Entebbe Zoo

The Entebbe Wildlife Education Center is a well-liked weekend destination for nearby travelers. While visiting Uganda, a charming little town called Entebbe is a great place to stay. The official state house, Uganda’s only international airport, and numerous other important government buildings are located in Entebbe. If not for a portion of land that leads to Kampala city, Entebbe would have been an island in Lake Victoria.

Entebbe is unique because of its tranquility, historical significance as a hub of administration, and other outstanding tourist attractions. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is one of Entebbe’s main tourist destinations.

Given its proximity, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), also known as Entebbe Zoo, provides an ideal introduction to Uganda’s amazing biodiversity. One of the most well-liked tourist destinations in Uganda is close to the city, Kampala because most of the animals reside in roomy cages that closely resemble their natural habitats, the Center successfully combines the elements of a zoo and a safari park Situated on around 72 acres, the Entebbe Zoo features a vast natural forest and a network of walkways leading to various animal exhibits.

The zoo’s prime location near Lake Victoria’s coastline sets it apart from comparable facilities in other nations. The Center also houses an animal veterinary center and runs an animal breeding program for endangered species.

UWEC supports studies on wildlife and informs the public about the significance of conserving wildlife. The Center is one of the greatest locations for showing Africa’s wildlife, and it has expanded in size due to its advantageous position.This is one location you just have to see as you wait for your aircraft if you are a visitor with some free time after an extensive safari in the national parks.

Ugandan citizens and locals are also fortunate to have access to a one-stop center where people can visit and learn about a variety of the continent’s well-known animals without having to pay for pricey safaris in far-flung national parks. In fact, many people could discover that visiting UWEC is more fulfilling than going to one of Uganda’s national parks.

Not only is visiting the Entebbe Zoo less expensive, but it also provides amazing chances to get up close and personal with the animals, particularly if you decide to take the unique “Behind the Scenes tour” with a caretaker guiding you.

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center’s (UWEC) history

In 1950, the Entebbe Zoo was established as a rehabilitation center for animals that had been rescued, injured, or orphaned. With assistance from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the colonial administration established the Entebbe zoo.

Ten years later, in 1960, the Center was still running as a conventional zoo where visitors could only witness some of the well-known fauna from Africa in addition to a few imported species, such as tigers and bears.

Many animals perished as a result of the political unrest in the 1970s and 1980s because of inadequate infrastructure, disregard, and inadequate administration. The government chose to redesign the zoo as it started to show more interest and continued to operate at a low standard.

The government came to the realization that the zoo could serve as an ideal venue for teaching foreign tourists and Ugandans alike about the importance of animal conservation and Entebbe Zoo opening hours. The New York Zoological Society conducted research and produced a report that suggested converting the zoo into a center for education in addition to tourism.

Under the Ministry of Tourism, the establishment was renamed the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in May 1994. More property was added to the Center, bringing its total area to the very edge of Lake Victoria.

As more funding was received by the Center It has developed into one of the most reputable wildlife conservation and educational facilities in Africa thanks to support from the government, foreign organizations, philanthropists, and gate collections.

The Entebbe Zoo’s fauna

Because of its vast biodiversity and central location among Uganda’s major cities, the Entebbe Zoo enjoys great popularity. Home to chimpanzees, ostriches, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, camels, waterbucks, egrets, the renowned Shoebill Stork, snakes, pythons, and tortoises, one can also see hyenas, zebras, lions, donkeys, and the Uganda Kob.

The facility is home to around 120 species of birds and 23 species of monkeys. Aside from these and many other animals, the Center is home to red-tailed monkeys, cattle, crocodiles, peacocks, crested cranes, parrots, goats, elephants, fowl, warthogs, cobras, impala, topis, forest hogs, and eland. In addition to animals, there are also an amazing variety of butterflies and plants, including flowers, bushes, trees, and herbs.

Regretfully, the zoo does not house mountain gorillas. You must read up on Bwindi gorilla trekking if you want to see them. For those who are unfamiliar with this type of setting, it can come as a surprise that some of the animals and birds are allowed to roam freely. Primary, secondary, and university students make up the majority of the Center’s visitors.

