The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Entebbe Zoo)
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe is one of the most popular destinations for local tourists in Entebbe. Entebbe is a located in the central part of Uganda and it is where we find the Uganda International Airport (Entebbe International Airport), it is also where we find the official state house and several other key government offices. Entebbe would have been one of the Islands on Lake Victoria if the land leading to Kampala city had not been stretched. What makes Entebbe a unique tourist destination is the serenity, historical role as an administrative Centre and other remarkable tourist attractions with the Uganda Education Centre as the most important tourist attraction in the area.
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) also popularly knowns as Entebbe Zoo is a perfect introduction to Uganda’s incredible biodiversity and given its proximity to the capital Kampala which is about 45 minutes’ drive, it is also the most visited and popular tourist attractions in Uganda. The Entebbe Zoo is a successful mix of a zoo and a Uganda safari park because most of the animals live in large and spacious enclosures that are similar to their natural habitats.
The Entebbe zoo sits on about 72 acres’ land in size with a network of walkways to the different animal enclosures and to a large natural forest. The zoo stands out from similar establishments in other countries because of its ideal location along the shores of Lake Victoria. The Centre also has an animal breeding programme in place for endangered species and an animal veterinary hospital. UWEC contributes to wildlife research and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. The Centre has grown in size and given its ideal location, is considered one of the best places for showcasing Africa’s wildlife.
If you are a tourist with some time to spare after your long safari in the national parks, this one place you must go to as you wait for your flight, the Entebbe Zoo is one place to visit where to see and learn about many of Africa’s famous wildlife without having to go for expensive Uganda safaris in the remote national parks. In fact, many may find a visit to UWEC more rewarding than visiting the Uganda national parks. Visiting the Entebbe zoo is not only less expensive but offers incredible opportunities to get close to the animals – especially if one chooses to go for the special “Behind the Scenes tour” under the guidance of a caretaker.
History of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Entebbe Zoo)
The Entebbe zoo started in 1950 as a Centre were orphaned, injured or rescued animals were rehabilitated. The Entebbe zoo was founded by the colonial government with help from the Wildlife Conservation Society. 10 years later in 1960, the Centre operated as a traditional zoo were people would only go to see some of Africa’s famous wildlife as well as a few imported ones like Tigers and bears.
The political instabilities in the 1970’s and 80’s led to the loss of several animals due to infrastructure break down, neglect and poor management. The zoo continued to run at a low standard until the government begun showing greater interest and decided to revamp it. The government realized that the zoo could actually be used as a perfect Centre for educating Ugandans and international visitors about wildlife conservation. A study was carried out by the New York Zoological society which came out with a report recommending that the zoo be turned into a Centre for educational purposes alongside tourism. On May 1994, the facility became known as the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre under the Ministry of Tourism. The Centre was expanded and allocated more land that now stretches all the way to the very edge of Lake Victoria. As the Centre attracted more funding from government, international organization/donors and gate collections, it has grown to become one of the most respected wildlife conservation and educational centers in Africa.
Animals at the Entebbe Zoo
Entebbe zoo is very popular because of its rich biodiversity and location within Uganda’s main metropolitan centers. It is home for animals like the Giraffes, Rhinos, Cheetahs, Leopards, Chimpanzees, Baboons, Ostriches, Hyenas, Zebras, Lions, Donkeys, the Uganda Kob, Camels, waterbucks, Egrets, the famous Shoebill Stork, snakes, pythons and tortoises Elephants and the recently introduced Tigers.
There are over 120 species of birds and 23 of primates can be seen at the facility. The Centre also has Red-tailed monkeys, Cattle, Crocodiles, Peacocks, Crested cranes, Parrots, Goats, Elephants, chicken, warthogs, cobras, impala, topis, forest hogs and eland among many others. Apart from animals, there is also an incredible plant life (flowers, shrubs, trees and herbs) and butterfly species. Unfortunately, there are no Mountain gorillas in the Entebbe Zoo.
Some of the animals and birds roam about freely and this can be a surprise for those who are not familiar to this kid of setting. Most of the visitors to the Centre are students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. The Centre receives at least 10 student groups each day. During the weekend, the numbers can be overwhelming. Visiting the Entebbe zoo can be highly rewarding for families with children (A chance to experience what is taught in class and see some of their cartoon characters). There is a children’s playground, mobile toy shops, ice cream and many other fun activities. Visiting the Entebbe zoo or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is also one way of contributing to wildlife conservation. The money collected is used to feed the animals, pay the caretakers, breeding wildlife and picking rescued animals from remote locations within Uganda.
Entry fees for the Entebbe Zoo
To access the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, there are entry fees required to facility the Zoo in different ways like feeding of the animals, payment of the animal care takers, veterinary for the animals just to mention a few.
Foreign non-residents – $15 for adult and $10 for children
East African residents – 10,000 UGX while the children pay 5,000 shillings.
There is a separate rate for schools and tertiary institutions who visit the Centre for educational purposes. If you wish to make a video while at the zoo, you will be charged 10,000 UGX. The Centre charges a separate rate for a more comprehensive and Guided tour of the facility as we shall see later on. All vehicles pay a parking fee of 2000 shillings.
Opening hours
The Entebbe Zoom opening hours are between 8:00am and 6:00pm. You will not be allowed in if you show up at 6:00pm. For the best experience and time with the animals, we recommend that you visit by 4:00pm.
Accommodation while visiting Entebbe Zoo
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre has accommodation facilities within its premises. The cottages are typical African bandas which are self-contained and cost about $30. Each banda is well constructed, spacious and furnished with a fridge, private bathroom, mosquito net and cooking equipment. There are also large dorms for the budget traveller and groups of students. The dorms have shared bathrooms and one computer for internet. Meals are served from the restaurant overlooking the lake. The restaurant closes at 6:00pm and it is therefore important to get your dinner before closing time. We highly recommend staying in one of the bandas if you are looking for basic but comfortable accommodation facility with most of what the amenities. If you want more luxury hotels and lodges, then you will need to book the hotels outside the zoo and in Entebbe town.
