Before you enter into the glorious era of Entebbe, let us bring a picture of the city so that you can draw plans in your mind. Entebbe is located in the Central Uganda with a geographical positioning at the shore of the largest African lake, The Lake Victoria that makes it a visual treat. Name of the city means to be a seat, as per one of the local languages. Entebbe in earlier times was the first British colonial administrative and commercial center when Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial Commissioner, brought it into use as a base. This Port Bell later converted into Kampala’s harbor where ships were found, but now only left with a jetty for Lake Victoria ferries. These can be availed by tourists to travel across the lake. Entebbe is also famously known for being home for the Uganda’s largest commercial and military airport i.e. ‘ Entebbe International Airport’.
This airport is popular for the brevity associated with an event that includes rescue of 100 hostages kidnapped by the resistance group of the PFLP and Revolutionary Cells (R.Z) organizations. Entebbe is perhaps most famous for an Israeli commando raid on July 4 1976, when over one hundred mainly Jewish hostages held on a hijacked Air France plane were rescued. The rescue was complicated by the fact that the then Ugandan president, Idi Amin, was supporting the hijackers. Over 40 Ugandan troops were killed by the Israelis during the rescue. State House, the official residence of the President of Uganda, is on a hill overlooking the center of Entebbe.
Entebbe, is the location of Uganda’s international airport. The drive to or from Kampala is about an hour. The United Nations uses Entebbe as a depot and staging area for their vehicles and heavy equipment that are part of peace keeping and other missions in the central African region. Entebbe offers a relaxed stop-over alternative to Kampala on your way into or out of the country by airplane, as the air is clean, the streets are safe to walk, and the old colonial gardens and parks with the lake in the background make for a serene atmosphere.
Places to Visit
Entebbe has its own charm that manages to gather a huge tourist traffic round the year, quiet a credit goes to the striking sites which forms a huge list and includes Botanical Garden, a Uganda reptile village and Wildlife Education Centre along with Sears Island, Entebbe City Council the supermarket chain, Nakumatt, Entebbe Golf Club which was established in 1900, Uganda Wild Life Education Centre (Zoo), Bugonga Church and the State House. Some important buildings as the State House, the official office and residence of the President of Uganda are also sited at Entebbe.
Entebbe’s Zoo – If you are not having any safari planned, this might be your opportunity to catch a glimpse of Africa’s wildlife. The zoo (formally known as Uganda Wildlife Educational Center) has a medium-size collection of wildlife saved from captivity, including lions, rhinos, zebras, crocs, giraffes, hyenas, chimpanzee and others. All animals are held in large, natural-like areas that gives a nice semi-authentic feeling. Admission for foreign adult is 30k Shillings (about $12) and you end up with 1.5-2 hours of good-old fun. TIP: The zoo opens daily in 9am and it is advised to come early before the animals go hiding in the shade from the midday’s sun.
The Botanical Gardens – while not spectacular, the gardens are of interest to botanists and bird-watchers. They host stands of large trees in a parklike setting, an alleged filming site of a “Tarzan” movie, a troop of colobus and vervet monkeys, and various birds. As of 2005, the unofficial guides at the gardens were unusually aggressive for Uganda, and if you engage their services you should agree on a reasonable price beforehand.
Entebbe Weather Conditions
Throughout the course of the year, Entebbe experiences a tropical rainforest climate. There are several dry months but the precipitation rate during these months is almost above average. You can book cheap flights to Entebbe if you want to holiday at a destination with pleasant climate.
Entebbe welcomes all to its serene atmosphere, fun packed activities as few strokes in the lake, and a march on the soothing sand. To sum up and to add to your anticipation, it is a perfect location for travelers and an ideal spot for vacations.
Give yourself a break and let the monotony break, as Entebbe can drive you crazy with its lively and refreshing activities. So be the first one to book your flight as there might be only few tickets left to this for this destination.