Author: Ross

Golf in Uganda: Five Courses to Try!

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Uganda might not strike you as an obvious place to enjoy a golf vacation, but in reality, there are some awesome courses to try in the Pearl of Africa. 

I consider myself a recreational golfer (handicap 20ish!), and I typically enjoy my experience on the nineteenth hole more than my time spent hacking around the golf course! 

Still, I’ve played golf at several courses in Uganda, and I’ve found them all to be extremely enjoyable, albeit for completely different reasons. 

I’m also a member at one of Uganda’s golf courses (more on this shortly), so I have a good perspective from which to provide you with a rundown of some of the best tracks in the country.

So, if you’re planning an upcoming vacation in Uganda, here are the best golf courses in Uganda that you should consider adding to your itinerary.

Garuga Golf Club, Kihihi

Par 71, 7189 yards

I’m a proud member of Garuga Golf Club, easily one of Uganda’s most intriguing golf courses!

I have been a member of Garuga Golf Club in Kihihi since the start of 2021, and there are so many things I like about the course. First and foremost, it is only a few kilometers from Queen Elizabeth National Park, and it truly provides the sensation of playing golf in the wild. 

While this also means that the course isn’t pristinely manicured, the track provides you with the perfect opportunity to play golf off the beaten track. The fact that Garuga Golf Club is in the extreme southwest of Uganda also means that it’s not particularly busy, and you will have no problem with just turning up and playing.

My main complaint about the course is that I feel it’s unnecessarily long, but you can just play nine holes if walking in the Ugandan sun for several hours is a little much for you! 

If you’re going to Queen Elizabeth NP or Bwindi for a safari or gorilla trek, you will pass Garuga Golf Course on the way to your accommodation, as the course is located at Savannah Hotel in Kihihi. 

Also, many tourists fly into Kihihi’s airstrip, which runs alongside the golf course and is perfectly positioned for tourists who are keen to enjoy a game of golf before hopping on a flight back to Entebbe. 

Although I’m biased, Garuga Golf Club is my favorite course in the country, and I would love to welcome you as my guest if you fancy a game on your upcoming vacation in Uganda!

Find out more information about Garuga Golf Club Kihihi here.

Uganda Golf Club, Kitante (Kampala)

Par 72, 7,200 yards

The most prestigious course in Uganda is undoubtedly Uganda Golf Club, situated in the Kitante area of Kampala. This luscious and well-manicured course provides an incredible test in the heart of Kampala city, as well as a bar and restaurant that attracts members and guests alike. 

The Ugandan Open is often held at Uganda Golf Club, and if you’re seeking the truest test of golf in the country, then this is the place for you. 

Although primarily a member’s course, you can arrange a game if you’re visiting Uganda on vacation by contacting the pro shop directly, either via email or over the phone. Just explain that you’re on vacation in Uganda, and they will hook you up with a tee time to suit your itinerary.

The dress code is important here, so make sure you have the right gear with you, or you may not be permitted to play the course. 

Find out more information about Uganda Golf Club, Kitante, here.

Lake Victoria Serena Golf Club, Kampala

Par 72, 7,262 yards

Designed by Golf Plan Inc USA, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Club is arguably the best golf course in Uganda and offers an incredible test of golf in serene surroundings. 

When I played here with my Dad, I found the course to be in extremely good condition, and the views across Lake Victoria added to the experience, even if I did lose a hatful of balls in the drink! 

Perhaps the standout feature of Lake Victoria Serena is the 18th-hole island green that resembles the TPC at Sawgrass. Although a simple wedge over the water, I put two in the water before landing a third just a few inches from the hole!

The hotel that accompanies the course is superb, and there are golf carts available here, too. Overall, Lake Victoria Serena is an international-standard golf course and is an awesome place to enjoy golf in the Pearl of Africa. 

Find out more information about Lake Victoria Serena Golf Club here.

