Entebbe

Entebbe is a pleasant town built on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda.

Entebbe offers a relaxed stop-over alternative to Kampala if you're flying into or out of Uganda, 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. Despite its quaint exterior, you may encounter the President of Uganda or some beautiful wildlife at any turn—if you're not in a rush to the capital, it's worth a stay.

Entebbe is the place of Uganda's international airport. The drive from or to Kampala is about an hour in light traffic, and more than two hours when it congeals. The United Nations increasingly use a heavily guarded airport compound at Entebbe as a depot and staging area for their heavy equipment and vehicels that are used in peacekeeping missions in the region of Central Africa. They have their own immigration and customs procedures and a heavy lift capability using Antonovs.

Entebbe is perhaps most famous for an Israeli commando raid on 4 July 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 Uganda's president at the time, Idi Amin, was supporting the hijackers. Over 40 Ugandan troops were killed by the Israelis during the rescue.

State House., is the official residence of the President of Uganda. It has a nice hilltop view of Lake Victoria, the second largest body of fresh water in the world after Lake Baikal. Like Addis Ababa, Entebbe grew up in a rather haphazard way (for example, there is a meteorological college right on the corner of the long ceremonial entrance drive of the President) and the centre of things is moving closer to the airport but lots of banks, a supermarket and the public hospital are all just a left turn away when leaving State House.

For a town pretty well slap bang on the equator, Entebbe is a few degrees cooler than you might expect because of its elevation. Instead of the day-time temperatures hovering around 32°C as residents of Guayaquil, Cayenne, Singapore or Pontianak, Indonesia might expect, maximums are usually closer to 26°C or 27°C. However, humidity is consistently high.

State House., is the official residence of the President of Uganda. It has a nice hilltop view of Lake Victoria, the second largest body of fresh water in the world after Lake Baikal. Like [[Addis Ababa]], Entebbe grew up in a rather haphazard way (for example, there is a meteorological college right on the corner of the long ceremonial entrance drive of the President) and the centre of things is moving closer to the airport but lots of banks, a supermarket and the public hospital are all just a left turn away when leaving State House.

• Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre, +256 414 320 520. Daily 8:30AM-6:30PM. If you don't have a safari planned, this might be your opportunity to catch a glimpse of Africa's wildlife. It's no Singapore Zoo but, unlike many third world offerings, this is not a depressing place. There are good play facilities for kids and the aviaries are especially interesting with weaver birds, shoebills and fish eagles. There's a medium-size collection of wildlife saved from captivity, including lions, rhinos, zebras, crocodiles, giraffes, hyenas, chimpanzee and others. All animals (apart from the snakes and crocodiles) are held in large, natural-like areas that gives a nice semi-authentic feeling. The trees and lianas are magnificent and you can understand why various 'Tarzan-type" movies were filmed here. Admission for foreign adults/children is US$15/10; Uganda resident foreigners USh 20,000/10,000; Ugandans USh 10,000/5,000 and you end up with 1.5-2 hours of good-old fun. Tip: opens daily at 08:30 and you may want to come early before the animals go hiding in the shade from the midday's sun.There is also accommodation inside the centre so you could stay the night in a Banda (en suite circular hut with a thatched roof & fly-screened windows) next door to the (very quiet) giraffes, elands and impala for US$40/60 single/double or stay in some serviced flats next to noisier animals for US$50/70 single/double. There is also dormitory accommodation available for USh 30,000 and camping is even cheaper.
• Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Berkeley Rd, +256 701 567881. The gardens are not spectacular but birdwatchers and botanist will find it interesting. The gardens host stands of large trees in a park like setting, a supposed filming site of a "Tarzan" movie, a troop of vervet and colobus monkeys, along with many kinds of birds.
• The old airport terminal. Nowadays air passengers use a newer terminal, but the old terminal where the Israeli military rescued flight passengers that hijackers held hostage in 1976 is still there. You can reportedly see bullet holes in the wall and there is a commemorative plaque.
• Lake Victoria. Surrounding the town on three sides, Africa's largest lake is hard to miss. Looking south, you can see the Southern Hemisphere as the Equator is just a few kilometres south of Entebbe.

Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre, +256 414 320 520. Daily 8:30AM-6:30PM. If you don't have a safari planned, this might be your opportunity to catch a glimpse of Africa's wildlife. It's no Singapore Zoo but, unlike many third world offerings, this is not a depressing place. There are good play facilities for kids and the aviaries are especially interesting with weaver birds, shoebills and fish eagles. There's a medium-size collection of wildlife saved from captivity, including lions, rhinos, zebras, crocodiles, giraffes, hyenas, chimpanzee and others. All animals (apart from the snakes and crocodiles) are held in large, natural-like areas that gives a nice semi-authentic feeling. The trees and lianas are magnificent and you can understand why various 'Tarzan-type" movies were filmed here. Admission for foreign adults/children is US$15/10; Uganda resident foreigners USh 20,000/10,000; Ugandans USh 10,000/5,000 and you end up with 1.5-2 hours of good-old fun. Tip: opens daily at 08:30 and you may want to come early before the animals go hiding in the shade from the midday's sun.There is also accommodation inside the centre so you could stay the night in a Banda (en suite circular hut with a thatched roof & fly-screened windows) next door to the (very quiet) giraffes, elands and impala for US$40/60 single/double or stay in some serviced flats next to noisier animals for US$50/70 single/double. There is also dormitory accommodation available for USh 30,000 and camping is even cheaper.

Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Berkeley Rd, +256 701 567881. The gardens are not spectacular but birdwatchers and botanist will find it interesting. The gardens host stands of large trees in a park like setting, a supposed filming site of a "Tarzan" movie, a troop of vervet and colobus monkeys, along with many kinds of birds.

The old airport terminal. Nowadays air passengers use a newer terminal, but the old terminal where the Israeli military rescued flight passengers that hijackers held hostage in 1976 is still there. You can reportedly see bullet holes in the wall and there is a commemorative plaque.

Lake Victoria. Surrounding the town on three sides, Africa's largest lake is hard to miss. Looking south, you can see the Southern Hemisphere as the Equator is just a few kilometres south of Entebbe.

• Boat trips on Lake Victoria. These include fishing trips and a visit to see the chimpanzees on Ngamba island. Companies offering such trips include Wild Frontiers.
• Aero Beach. Entebbe's beach (Aero Beach) also features some plane wrecks that depending on your preferences may be plain ugly or interesting to explore.
• Entebbe Golf Club. Play golf at the local 18-hole golf course. USh 70,000 for a round.

Boat trips on Lake Victoria. These include fishing trips and a visit to see the chimpanzees on Ngamba island. Companies offering such trips include Wild Frontiers.

Aero Beach. Entebbe's beach (Aero Beach) also features some plane wrecks that depending on your preferences may be plain ugly or interesting to explore.

Entebbe Golf Club. Play golf at the local 18-hole golf course. USh 70,000 for a round.

• Barclays Bank branch. M-F 8:30AM-6PM. Fairly reliable ATM for AmEx, Diners Club, Cirrus, JCB, Maestro, MasterCard, UnionPay, Visa has its own little room open 24/7 for the nervous, but this is usually the very busiest part of Entebbe at all hours and the street lighting stays on all night. Also has an ATM at Entebbe airport. Barclays Bank as a ATM fee for overseas cards.
• Cobblers. Dawn to dusk. This tiny godown or sari-sari type kiosk not only repairs suitcases, zips, footwear and other leather goods but also will attempt to rescue the rollers on your case. Honest guy but his English may take some struggling - never mind, there are lots of bystanders glad to help. Next door but one is a photographic studio to stock up on those required passport size photos for visas, etc.
• Pearl Supermarket. Daily 7AM-10PM. Supermarket on the ground floor with a well stocked hardware and sundries emporium on the first floor. AmEx, Visa & MasterCards accepted with 5% surcharge..
• Stanbic Bank. 24 hour atm. Has a no fee Visa/MasterCard ATM. Also has an ATM at Entebbe airport.
• Street Market. Daily, dawn to dusk.
• Victoria Shopping Mall, Berkeley Rd, +256 791 252 875. Daily 7AM-10PM. Air conditioning is not really necessary for most folks in this part of Uganda and there are now some tenants in this mall which opened in January 2014 that include fashion shops, an opticians, 3 banks, Western Union agents, a Le P'tit Quebec offering 12 types of panini for USh 15,000 and YummyYoghurt selling 100 g of frozen yoghurt for USh 5,500. There is a KFC, clean toilets, and a large Shoprite South African owned Hypermarket.
• Metropolitan Forex Bureau, In the Victoria Mall, +256 716 226 144.
• Ecobank, 16 Portal Road. 24 hour. Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM. no fee.
• Imperial Mall, lugara Aveune. 9AM-8PM.

