should be in good situation and of a current challenge. They’ll’t have any marks or be in poor situation as in any other case they won’t be accepted. So if bringing USD forex with you, remember to verify it earlier than your journey.
It’s additionally value checking the trade charge, as you may end up getting a greater worth when you pay within the native forex moderately than in USD or different overseas forex.
Energy Retailers / Journey Adapters for Uganda
Uganda makes use of a three-pin plug (Sort G plug), as you will see within the UK and a variety of different nations in East Africa. If you’re coming from the UK or different nation that makes use of the British plug, then your tools will likely be high quality and also you shouldn’t want a journey adapter.
If you’re visiting from a special nation, resembling from the USA, Canada, or most of Europe, then you have to a journey adaptor like this.
Moreover, Uganda makes use of a 220v-240v system. That is much like a lot of the world apart from components of the Americas, together with Canada and the USA, the place 110v is the norm. If you’re travelling from certainly one of these nations, you have to to verify in case your tools helps the upper voltage. It must be written on the plug.
Usually, decrease powered gadgets like cameras, laptops, and telephone chargers help 110v – 240v, while greater energy gadgets like hairdryers don’t. See our information to journey adapters for extra on this subject.
Additional Studying
That sums up our information to issues to do in Entebbe! Earlier than you head on, we additionally wished to share another assets you may discover helpful for planning your journey to Uganda.
- If you’re searching for a guidebook, there’s the Brandt Journey Uganda Information. That is the one journey information that covers simply Uganda. There may be additionally the Lonely Planet East Africa information, which covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi for these additionally touring elsewhere in area
- Should you’d like a guidebook to birds, we use the Pocket Information: Birds of East Africa and discover it very helpful. For basic wildlife, we use the Pocket Information to the Mammals of East Africa.
- Seeing primates within the wild is without doubt one of the hottest actions in Uganda. See our detailed information to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and gorilla trekking in Uganda for all the knowledge you should plan that a part of your journey.
- You might be doubtless going to wish to take lots of images whenever you go to Uganda. See our ideas for taking nice safari images, in addition to our information to the very best safari cameras and lenses that will help you get the very best outcomes
- If you’re planning on visiting Kenya, try our information to issues to do in Nairobi and our urged 1 day Nairobi itinerary, which has numerous concepts for town
- If you need to skip plastic waste, you may take into account filtering your individual water as you journey. See our information to secure ingesting water when touring for ideas
- Now we have a information to getting on-line when travelling, that will help you keep linked in Uganda
- You’re going to want to energy all of your gadgets whenever you journey – see our information to the finest journey adapters so you may select the precise one for Uganda
And that’s it! As at all times, we hope you discovered this information helpful. If in case you have any questions or feedback, simply pop them within the feedback part under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.