Entebbe Golf Club, Entebbe

Par 71, 6,784 yards

Photo Credit: Entebbe Golf Club

Entebbe Golf Club is the oldest course in East Africa and is beautifully shaped and excellently manicured, making it an enviable place to enjoy a round of golf. 

At 6,784 yards, it’s considerably shorter than most of the other courses in Uganda, and it is perfectly located close to Entebbe International Airport for those who have some hours to kill before jumping on a flight back home.

Like Uganda Golf Club, Entebbe is primarily a member’s course, but you can reach out to the pro shop and enquire about playing as a visitor, as they welcome guest players. 

Thanks to its enviable location and the fact that it’s usually quieter than Uganda Golf Club in Kitante, Entebbe Golf Club would be my recommendation if you have some time to kill in and around Entebbe before returning home. 

Find out more information about Entebbe Golf Club here.

Jinja Golf Club, Jinja

Par 72, 5,926 yards

Also known as the golf course at the source of the Nile, Jinja Golf Club is a wonderful place to play golf due to its relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff and members. 

While there are only nine holes at Jinja Golf Club, you can play the track twice if you wish to enjoy a full round, or you can simply enjoy the nine holes available the day before or after enjoying white water rafting on the Nile!

Like Garuga Golf Club in Kihihi, you don’t have to book in advance at Jinja, and you can simply turn up and request a tee time as a guest player. 

So, if you’re in Jinja to see the source of the River Nile, there’s no reason not to head to the golf course for nine holes in this gorgeous part of the country!

Find out more information about Jinja Golf Club here.

The verdict: The best golf courses in Uganda

So, there you have it – the five best golf courses in Uganda! You can arrange a game of golf in the Pearl of Africa by contacting the pro shop of each course directly via the links provided throughout. 

If you have any questions about any of the courses or would like any more information about any of the tracks that I’ve introduced above, drop a comment below, and I’ll get back to you!

The Problem with Voluntourism in Africa

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Voluntourism in Africa – good or bad?

Can volunteering your time to seemingly help people in need really be a bad thing? In some instances, yes. And it’s within this context that I introduce you to the problems with voluntourism in East Africa. 

Here, I explain what voluntourism is, why it’s usually a bad thing, and how you can avoid it in favor of a meaningful and beneficial volunteerism opportunity in East Africa.

So, what is voluntourism in Africa?

The term “voluntourism” brings together two distinct concepts: volunteering & tourism. As such, a voluntourist can simply defined as someone who volunteers their time to a specific cause while participating in tourism. 

But defining voluntourism isn’t quite this simple. The term is loaded with unhelpful connotations of saviorism and righteousness, and there’s a big debate about whether voluntourism is inherently good or bad.

In East Africa, voluntourism is rife, as it is in many parts of south-east Asia. The reason for this is that there is a perceived need for voluntourists in these parts of the world, as well as a whole host of enjoyable tourism activities for well-intentioned volunteers to do during their stay in countries on the other side of the world. 

Following my experience as a voluntourist in 2012, I wrote a book about my time in Uganda and how the concept of voluntourism didn’t sit well with me. I also undertook research into the concept of voluntourism during my Masters program at the University of Birmingham, given my interest in the concept.

In what remains of this article, I explain what voluntourism is, how it differs from volunteering in East Africa, and how you can avoid certain volunteering placements in different parts of the world that can potentially do more harm than good.

Voluntourism in Africa vs. Volunteerism: A crucial difference

I firmly believe that anyone who is willing to volunteer their time to a cause that they’re passionate about has good intentions. After all, if the world had more people who were willing to volunteer to help out in different ways, there’s no doubt that it would be a better place. 

Lots of people are motivated to volunteer in their own communities, while others want to do so in other parts of the world. Both are admirable, and no matter where you give your time to a worthy cause, you can make a positive difference in the world around you.

However, if you are motivated to volunteer abroad, there’s a fair chance that you will come across voluntourism programs when you perform a simple Google search looking for opportunities that interest you.

