Uganda Wildlife Education Centre: Entebbe Zoo
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), also referred to as Entebbe Zoo, is located in Entebbe, a seaside town on the shores of Lake Victoria. Entebbe boasts numerous intriguing tourist sites, including the International Airport, the Botanical Gardens, and the State House; nevertheless, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is the most renowned. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre exhibits a variety of wildlife species native to the national parks of Uganda. The Centre has lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, monkeys, and chimpanzees. Only mountain gorillas are conspicuously absent.
Operating hours of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ,
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre functions as both a zoo and a wildlife refuge, as certain animals are confined while others inhabit their natural environments. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre was established to provide an authentic wilderness experience for both animals and humans. The Centre is situated on a 72-acre plot along the shores of Lake Victoria and is characterized by rainforests. The environment is ideal for animals to thrive, and multiple pathways allow people to observe them in their own enclosures.
UWEC is vital in wildlife research and in teaching both local and foreign visitors on the significance of wildlife conservation. The zoo operates an animal breeding program for endangered species and a veterinary hospital for injured or ill animals. Given the aforementioned facilities, the zoo has to be classed as a wildlife education center.
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is the primary destination for tourists preparing for an extended safari in Uganda’s several national parks. International travelers are advised to visit the Entebbe Zoo prior to embarking on their journeys to various national parks in the country. The Entebbe Zoo is ideal for individuals attending an international workshop, conference, or business trip in the country. Local tourists like the Entebbe zoo as a more economical alternative to safari parks, given that it houses the majority of animals they desire to observe. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre offers several activities, including behind-the-scenes tours, informal zoo tours, birdwatching, observing chimpanzees and lesser monkeys, and strolling along the beaches of Lake Victoria. We will examine these actions in further detail subsequently.
History of the Entebbe Zoo
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre originated as Entebbe Zoo in 1950, with the purpose of serving as a rehabilitation facility for orphaned, solitary, vulnerable, and injured animals. The establishment of the institution was a collaborative effort between the British colonial government and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It was made accessible to the public in 1960. Visitors could access the site to observe various native wildlife species alongside exotic species such as bears and tigers.
The zoo saw a decline in the 1970s and 1980s due to political turmoil during that period. A significant number of resident species perished due to neglect, inadequate management, and infrastructural failure. Upon the ascension of the present NRM government in 1986, the facility experienced a resurgence. The new administration renovated the Entebbe zoo to highlight Uganda’s wildlife conservation initiatives. Following extensive investigation and analysis, the New York Zoological Society recommended that the government convert the zoo into a wildlife conservation center. In 1994, the government implemented the concept, establishing the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. Over the years, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre has purchased additional land and grown to the beaches of Lake Victoria. The government, along with several wildlife conservation organizations, has financed and continues to finance the majority of the projects at the center. With increased funding, the wildlife center has rehabilitated all the creatures that were previously absent from the facility. In 2020, tigers were reintroduced in Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is presently among the most esteemed wildlife centers on the continent.
Wildlife at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
The Entebbe Zoo features a variety of intriguing wildlife species and attractions for both casual visitors and volunteers. The Centre houses several species, including the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, and leopards. The fauna includes cheetahs, topis, impalas, zebras, elands, hogs, giraffes, Uganda kobs, and tigers. The zoo has several primate species, including red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and chimpanzees. UWEC has more than 120 avian species, including peacocks, the shoebill stork, and parrots, among others. Nature enthusiasts can partake in a nature walk to observe various plant species, shrubs, tropical and savanna trees, flowers, and herbs. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre has become engaging by permitting certain species, such as monkeys, tortoises, peacocks, and parrots, to roam freely.
Exploring the Entebbe Zoo
As a species Education Centre, Entebbe Zoo attracts numerous tourists as it is the exclusive location to observe the majority of Uganda’s species in a single venue. The majority of visitors comprise local tourists and students. On a typical day, students from nursery, primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions can be observed at the Centre. The students originate from various regions of the country to study the diverse varieties of animals in Uganda. The Centre is capable of accommodating a maximum of 10 learner groups per day. During weekends, the Centre attracts numerous visitors, including international tourists, families, couples, and solo travelers. Following their observation of the animals, youngsters may enjoy the bouncing castles, swings, and mobile toy vendors.
Entebbe Zoo Entry Fees and Prices
Operating Hours of the Uganda Wildlife Education CentreEntrance fees at Entebbe Zoo, or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, are collected at the main gate. Payments may be made in cash or using electronic cards (Visa or credit card). Adult non-residents are charged $10, while children are charged $5. Ugandan residents pay 10,000 shillings, while children pay 5,000 shillings. Discounted costs are available for educational institutions and schools. Visitors seeking a specialized guided tour of the Wildlife Centre must pay a premium cost, typically exceeding the ordinary fees. The parking fee at the Centre is 2,000 shillings per vehicle.
Operating Hours of Entebbe Zoo
What are the operating hours of Entebbe Zoo? Entebbe Zoo operates daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. We advise tourists to visit the center either early in the morning or in the afternoon, about at 4 PM. The animals exhibit activity during the early and afternoon periods. This is also the time when zookeepers come to feed the animals.
Lodging at the Entebbe Zoo
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre provides lodging for volunteers and guests desiring overnight accommodations. The lodging consists of self-contained huts (bandas). Each Banda at Entebbe Zoo features a separate entrance and includes a roomy interior, a bathroom, a bed, a mosquito net, a refrigerator, and many conveniences. A night in one of these bandas costs approximately $30. A substantial dormitory with communal bathrooms is available for budget-conscious guests and students. Food is available at the restaurant overlooking Lake Victoria. This restaurant closes concurrently with the zoo at 6:00 PM. If you are a mid-range or luxury traveler, you may like to try one of the numerous lodges and hotels in Entebbe town.
