Car rental in Uganda is becoming a popular option amongst travelers visiting the country for either business or adventure and while on your trip, you can make a stop in Entebbe – a major starting point for your trip.
Entebbe is one of the quietest but vibrant places there is in Uganda, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, only 40 kilometers from Kampala. This place offers a relaxing and breath-taking natural attractions, wildlife experiences and abundant in history. By the fact that it is the home of Uganda’s international airport, it is the first place visitors experience when they set foot in the country.
In addition to being the country’s entry point, Entebbe is also a luxurious place where good hotels for example Via Via and Psalms Beach hotel among others are located, offering tourists a quick stay as they wait for pick-ups to go further in the country, such as in national parks or reserves, and also explore Entebbe itself because it has a good number of gems and here are five of them explained.
Mabamba Bay Wetland
It is the world’s famous bird watching destinations in Uganda, seated in the northern shores of Lake Victoria, an hour’s drive from Entebbe. It has a very rich biodiversity and tranquil natural environment, making it a must visit when you come to Uganda.
It is internationally important and is protected under the Ramsar Convention, characterized by lagoons, waterways and papyrus swamps. It is also a paradise for bird watching.
Mabamba bay wetland is famous for the shoebill stork bird, one of Africa’s most sought-after birds. Bird enthusiasts from all around the world travel to Uganda just to sight this bird. Besides it, this gem accommodates over 300 bird species such as herons, egrets, papyrus gonoleks, African jacanas, king fishers, among others. Therefore, these make Mabamba one of Uganda and East Africa’s bird watching focal points.
As you explore Mabamba, you will realize that it is not only a conservation area but also a source of income to the local masses as they do work as bird guides, fisher men and canoe operator.
Reptile Village Uganda
This is another gem, usually visited by residents, but also interesting for the foreigners. It is famous for offering unique wildlife encounters of rescued animals such as monitor lizards, chameleons, crocodiles African Rock python, spitting cobra and other snake types. This place create a peaceful, actually co-existence between people and animals, as there are animals that are rescued from the environment where they would have been killed.
Despite being called the reptile village, it also has a variety of animals such as tortoises and numerous birds. It also has a breath taking environment as it is surrounded by vegetation and wetlands, creating a serene atmosphere.
It is also an education center where people go to learn more about certain aspects several animals such as their feeding habits, ecological roles. Reptiles also help preserve the environment from insects and rodents.
Kigungu landing site
This is historical site and very important to the local masses especially the Catholic fraternity as it is where the first missionaries to come to Uganda first arrived in 1879. With your 4×4 rented vehicle, you can either by self-drive or car hire with a driver drive to the shores of Lake Victoria to this site and witness fishermen doing what they do best and further have a freshly and tasty grilled fish.
At Kigungu landig site, you will get to have a full view of Lake Victoria and feel the cool breeze that offere ultimate serenity and tranquility. It is also an opportunity for one to have snaps of the nature and activities in site. Visitors here can not only site but also interact with fishermen, asking them about fishing traditions and experiencing a daily life besides a lake.
Zika Forest
It is a small but internationally recognized where the Zika Virus was discovered in the year 1947, in a rhesus monkey during research conducted there. It has therefore been used as research site for studying tropical diseases, ecosystems in forests and mosquitoes.
Zika forest has dense vegetation, tall tropical trees that are actually a home for different wildlife. Birdwatchers and nature photographers, this is another hotpot for you as you can spot a plethora of bird species for example the horn bills, flycatchers, sunbirds among others.
Aero Beach
A stunning entertainment area along the shores of Lake Victoria with few attractions but offering one of the best sceneries by combining natural beauty with a playful aviation theme as you can sight Entebbe International Airport, making it a fun stop for tourists looking for something different
Aero Beach is only a short drive from Entebbe town center and can be easily accessed with a rented car, making it an ideal stop for visitors exploring the area. Many tourists prefer to relax at Aero beach and also tour other nearby attractions, such as Entebbe Botanical Gardens among others.
Entebbe is a beautiful place that visitors love to explore, by either self-drive or with a driver. Nevertheless, the beauty is there is cannot be described by mere words, but by sight.