Here’s what voluntourism in Africa might look like:

  • It’s easy to apply for: There probably won’t be an interview process, and the program will not necessarily be looking for people with specific skills or experience to sign up. One of the main prerequisites might be a “positive attitude” or something similar. 
  • It’s expensive: One of the distinguishing features of a voluntourism placement is that it is expensive to participate in. You might, for instance, be asked to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a short-term voluntourism placement in East Africa or elsewhere.
  • It’s tourism-focused: If a firm offers voluntourism placements, its website will likely feature imagery that reflects the tourism opportunities in the country in question, be it photos of safaris or other exciting tourism activities. The focus of the website is not usually on the volunteer placement itself. 
  • There’s a saviorist agenda: While often subtle, a voluntourism placement is likely to invite you to make an unrealistic contribution in a short space of time. For instance, you might be invited to “change lives,” “transform communities,” or “give children a chance.” 
  • It’s offered by a business: Most voluntourism placements available online are offered by for-profit companies, as opposed to not-for-profit charities. This is a crucial distinction to be aware of and will help you differentiate between voluntourism and volunteerism. Most voluntourism businesses merely partner with charities, and it’s not clear how much of your money goes toward the projects in question.

Now, compare the above to how a volunteerism opportunity might look like in Africa:

  • There’s a clear application process: Applying for a legitimate volunteering opportunity in East Africa is like applying for a job. There will be a clear role description and role specifications, and you will need to complete an application process before being invited to join the charity in question. You will almost certainly have to supply references to back your credentials, too. 
  • It’s free: Most volunteer placements don’t charge you for offering your time! In fact, many charities offer volunteers a stipend to cover certain living or travel expenses. After all, why should you have to pay a huge sum of money to volunteer your time? 
  • It’s impact-focused: Rather than focusing on the amazing tourism activities you can do and how much fun you will have while in East Africa, volunteer opportunities are more concerned with the impact that you can have in the community in question.
  • There’s a collectivist agenda: Instead of inviting you to come and save a village, a charity looking for a skilled volunteer will market the opportunity as an invitation for you to make a contribution. Your skills and experience can contribute to the collectivist cause, which is a much more realistic message than asking you to travel across the world to save a community from X, Y, or Z.
  • It’s offered by a charity: When you find a volunteering opportunity in East Africa, it will almost certainly be offered by an NGO or grassroots charity. Therefore, you can be sure that the experience that you sign up for is actually part of a community cause, as opposed to a profit-making venture.

As you can see, the characteristics of voluntourism and volunteerism placements in East Africa are very different from one another, and recognizing them is crucial. But is voluntourism really a bad thing?

The problem with voluntourism in Africa

I think it’s important to preface this section with a clear statement: not all voluntourism placements are bad. When done correctly, voluntourism can be a successful business model that benefits tourists, international businesses, and local communities. It can work. 

But in reality, many voluntourism placements that operate in developing countries do more harm than good. In some instances, voluntourism projects support systems that break up families, while others perpetuate negative stereotypes about poorer nations needing to be saved by residents of wealthier countries. 

Sinisterly, some voluntourism experiences can be downright dangerous. Just look at the story of Renee Bach and her ill-fated time spent in Uganda. While shocking, it helps you understand how inexperienced and unskilled individuals can lead to fatal consequences for local populations.

In my opinion, the problem lies in the fact that inexperienced and unskilled individuals believe that they can make a positive impact in East Africa simply by showing up and lending a hand.

This mindset often leads to unqualified teachers being placed in already underperforming schools, inexperienced medical practitioners offering assistance in under-funded medical centers, and a whole host of other placements that seek to fill round holes with square pegs. 

As a result, voluntourism placements send out the message that wealthy tourists are able to make a positive contribution in practically any discipline, simply because they’re willing to pay for the right to get involved in a project that they’re not necessarily suited to.