Behind-the-Scenes Experience and Tour
This is a unique experience for wildlife enthusiasts. During this experience, people engage with the animals in a more intimate and proximate manner. The activities encompass entering their enclosures and engaging in tactile interaction and feeding, all under the supervision of the zookeeper. Visitors seeking to participate in this event must pay a premium above the standard zoo admission fees. The Behind the Scenes Tour comprises three variations: the Keeper for a Day experience, the Vet for a Day experience, and the Keeper’s Guided Tour.
Keeper’s Guided Tour: In this experience, a visitor is paired with a designated zoo keeper who will escort them throughout the facility. Prior to the commencement of the tour, the visitor receives a briefing on the historical background of the Uganda Entebbe Zoo’s behind-the-scenes experience.Wildlife Education Centre: anticipated experiences throughout the tour and adherence to requirements. Visitors also sign a consent form acknowledging their awareness of the risks associated with proximity to wild animals and assume responsibility for any incidents that may occur. The tour commences with a visit to the central offices, an introduction to senior personnel, followed by a departure to the animal enclosures. By the conclusion of the tour, the tourist will have observed lions, cheetahs, giraffes, rhinoceroses, chimps, elands, shoebills, elephants, monkeys, and additional species. During each interaction, the caretaker imparts essential knowledge regarding the animal’s whole profile and behavior. The visitor is permitted to photograph the animal within the enclosure. This event lasts three hours and costs $40.
The Keeper for a Day experience is priced at $150 per individual. It is a more comprehensive experience than the Keeper’s guided tour, as it encompasses a greater number of activities. Throughout this experience, the visitor observes the daily activities of the caretaker. The experience commences with a briefing from the keeper, followed by the preparation of animal feed, loading it into a truck, and driving to the animal enclosures. The visitor engages in feeding the animals, monitoring their behavior, and documenting observations. The experience offers visitors numerous opportunity to interact with the animals and capture photographs.
The Veterinary Experience: This opportunity is ideal for individuals keen on understanding animal health maintenance and diagnostic procedures for difficulties. Visitors are accompanied by a veterinary physician on this tour. The initial activity is visiting the animal pharmacy to examine the several medications administered to the animals and their respective purposes at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. You will subsequently accompany the veterinarian to the animal enclosures to watch the procedures for medical examinations, diagnoses, and other treatments. All visitors are required to adhere to specific medical precautions to prevent the transmission of diseases to the animals. This experience is favored by veterinary students from many domestic and international institutions.
Additional activities in the Entebbe Zoo
guided tour
Additional activities in the Entebbe Zoo include a guided tour, which is the most favored attraction of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Exploring the zoo independently requires a considerable amount of time. A local guide will want approximately $10 or 10,000 shillings to provide a tour of the property and its many animal enclosures. This trip does not include access to animal cages or direct touch. We strongly advise employing the services of a resident guide during your visit to the zoo. The zoo is huge and challenging to navigate independently. Having a guide ensures that you will observe all the creatures and miss nothing.
The Chimpanzee Close-up Experience
The Chimpanzee Close-up Experience: Chimpanzees were among the initial species introduced at Entebbe Zoo. The most remarkable and intriguing chimpanzee to reside at the center was Zakayo. Zakayo passed away at Entebbe Zoo at the age of 56 and is commemorated to this day. All visitors sought to view Zakayo due to his remarkable size and temperament. Following his demise, additional chimpanzees were introduced to the zoo; however, none have captivated the visitors’ mind quite like Zakayo. The Chimpanzee Close-up experience enables travelers to observe the chimpanzees feeding and engaging in play at close proximity. Chimpanzees are highly intelligent and dynamic monkeys. Engaging with them is consistently unforgettable due to the significant drama inherent in their relationships. For a more intimate experience with the chimpanzees, early registration is available for a fee of $290 per individual. For a more comprehensive chimpanzee experience, consider exploring the adjacent Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre welcomes applications from anybody interested in volunteering. Applications are accepted from all countries and must be submitted via email to info@uwec.ug. Applicants must include their cover letter, curriculum vitae, recommendation letter, and area of interest for the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre behind the scenes. The volunteering program is intended to enable participants to engage with animals, understanding their moods and behaviors. Volunteers participate in activities such as feeding animals, conducting research, maintaining animal enclosures, directing visitors, and assisting in fundraising for the center. The Centre imposes a fee of $1500 for anybody wishing to volunteer at the Centre. The sum encompasses lodging, meals, boat excursions to islands surrounding Lake Victoria, and airport transportation. All volunteers reside in one of the bandas, and meals are made at the on-site restaurant. The expense of volunteering at the Entebbe Zoo does not encompass travel and personal insurance. All volunteers are required to have vaccinations for Covid-19, the six major infectious illnesses, and Hepatitis A and B. They are required to conduct tests for Tuberculosis.
Entebbe Zoological Park Behind-the-scenes tour Birdwatching & Forest Stroll: The Entebbe Zoo houses not just mammals but also reptiles and avifauna. Nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers may opt to traverse the designated pathways. These walking routes extend 1 km and are situated among a dense forest that hosts over 100 avian species. In addition to birds, one should anticipate encountering numerous butterflies, reptiles, primates, and uncommon tree species. The one-hour woodland walk is typically included in a comprehensive tour of the site, which encompasses visits to the various animal cages.
Donkey and camel rides are exceedingly popular among children and families. Children perceive riding on the back of a donkey or camel as highly exhilarating. Parents and other visitors may participate in this fundraising activity.
The Entebbe Zoo is situated on the banks of Lake Victoria, the biggest freshwater lake in Africa. Boat excursions on Lake Victoria provide a tranquil experience and are ideal for appreciating the natural splendor of Entebbe and its several islands.