A guide to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens including flora and fauna, video, opening times, entrance fees and a location map. The National Botanical Gardens of Uganda better known locally as Entebbe Botanic gardens were established on the shores of Lake Victoria in 1898. The gardens are perfect for an afternoon out as you stroll through its four zones including a rainforest zone where you'll see much wildlife including the black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys although, as ever, be mindful many may be infected with rabies so look but don't touch! There's also an array of tree squirrels.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens are also home to around 115 species of bird, including hornbills, Marabou stork, orange Weavers, black Weavers, black headed heron, long-tailed cormorant, giant king fishers, black headed gull, squaco, black headed gonolek and red chested sunbirds and many more, so an ideal opportunity for bird watchers to capture some amazing photographs and, if you are very lucky you will spot the Verreaux’s eagle owl; Africa's largest owl. Although numbers have declined during neglect during Uganda's years of inner political turmoil, the gardens were also home at one point to around 2,500 species of plants of tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperature zones.
For the less agile a vehicle tour is available as are guides who will explain to you the various species of plant, birds and other animals, however for most, the greatest pleasure is such strolling through the gardens at your own pace, not only enjoying the flora and fauna of Uganda but imported plants from around the world. (If looking for a guide be aware that even by Ugandan standards they are particularly "needy" so you would be best advised to negotiate a price beforehand as if left it may cause friction later.) One of Entebbe Botanical Gardens claim to fame is that it was used as a backdrop to many of the Tarzan movies filmed in the 1940s!
The current entry fee for foreign nationals is about £5.00 per person with opening hours 9am - 7pm daily. Phone +256 701 567881.