Barclays Bank branch. M-F 8:30AM-6PM. Fairly reliable ATM for AmEx, Diners Club, Cirrus, JCB, Maestro, MasterCard, UnionPay, Visa has its own little room open 24/7 for the nervous, but this is usually the very busiest part of Entebbe at all hours and the street lighting stays on all night. Also has an ATM at Entebbe airport. Barclays Bank as a ATM fee for overseas cards.

Cobblers. Dawn to dusk. This tiny godown or sari-sari type kiosk not only repairs suitcases, zips, footwear and other leather goods but also will attempt to rescue the rollers on your case. Honest guy but his English may take some struggling - never mind, there are lots of bystanders glad to help. Next door but one is a photographic studio to stock up on those required passport size photos for visas, etc.

Pearl Supermarket. Daily 7AM-10PM. Supermarket on the ground floor with a well stocked hardware and sundries emporium on the first floor. AmEx, Visa & MasterCards accepted with 5% surcharge..

Stanbic Bank. 24 hour atm. Has a no fee Visa/MasterCard ATM. Also has an ATM at Entebbe airport.

Street Market. Daily, dawn to dusk.

Victoria Shopping Mall, Berkeley Rd, +256 791 252 875. Daily 7AM-10PM. Air conditioning is not really necessary for most folks in this part of Uganda and there are now some tenants in this mall which opened in January 2014 that include fashion shops, an opticians, 3 banks, Western Union agents, a Le P'tit Quebec offering 12 types of panini for USh 15,000 and YummyYoghurt selling 100 g of frozen yoghurt for USh 5,500. There is a KFC, clean toilets, and a large Shoprite South African owned Hypermarket.

Metropolitan Forex Bureau, In the Victoria Mall, +256 716 226 144.

Ecobank, 16 Portal Road. 24 hour. Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM. no fee.

Imperial Mall, lugara Aveune. 9AM-8PM.

Can we get some service on table 3, please?

• 4 Points, Kampala Rd (close to the Pearl supermarket. Great Indian food, good atmosphere, cheap beer. Has a bar with a pool table, and expats are welcome. Also does "Chinese" dishes - but not as the nationals of most countries would know them. There's a dance floor and the attached bakery has scrumptious strawberry sorbet imported from Kenya. Attentive and rapid service and candles on the tables after dark. Open to the mosquitoes throughout. Mains USh 18,000-26,000; good roti USh 2,000.
• Anna's Corner, 1 Station Rd (Across the street from the war monument, +256 773 420 569. Daily 9AM-10PM. Most towns have somewhere to get a pizza. In Entebbe, the owner of the authentic pizzeria is from Bologna. Most of the comfy and romantic seating is outdoors - so watch the weather. There's also an inside coffee shop and they show interesting movies every Friday night and there are Salsa lessons Tuesdays. Full English Breakfast including Oyster mushrooms USh 17,000, Spanish Omelette USh 10,000, two pancakes (either lemon and sugar or maple syrup or Nutella) USh 8,000. Pizzas and authentic Italian pasta dishes from USh 12,000. Daily specials include a free drink of your choice (water, carbonated, or beer).There is also a Ugandan arts and crafts shop with an extensive range adjacent.
• Arthur's Café, Kampala Road (Portal Rd) (Beside the mosque. Wood fired, clay oven pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating. Slot machines and a pool table.
• Goretti's Pizza, Lake Victoria. Lovely little coconut grove right on a golden sand, lakeside beach. Service is very slow, so plan on having a few drinks. Beautiful scenery, sand in your toes kind of place. Don't go around dusk unless you don't mind being eaten while you eat. Medium sizes from USh 17,000, large USh 22,000 (May 2014).
• Phaze 3. Great deck overlooking the lake. Large enclosed restaurant with an extensive assortment of western and Indian foods. Arguably Entebbe's best food. Try the daily pot pie. Great coffee! Only cash & Visa cards accepted.
• Thammaphon Thai Restaurant, 2a Manyago Rd, +256 784 455 999. Tu-Su 10AM-10PM. Looks like a bit of a dump but the food is authentically good.
• Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below