Every day, the Center gets at least ten student groups. On weekends, the crowds might get very large. For families with young children, a trip to the Entebbe Zoo may be quite fulfilling (a chance to see what is taught in class and see some of their cartoon characters).

There is a playground for kids, Ice cream, mobile toy stores, and many of other entertaining pursuits. Another method to support wildlife conservation is to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center or the Entebbe Zoo. The money collected is used to feed the animals, pay the caretakers, breeding wildlife and picking rescued animals from remote locations within Uganda.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Entrance Fee

The Entrance fee to Entebbe zoo is $15 for adult non-residents and $10 for children who are non-residents. Adult Ugandan pay 10,000 shilling while 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 Uganda shillings. The Centre charges a separate as we will see later, for a more thorough and guided tour of the facility. A 2000-shilling parking fee is paid by every car.

Opening times:

 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is when Entebbe Zoom is open. If you arrive after 6:00 p.m., you will not be permitted entry. We advise you to arrive by 4:00 pm for the greatest encounter and time spent with the animals.

Where to stay when visiting Entebbe Zoo

On its grounds, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre offers lodging options. The self-contained, traditional African banda cottages cost approximately $30. Every banda is expertly built. The accommodations at Entebbe are incredibly roomy, complete with a refrigerator, a private toilet, a mosquito net, and kitchenware.

Large dorms are also available for those on a tight budget and student groups. There is one internet-connected computer and communal restrooms in each dorm. Meals are offered from the lakefront restaurant.

Since the restaurant closes at 6:00 p.m., it’s critical to finish your dinner before then. If you are searching for a simple yet comfortable lodging option with most facilities, we highly recommend staying in one of the bandas. Make reservations at the hotels in Entebbe town and outside the zoo if you are looking for more opulent lodgings.

Behind the Scenes Tour and experience

Visitors who are interested in more than simply the sights and sounds of the animals at the Center can partake in this event.

Visitors can take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn about the lives of many of the animals at the Center by having close interactions with them. From the moment they wake up until they go to sleep in their enclosures, you will watch how they behave and go about their daily lives. It is an entirely new experience that is not achievable on a typical safari.

By the time the tour is over, you will have developed an appreciation for the zookeepers’ labors. There are three categories for the experience. The guided tour by the keeper, the day experience with the vet, and the day experience with the keeper. The fee of each person’s Behind the Scenes Tour is $70.

Keeper’s Guided tour:

A caretaker will be assigned to you if you decide to take the Keeper’s Guided tour  before showing you around all the animal enclosures, will give you all the information about the Center. All areas of the Center, including the staff offices and other private spaces, will be open to you.

On the tour, you will get up close and personal encounters with chimpanzees like Ndugu, Albert the giraffe, Charlie the elephant, Mutagama the lioness, Sushi the Shoebill Stork, and Kabira the Lion. In general, the Keeper’s Guided tour requires less work and lasts for approximately three hours. The excursion can be taken in the morning or the afternoon.

Early in the morning is the ideal time to watch the animals eat. Remember to bring adequate batteries and your camera. Each individual must pay $40 for the Keeper’s Guided Tour. Experience as a “keeper for a day”: This option entails more labor with the animals and aims to give you an understanding of what the zoo’s caretakers go through in order to provide for them.

Attending the Keepers briefing, preparing the animal food, loading it into the zoo tractor, and driving the animals to their various cages are the first steps in the routine. You will assist with feeding the animals and keep track of their general behavior to identify any indications of illness or stress.

This is your chance to pet a lion or a python. The team at the Center will include you in the rehabilitation of any recently rescued animals. Each participant must pay $150 to experience The Keeper for a day.

The Veterinary of the day Experience:

The resident veterinarian will oversee this activity, which is available to everyone. The veterinarian will take you to the animal enclosures for daily health checks after the customary briefing. You will watch the health examinations being performed and might even help move one of the animals back to a holding facility for more thorough examinations.

While making sure you take all necessary safety steps, the doctor will also take you to the animal pharmacy. You are obliged to adhere to the established hygiene protocols when you visit the area used for food preparation in order to prevent animal diseases.

Note:

You must reserve a space in order to participate in the behind-the-scenes program.

