Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) is a small refuge centre for wildlife of the area and visitors may view them at their leisure or choose one of their specialist activities or tours whereby they provide more interaction. Behind the Scenes tour, Chimpanzee Close up and Keeper for a day are some of the options available.   

UWEC was formed in 1994 as a trust to revive the neglected Entebbe Zoo and provide leadership in educating Ugandans about the benefits of conserving the country’s biodiversity.

Today, UWEC undertakes several conservation initiatives in Uganda including wildlife rescue and rehabilitation; fully fledged veterinary hospital services; and captive breeding of endangered species of the area. Going beyond these hands-on roles, UWEC furthermore contributes to scientific research and is committed to develop education programmes for the general public, with particular emphasis on engaging young people.

In this spirit, as well as individual visits, numerous specialised conservation educations, internship and volunteer programmes are available for visitors.

Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Established in 1901 these beautifully landscaped gardens lie on the shores of Africa’s greatest lake. They offer a superb introduction to Ugandan birds as well as flora and fauna and a very enjoyable couple of hours can be spent exploring them. The tall trees near the entrance are favourite day-roost of a pair of Verreaux’s eagle owls. Key birds of the gardens include orange tufted and red chested sunbirds as well as a range of weavers. Orange weaver and slender billed, Northern brown-throated, yellow backed, Jackson’s Golden backed, black-headed and Viellot’s black weavers.  

On the lake shore you find long tailed Cormorants, squacco and black –headed herons, hammerkop, African open-billed stork, yellow billed duck, grey headed gull, various terns, giant and pied Kingfishers and swamp flycatcher.

There is a small ruminate patch of rain forest where colobus and vervet monkeys can be observed next to great blue and Ross’s turaco, Klaas’s and Diederik Cukoos, Woodland kingfisher, broad billed roller, black and white casqued hornbill and splendid starling. Two highly vocal and conspicuous species you should find in the gardens are the African fish eagle and eastern grey plantain eater, the latter constantly uttering their strange, chimp-like calls.

The gardens can be explored on a self-guided basis or a local guide can be arranged to provide more in depth knowledge.

Lake Victoria Boat Excursions

These are offered from Entebbe on this equatorial lake – third largest in the world! Sport fishing enthusiasts can have an opportunity to hook one of the world’s largest fresh water fish the Nile Perch on a half or full day excursion. Sunset cruises including cheese and wine or sun downers and snacks are available. Birding enthusiasts may also visit the nearby Mabamba swamp, home to many water birds including the shoebill.