4 Points, Kampala Rd (close to the Pearl supermarket. Great Indian food, good atmosphere, cheap beer. Has a bar with a pool table, and expats are welcome. Also does "Chinese" dishes - but not as the nationals of most countries would know them. There's a dance floor and the attached bakery has scrumptious strawberry sorbet imported from Kenya. Attentive and rapid service and candles on the tables after dark. Open to the mosquitoes throughout. Mains USh 18,000-26,000; good roti USh 2,000.

Anna's Corner, 1 Station Rd (Across the street from the war monument, +256 773 420 569. Daily 9AM-10PM. Most towns have somewhere to get a pizza. In Entebbe, the owner of the authentic pizzeria is from Bologna. Most of the comfy and romantic seating is outdoors - so watch the weather. There's also an inside coffee shop and they show interesting movies every Friday night and there are Salsa lessons Tuesdays. Full English Breakfast including Oyster mushrooms USh 17,000, Spanish Omelette USh 10,000, two pancakes (either lemon and sugar or maple syrup or Nutella) USh 8,000. Pizzas and authentic Italian pasta dishes from USh 12,000. Daily specials include a free drink of your choice (water, carbonated, or beer).There is also a Ugandan arts and crafts shop with an extensive range adjacent.

Arthur's Café, Kampala Road (Portal Rd) (Beside the mosque. Wood fired, clay oven pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating. Slot machines and a pool table.

Goretti's Pizza, Lake Victoria. Lovely little coconut grove right on a golden sand, lakeside beach. Service is very slow, so plan on having a few drinks. Beautiful scenery, sand in your toes kind of place. Don't go around dusk unless you don't mind being eaten while you eat. Medium sizes from USh 17,000, large USh 22,000 (May 2014).

Phaze 3. Great deck overlooking the lake. Large enclosed restaurant with an extensive assortment of western and Indian foods. Arguably Entebbe's best food. Try the daily pot pie. Great coffee! Only cash & Visa cards accepted.

Thammaphon Thai Restaurant, 2a Manyago Rd, +256 784 455 999. Tu-Su 10AM-10PM. Looks like a bit of a dump but the food is authentically good.

Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see [[#Splurge|below]]

• 4 Turkeys Pub, Kampala Rd (almost opposite the Water & Sewage Corporation. 8AM-2AM or when last customer staggers home. Heineken & Guinness served and has a half sized billiard table. Also serves typical British pub grub.
• Red Rooster Sports Bar. Formerly known as the Oasis. Popular with UN staff and has both three pool tables and a watchtower in one corner with armed guard.
• See also listing for 4 Points above.

4 Turkeys Pub, Kampala Rd (almost opposite the Water & Sewage Corporation. 8AM-2AM or when last customer staggers home. Heineken & Guinness served and has a half sized billiard table. Also serves typical British pub grub.

Red Rooster Sports Bar. Formerly known as the Oasis. Popular with UN staff and has both three pool tables and a watchtower in one corner with armed guard.

Compared to other places in Uganda, Entebbe is safe and clean. One major risk are the boda-bodas, both for riders and other traffic including pedestrians.

• Library.
• Post Office.

Library.

Post Office.

• Uganda's capital Kampala is 35 km to the north, and can be reached by bus, taxi or shared taxi. Entebbe is located on a peninsula with the largest road going up to Kampala, and as mentioned above overland travel to anywhere will usually involve going to Kampala first.
• The island of Buggala in Lake Victoria is a popular weekend beach destination for locals. There's a daily ferry from Nakiwogo., about 4 km northwest of central Entebbe.

The island of [[Ssese Islands|Buggala]] in Lake Victoria is a popular weekend beach destination for locals. There's a daily ferry from Nakiwogo., about 4 km northwest of central Entebbe.