Beforehand. It is also anticipated that you will have many health examinations and get ready for the following vaccinations two weeks prior to entering any area where animals are present:

·       Hepatitis A

·       Measles and hepatitis B

·       Infection with meningococci

·       TB or tuberculosis

·       Tetanus and Polio

Additional pursuits and events at the Entebbe Zoo Guided Tour: For those seeking a more comprehensive and educational experience, a half-day guided tour of the Entebbe zoo is possible. A guide is available to answer any of your questions, walk you around the facilities, and show you all the animals. For their services, guides may ask for as low as $10.

Please be aware that after paying the entrance, you can explore the facility independently without the help of a guide, as do the majority of tourists. Chimpanzee up close or habituation experience: Though Uganda is home to one of the world’s greatest populations of chimpanzees, the species is quickly disappearing.

For interested tourists, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre offers chimp-specific trips for an additional fee. This means that, as was previously mentioned, you must get vaccinated on your Entebbe zoo trip.

If you have any communicable diseases, you are not allowed anywhere near the chimps. You will be paired with a Caretaker who will guide you and make sure you participate in feeding the primates once you receive medical permission.

Should there be recently rescued chimpanzees, you may be fortunate enough to participate in the chimpanzee habituation process. The purpose of this encounter is to help recently introduced chimps become accustomed to being around people.

Feeding the chimps, playing with the babies, and making sure they feel comfortable with people are the typical tasks associated with chimpanzee close-ups. More chimps are brought to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Lake Victoria since the Center cannot accommodate them all. The $290 per person Chimpanzee Close-up tour is a really educational experience.

Volunteer:

 For a duration of one week to many months, the Entebbe Zoo accepts volunteers from all over the world. The purpose of the volunteer program is to provide individuals practical experience working up close with all of the zoo’s animals, including the birds, chimpanzees, rhinos, and reptiles. In addition, the volunteer is required to assist with program development, student training, research, cleaning animal cages, feeding the animals, and showing visitors around the building.

You must get in touch with the Uganda Wildlife Education Center via email at info@uwec.ug if you would want to volunteer for a week or longer. A letter of recommendation, a CV, an area of interest, and a motivation letter should all be included in the email. The volunteer eats at the restaurant beside the lake and resides in one of the housing units. Immunizations against yellow fever, polio, meningitis, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis A and B are required for all volunteers. A tuberculosis test is also required for the volunteer. A $1500 fee is paid by all volunteers to cover transportation to and from the airport, lodging, meals, and excursions to Lake Victoria islands.

This might seem pricey, but it is actually less than what volunteering at places like the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary would cost.

It is expected of volunteers to cover their own medical and travel expenses. A certificate of participation is provided to volunteers at the conclusion of the program.

Bird watching and the Forest Trail:

 The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is surrounded by more than a kilometer of unspoiled forest and stunning surroundings. Following a visit to the animal enclosures, a more sedate experience with butterflies, chameleons, birds, small primates, and plants can be had by taking a nature walk along the woodland trail.

You have the option to pay a guide to accompany you as they discuss the significance of every plant and its valuable medical properties. It can take one to two hours to stroll through the safe forest, during which you will be exposed to you to more than a hundred bird species.

When does the Entebbe Zoo open?

Children should get ready to participate in a variety of activities if you are taking them to the zoo. These activities include donkey, camel, and boat rides. For a modest price, the Center arranges camel and donkey rides.

There is a tiny park for kids with play structures. A boat ride around Lake Victoria’s shoreline offers adults and birdwatchers the opportunity to see some of Uganda’s largest waterfowl. The zoo restaurant with a lake view serves food.

Note:

The zoo is home to an enormous number of free ranging vervet monkeys. If you can, stay away from them and do not give them food. Some might have rabies infection.

The Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Center or support its work is one of the most commonly asked inquiries. Making a visit to the Center is the simplest way to support it because the money collected from the admission fee goes toward paying staff and feeding the animals, your payment of the fee indirectly supports the Center’s operations.

Sponsoring an animal in the zoo through the Animal Parents Program is another way to support the work that the Center does. Special membership packages and additional avenues for funding conservation initiatives are also available.

For further information about all donations, go to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center’s website. Should you intend to If you plan to visit the Center soon, get in touch with us to learn more about our one-day Entebbe zoo trip package.