The serene and beautiful Entebbe Botanical Gardens nestle the northern shoreline of Lake Victoria in Entebbe town. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens is definitely one of the places you should visit especially if you have a day in Entebbe; as you’re going out to the Entebbe beaches or touring the UWEC (Uganda Wildlife Education Centre) – Zoo.
The gardens are a birder’s paradise and a perfect place to sit and meditate, due to its extraordinary beauty and tranquility. It is a favorite destination to many locals who always go there, especially on weekends, to marvel in its amazing beauty, it’s really a very romantic place for couples!! For the birders, this is a place you have to visit as it resides a variety of beautiful bird species like the Palm Nut Vulture, African Grey Parrot, among other species of birds.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens also reside many Colobus monkeys and a collection of species of plants of the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones, besides several shrubs and other plants regenerated naturally over the years. The collection as of 1998 numbered 309 species, 199 indigenous to Uganda, 122 with known medicinal value and 110 exotic. Many tourists like to pass-by the Entebbe Botanical Gardens before proceeding to the Parks upcountry or after returning from the Parks, which is always lovely either way!
The gardens are really a feast for the eyes and immediately when you access them you are ‘there and then’ immersed in nature as the beautiful sounds of birds please your ears, making it stellar! The botanical gardens of Entebbe is really a perfect place to sit and unwind, ideal for leisure as you hideaway from the bustling Entebbe and Kampala cities. It is not only a place of beauty but also of discoveries as you will get to divulge various attractions like birds, trees, insects, plants, monkeys, and beautiful views of Africa’s largest lake – Lake Victoria.
It is advisable that if you are going to the gardens to indulge in the birding activity you carry an East African Orthinology Book, and a good pair of binoculars as well as a good HD camera that will make your trip more memorable. If you need a birding guide to get more knowledge about the bird species here you should also feel free to ask for one. Meanwhile, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens is only a lovely place to spend a few hours but you can as well opt to bring along a picnic lunch and make it an all-day adventure.
There are a wide range of accommodations close to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens as it’s conveniently situated in Entebbe city, close to the Entebbe International Airport (Uganda’s major airport). Furthermore, the garden is also situated within proximity to some of the country’s major beaches in Entebbe such as Lido beach, aero beach, and Spena beach, among others. You can therefore go and dip in the waters of Lake Victoria after your visit to the gardens. While at the beaches you can try to taste some of the fish species caught from Lake Victoria, such as Tilapia and Nile Perch, hence winding up your day perfectly well!!