Entebbe city 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.
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.
Geography
Entebbe sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. It lies at 0.0500N, 32.4600E (Latitude: 0°3’0.00’’; Longitude: 32° 27’ 36.00’). The town is situated in Wakiso District, approximately 37 kilometers southwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.
The municipality is located on a peninsula into Lake Victoria covering a total area of 52.6 square kilometers out of which 20square kilometers is water.
Climate
Entebbe has a tropical rainforest climate with relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the year. Entebbe has noticeably wetter and drier months, with January being the city's driest month and a noticeably drier stretch from July through September.
However, since average monthly precipitation in each of these months is above 60 mm, Entebbe has no true dry season and therefore falls under the tropical rainforest climate category.
Entebbe's wettest months are April and May, when, on average, roughly 250 mm of rain falls in each of these months. Entebbe's average annual temperature is approximately 21 degrees Celsius.
Currency
The unit of currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling. United States dollar is also widely accepted by major companies and service providers. The bank times vary but it is more convenient to change money at the Reception desk.
The rates will be slightly less than that offered by the bank but for convenience it is much easier. Credit Cards mostly Visa only is accepted in the tourist areas, however a surcharge is usually applicable. Master card is not widely used as Visa Cards.
People
During the 2002 National Census, Entebbe's population was estimated at 55,086 people. In 2008, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population of the town at 70,200. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of Entebbe at approximately 79,700.
Languages
The official languages are English and Swahili, although multiple other languages are spoken in the country; Luganda, other Bantu a Nilo-Saharan languages.
Sports & nature
Entebbe is located on a small peninsular in Lake Victoria around 40kms from the capital city of Uganda – Kampala. All major international flights come through Entebbe airport. There is more to do in Entebbe than just catch a flight.
Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Just 5 minutes from the Airport, the Botanical Gardens were established in 1898 and are home to over 300 varieties of exotic plant species as well as an abundance of birdlife, black and white colobus and vervet monkeys. The rainforest zone in the gardens was used as a backdrop during the filming of the original “Tarzan” film in 1940. Entry is a few dollars in local currency (additional charges if you have a camera or take a guide).
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
Is just close by, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) is a centre for the recuperation, breeding and rehabilitation of native Ugandan animals that have been rescued from poachers or illegal traders, or from injury in their wild habitats. UWEC strive to release rehabilitated animals back into the wild when possible and also work to educate the people of Uganda about the importance of our local animals and conservation. You can visit UWEC to see some of Uganda’s unique and rare animals such as the shoebill stork, rhino, chimpanzee, ostrich and hyena. Other more in-depth visits are also available such as “Chimpanzee Close-up”, “Behind the Scenes Tours” and “Keeper for a Day Experience”.
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Founded by the Jane Goodall Institute in 1998 this 100 acre island is a refuge for over 40 rescued chimpanzees. You can visit the island as a half-day trip departing at either 9am or 1pm. It is also possible to experience the chimpanzees “close up” although this must be booked well in advance to make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations.
18 Hole Golf Course
Entebbe has a well-groomed 18 hole course dotted with exotic trees and even the odd monkey! Day membership and club hire are available to travelers.
Sport Fishing on Lake Victoria
Half or Full-Day boat trips are available on the lake to fish for the legendary Nile Perch, known for their size and exciting fishing. The best is to go as a small group (3-4 people) as it splits the cost of the boat.
Sunset Boat Cruises on Lake Victoria
Take a 1 – 1 ½ hour cruise out onto the lake to watch the beautiful colors created by the sun as it sets down on the horizon. Drinks and snacks are available on board.
Nightlife info
Party goers will surely experience a great Entebbe nightlife, with a wild selection of bars and clubs in the city. Night entertainment in Entebbe, Uganda is always at its peak to please tourists and vacationers from all over the world. Entebbe is a modern city in the Uganda situated near the capital city of Kampala. It is home to a lot of hotels, sights and other attractions. If you are in to a fun-packed night, be sure to check out these night clubs and party houses in Entebbe that will give you exactly what you want.
4 Turkeys
Locals and vacationers alike regard 4 Turkeys as the best party hub in the city. You will always find this place packed with party goers amid the cool lights and the hip music. There are times that the place is so full, you might see some people partying outside the club, and they don’t mind at all. The party events in 4 Turkeys usually start around 11:00 p.m. The most celebrated DJs in the city are regulars in this club. It houses a great bar and a vast dance floor that lets you show your dancing skills in the beat of hip-hop and house music. They also offer good food like their famous burgers and cocktails.
Mirembe Bar
Right next to the 4 Turkeys is the Mirembe Bar. It is also one of the most popular clubs in Entebbe, Uganda. People come here for the good music and the good crowd. The Mirembe bar is also famous for their friendly staff that is happy to assist you in your partying needs. The prices in this bar are generally lower than the already affordable prices in 4 Turkeys.
Red Rooster
Another place to visit come night time is the Red Rooster. Though not as packed as the other 2 bars, the Red Rooster is perfect for party-going sports enthusiasts. The place prides itself for the sports-themed interiors and 4 large flats screen that plays the hottest sports games. Patrons enjoy watching these games with cold mugs of beer in the midst of fellow sports fans.
Club X5
The chic glamour of Club X5 is perfect for those who are in for classy entertainment. This 2-story super club features a pristine interior that will give you a serene yet energizing ambience. Guests usually gather in here during Saturday nights. You and your friends will surely enjoy the cool music, the good food and the crowd in Club X5.
Culture and history info
"Entebbe", in the local Luganda language, means a "seat", and was probably named that because it was the place where a Baganda chief sat to adjudicate legal cases. It first became a British colonial administrative and commercial Centre in 1893 when Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial Commissioner, used it as a base. Port Bell went on to become Kampala's harbor. Although no ships dock there now, there is still a jetty, which was used by Lake Victoria ferries. Entebbe is perhaps best known to as the home of Entebbe International Airport, the main international airport of Uganda, which was first opened in 1929. Entebbe airport was the scene of one of the most daring counter-terrorism operations in history when soldiers from an elite unit of the Israeli army freed over 100 hostages following a hijacking by a group of Palestinian and German militia. It was also from this airport that Queen Elizabeth II departed Africa to return to England in 1952 when she learned of her father's death and that she had become Queen.
From 1894 to 1962 the city was the administrative capital of the British Uganda Protectorate. In 1972, Entebbe's Asian population was forced to leave as part of a nationwide expulsion of Asians by Gen. Idi Amin. In 1976, Entebbe's airport was the site of a raid by Israeli commandos who freed 103 Israeli hostages from a plane hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. Eleven Ugandan warplanes and much of the airport were destroyed in the raid.
Basically a residential centre for government employees, the city is located in a region producing cotton, coffee, and plantains. Entebbe is a transportation crossroads for eastern Africa, with an international airport and steamship connections via Lake Victoria to Kenya, Tanzania and to other parts of Uganda.
Some of the city’s main attractions include the Ugandan Wildlife Education Center, the Botanical Gardens, and beaches along Lake Victoria. Entebbe also hosts Uganda's International Airport and the Official Residence of Uganda's President.