What does this suggest to the local populace? It reinforces negative stereotypes – particularly the white savior industrial complex – and often holds communities back, as opposed to helping them move forward, as is often the claim of voluntourism supporters.

Attitudes aside, voluntourism projects also cause problems for local relationships and experiences. Local people, understandably, see opportunity when voluntourists arrive in their communities. Maybe the voluntourist will pay their child’s school fees or make a donation to help them repair their home, for instance. 

This creates an unhealthy relationship between voluntourists and the local people that they interact with, one that is inherently transactional in nature. It also breeds discontent, particularly if the voluntourist leaves the area after a short time, following a period of spurious contribution.

Ultimately, even if voluntourism placements aren’t dangerous, they’re usually unhelpful and unsustainable. If you want to make a real contribution in East Africa, voluntourism is not the way to do it, as I explain below.

How to avoid voluntourism in Africa?

When I decided to travel to East Africa in 2012 before heading to do my Masters, I thought that voluntourism presented the perfect opportunity. Frankly, I didn’t know there was a difference between voluntourism and volunteerism, and it wasn’t until after my experience that I realized that there are different ways to volunteer your time in East Africa. 

If you search for volunteering placements online today, you will come across voluntourism placement providers offering you a whole host of potential projects, from turtle conservation in Kenya to primary school teaching in Uganda. But if you really want to make a positive contribution during your time in East Africa, you need to look beyond the marketing of voluntourism placements.

A great way to ascertain your suitability for a volunteering opportunity in East Africa is to question if you would be skilled and experienced enough to do the role in your own country. 

If you don’t have the skills to volunteer at a health facility in the US, why do you think that you can do so in a health center in Uganda?

You have a responsibility to think carefully about what you’re skilled, qualified, and experienced to do. After all, your willingness to volunteer isn’t enough to make you an asset to a community project in East Africa, and you need to have the skills necessary to make a positive impact. 

You can also use this super helpful infographic to guide you as you search for a volunteering opportunity in Africa:

There are lots of volunteering opportunities available in East Africa, but you need to do some due diligence to ensure that you apply for a placement that, at the very least, does no harm to the local community that you’re planning to visit. 

I also highly recommend reading this follow-up article to Teju Cole’s 2012 piece in the Atlantic, where you can learn how to avoid the white savior industrial complex.

Recap: The problem with voluntourism in Africa

The problem with voluntourism in East Africa is not an easy one to solve. While for-profit organizations continue providing voluntourism placements to impressionable young people in western countries, a conveyor belt of voluntourists will continue arriving in East Africa every year. 

However, by educating yourself about some of the issues associated with voluntourism in East Africa, you can seek out rewarding, impactful volunteering placements that can be rewarding for you and beneficial to the people that you work with.

We all have a responsibility to consider an opportunity before signing up for it, so make sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into before joining a volunteering placement in the near future.

So, if you have your heart set on participating in a volunteering project in Africa, check out this recent article where I provide you with eight questions to ask yourself before joining a placement. It will help you avoid negative opportunities.

Traveling from Entebbe To Kampala

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Welcome to my guide to traveling from Entebbe to Kampala!

Kampala is around 45km from Entebbe, but it can take anywhere from 40 minutes to several hours to reach your destination, depending on how you travel and where in the capital city you’re going. 

I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve traveled between Entebbe and Kampala, which is why I decided to put together this handy guide for all incoming travelers. 

You basically have five options when it comes to traveling from Entebbe to Kampala – private taxi, public taxi, motorcycle taxi (boda-boda), self-drive, or hotel pickup, and your choice will be largely dependent on your budget.

In what remains of this article, I explain the different modes of transport available to you to help you plan correctly before traveling from Entebbe to Kampala.

Traveling from Entebbe to Kampala: 5 options

The good news is that there are five options for traveling from Entebbe to Kampala, and you can make your decision based on your budget and desired comfort levels! So, let’s take a look at your options:

Option #1: Private taxi

Approximate price: $30 – $40

As is the case in most parts of the world, one of the easiest ways to travel from Entebbe to Kampala is to hire a private taxi. There is a taxi hub at Entebbe International Airport, and you can easily hop in a cab that will take you directly to wherever you want to go in Kampala. 

