Things to Do in Entebbe: Wildlife and Golf
Travel advisory (October 2026): Washington lists Uganda at Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, up from Level 3 since May 2026. The reasons given are the regional Ebola outbreak, crime, terrorism, unrest and the country’s anti-LGBTQI+ law. London’s FCDO stops short of advising against travel to Uganda as a whole, yet it says terrorists are very likely to attempt attacks and notes that same-sex activity is a crime under the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act. Look up both sets of advice before booking, confirm the current US level at travel.state.gov, and take out insurance that covers every leg of your trip.
Most people meet Entebbe at the start or end of a Ugandan trip, and a day or two here pays off. The best things to do are built around wildlife, the lake and a very old golf course. This page lists them with the figures that matter, in Uganda shillings (UGX) and US dollars.
Top picks at a glance
- Mabamba Bay shoebill trip: canoe with a licensed guide, early start, about USD 45 to 200 depending on group size and transport.
- UWEC experiences: Behind the Scenes at USD 70, Keeper for a Day at USD 150, Chimp Close Up at USD 290 (non-resident rates).
- Ngamba Island: a boat ride to a chimpanzee sanctuary, with feeding sessions through the day.
- Entebbe Golf Club: 18 holes with a history going back to 1901.
- Sunset on the water: a short boat outing with a licensed boatman.
Shoebill spotting at Mabamba
The shoebill is a big, slow-moving stork that hunts in papyrus channels. Mabamba Bay lies roughly an hour from Entebbe by road. Self-guided canoeing is not allowed, so you hire a licensed guide and a canoe. Sightings are likely, yet no operator can promise one.
Wildlife experiences at UWEC
The centre on Lugard Avenue (Plot 56/57) opens every day, 08:30 to 18:30. Its rates page lists the pre-booked experiences: Behind the Scenes, the VIP version with a meal and drink (USD 100 for non-residents), Keeper for a Day and Chimp Close Up. Anyone planning the chimp option should ask about health screening when booking. Details sit on the UWEC rates page .
Chimpanzees on Ngamba Island
Boats from Entebbe depart at 09:00 and 12:45. A speedboat covers the roughly 23 km in about 45 minutes, a traditional motorised canoe in about 90. Sessions to watch the chimpanzees, about 50 of them, begin at 07:30, 11:00, 14:30 and 18:30. Reserve ahead through the Chimpanzee Trust .
A round at Entebbe Golf Club
Founded in 1901, the club has 18 holes over 6,784 yards at par 71, and it calls itself the oldest golf club in East and Central Africa. Ask about visiting players at entebbegolfclub.com .
What Entebbe does not offer
White-water rafting, bungee jumping, skydiving and paragliding are not available in Entebbe. Rafting and bungee jumping belong to Jinja, about 2 to 4 hours away each way.
Lake safety
Stay out of the water on every Entebbe beach. Bilharzia snails, hippos and crocodiles share the lake, and marine police rescued swimmers at Aero, Lido and Spenah over the 2025 festive season. Beaches are for sitting, eating and watching the sunset, and hotel pools are for swimming.
Read more: our Entebbe day trip planner and the attraction tours guide .
To browse listed tours, search Viator for Entebbe tours .