Hostels in ENTEBBE, UGANDA

Travelling through the Beautiful Shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe

The city of Entebbe is located in Wakiso district of Uganda in Africa. The city gets neatly fitted near the northern side shore of the biggest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. Entebbe lies approximately 37 km from Sudan’s capital city, Kampala. It is one of the few places in Africa which has almost 40 % of area as water. Most areas here offer a magnificent view of Nile. Even though the county lies close to the equator, its temperature ranges from warm to hot in some places.

Accommodation Options
Budget hotels, guest houses, safari lodges, youth hostels and luxury hotels are popular modes of accommodations in Entebbe. Many Luxury hotels have all modern facilities like internet connectivity with excellent hospitality from the hotel authorities. Bed and breakfasts are also available.

History
The word ‘Entebbe’ means ‘seat’ in the local language of Luganda, most probably referring to the place where Baganda chief used to sit when giving verdicts. During the start of the 19th century, it became a well-known commercial centre in Uganda. British consul general, Sir Gerald Portal, used Entebbe as a base. The rainforest zone which forms a part of the national botanical gardens was used as a location to film many scenes in the famous Tarzan series of movies shot in the 1940s.

Popular Places
National Botanical Gardens of Uganda is located near the Lake Victoria shore in the city and it manages to attract a considerable number of visitors. The beautiful garden has many animals which include Hornbills and Marabou Storks and is divided into different zones with the rainforest zone being quite popular. Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) is famous for nature lovers and more so with researchers coming here to study wild monkeys. There are many party hubs in the city with hip-hop music, great dance floors and good cuisines.

Getting Around
Entebbe International Airport which uses ‘Jet way boarding bridge system’ serves the city and is the most important airport of the country. The airport offers flights to and fro through many popular international airlines connecting many countries to Uganda. The Taxi Park located in the Kitoro area offers taxis throughout the day and even during nights but with less frequency. Boda-bodas are also a popular mode of local transport. Hire a guide to expect city tours to be easy.

Places of Entertainment
Make sure your cameras are ready while travelling along the lake as it has many picturesque scenes and exotic locations for excellent photography. Night life in Entebbe offers many bars and lounges for tourists coming from all over the world. Sightseeing, theme photography, enjoying traditional music, city tour, visiting gardens, watching the brilliant flora and fauna are some recreational options available in Entebbe.

Languages Spoken
Luganda is a widely spoken local language along with Swahili while English is also popular.

Currency
Uganda shilling is the official currency. Tourists can check the latest news and updates about currency exchange at the airport or banks.