A private taxi from Entebbe airport to Kampala will cost approximately 115,000 to 150,000 UGX ($30 – $40), but it really depends on where in Kampala you’re going, as it’s a big place!

If you’re in Entebbe town, the best place to get a taxi to Kampala is immediately outside Victoria Mall, where taxis wait throughout the day.

It’s always better to have an exact destination in mind when you’re hopping in a cab from Entebbe to Kampala, as this will help you to negotiate the best possible price. Also, make sure that the taxi driver knows the destination! 

If you’re staying at an Airbnb or a small, relatively unknown hotel, you will need to tell your taxi driver which area it’s in and what landmarks are nearby. 

Ultimately, private taxis from Entebbe to Kampala are safe and affordable and are perhaps the best way to travel between the two destinations.

Option #2: Public taxi

Approximate price: $3 – $4

If you’re traveling in Uganda on a budget, the best way to get from Entebbe to Kampala is via a public taxi. Known as matatus in some parts of East Africa, public taxis are white minivans that shuttle passengers between destinations by following pre-determined routes. 

A public taxi from Entebbe to Kampala should cost no more than 15,000 UGX ($3 – $4), but again, it depends on where you’re going in town.

One thing you should be aware of about getting in a public taxi is that you really need to know where you’re going for this mode of transport to be viable. Most public taxis take the old Entebbe road into Kampala (as opposed to the new toll road), and as soon as the urban sprawl of Kampala starts, it can be difficult to know where you are and where you need to get off! 

If you’re determined to travel in a public taxi to save money and you don’t know Kampala, I recommend speaking to the driver before boarding. You can ask the driver if he can inform you when you get to your destination, which they have done for me in the past.

The best place to pick up a public taxi from Entebbe to Kampala is across from Victoria Mall at the Entebbe taxi stage. Failing that, you will see taxis hurtling along the main road at all hours, and you can easily get them to stop to pick you up.

There’s very limited space in public taxis, and they’re not particularly comfortable if you have lots of luggage with you. But still, public taxi is the cheapest way to travel from Entebbe to Kampala, so it makes sense if you’re on a tight budget.

Option #3: Motorcycle taxi (Boda-Boda)

Approximate price: $13 – $24

Motorbikes ferry people and goods around in Uganda. Known locally as Boda-Bodas, they can be effective for moving short distances and beating traffic. Photo Credit: Antoine Pluss.

One of the primary means of transport in urban areas in Uganda is the boda-boda, also known as a motorcycle taxi. You can hop on the back of a boda-boda to move short distances, and it can be a viable method of transport for negotiating your way through Kampala’s notorious traffic jams. 

The cost of a motorcycle taxi from Kampala to Entebbe depends on various factors, but you should plan for between 50,000 – 90,000 UGX ($13 – $24), depending on where you’re going.

While they can seem like a lot of fun, boda-bodas don’t have the best safety record, and you need to take some precautions if you decide to travel from Entebbe to Kampala on the back of a motorcycle. 

The best way to travel via boda-boda from Entebbe to Kampala is to download an app called SafeBoda. SafeBoda riders adhere to much higher safety standards than unregistered boda drivers, and the app works just like Uber.

This also takes the element of negotiation out of your trip, as you can see how much you’re going to be charged for the proposed trip before boarding. 

So, it is possible to travel from Entebbe to Kampala via boda-boda, but it’s best to download the SafeBoda app for iOS or Android if you plan on traveling to the capital city in this way. You can then use the app as you move around Kampala during your stay.

Option #4: Self-drive

Approximate price: $40 (plus fuel)

Depending on your itinerary in Uganda, you might want to hire a car and drive from Entebbe to Kampala yourself. This is a particularly good option if you’re planning to go on safari or wish to travel to other destinations outside of Kampala.

Although you don’t have a great deal of choice when it comes to car hire in Uganda, I highly recommend the guys over at Road Trip Africa, having used them several times in the past. 

Their car hire starts at around $40 per day for a Rav4, which is the ideal car for traveling from Entebbe to Kampala.

If you’ve never driven independently in East Africa, proceed with caution if you choose to get behind the wheel in Uganda! Many of the road rules that you’re familiar with don’t seem to apply in Kampala, and you need to be on full alert when driving through the city! 

You should also make sure that you have your license with you at all times while in the car, as you might be stopped by police for a document check.

Option #5: Hotel pickup

Approximate price: $30 – $40 (Similar to a private taxi, but depends on the location of your hotel)

Last but not least, a good option is to arrange a transfer with the hotel that you’re staying at. Lots of hotels in Kampala can arrange a transfer from Entebbe to the city for a fee, and it can take a lot of the hassle out of trying to arrange transport when you arrive in Uganda. 

As is the case when hopping in a private taxi, make sure you agree to the price of the transfer in advance, and be sure to arrange a pickup point if you want to take your transfer anywhere other than the airport.

Recap: Traveling from Entebbe to Kampala as a tourist

As you can see, there are several ways to travel from Entebbe to Kampala, and the option that you take largely depends on your budget. 

The cheapest option is to use a public taxi, but it’s not the most comfortable! In my experience, taking a private taxi from Entebbe to Kampala is the best option, and it’s the one I would recommend above all others.

Wondering how to get from Entebbe International Airport to your hotel? Read our handy guide to the best ways to travel from Entebbe airport to your temporary accommodation!

Budget Accommodation in Bwindi (Five Options 2023!)

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If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Bwindi, you’ve come to the right place!

Bwindi is one of Uganda’s main tourist attractions, given the fact that it’s one of only a few places in East Africa where gorilla tracking is possible. 

But due to the fact that Bwindi is a bucket-list tourist destination, the price of accommodation in this sleepy corner of Uganda is extortionate – it’s not uncommon for rooms to go for $1,000 per night! 

Although I live less than an hour’s drive from Bwindi, I’ve stayed in lots of hotels and guesthouses in and around the national park. I’ve also dined at some of the exclusive lodges where $1,000 per night rates are the norm, even though I’ve never stayed at any of them! 

So, to help you navigate the difficulty of finding good value when staying in this gorgeous part of Uganda, I introduce you to five budget accommodation options in Bwindi.

I’ve stayed at four of them, but I’ve spent time at all of them, so I hope you find this insight helpful as you look to book affordable accommodation in Bwindi this year.

Option #1: Bwindi Guest House

Photo Credit: Bwindi Community Hospital

Prices from $50 per night.

Pros

  • Incredible value and extremely comfortable – the best value option in Bwindi by far. 
  • Chance to meet other tourists, volunteers, and medical staff associated with Bwindi Hospital. 
  • Great food and delicious coffee served up in the Banda Cafe. 
  • No issue with hot water or electricity – the guest house is linked to the hospital’s system and is on 24/7.

Cons

  • The fact that it’s located up the steps from the hospital might put some people off, but you don’t have to visit the hospital if you don’t want to.

Overview

In my humble opinion, Bwindi Community Guest House is the best value location in Buhoma, Bwindi, by a long shot. The guest house has tastefully decorated en-suite rooms with hot water and electricity, two aspects that are not guaranteed at this price point when it comes to accommodation in Uganda! 

I stayed here for a couple of months during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I got to know the staff extremely well – many of whom I now call good friends. 

Still, I can’t recommend this guest house enough, particularly when you consider the price point of the other accommodation in and around Bwindi. As the name suggests, there’s a community feel to the Guest House, with travelers from different parts of the world, as well as Ugandan volunteers and staff present in the communal dining area at most times during the day.

The guest house is actually owned by the adjacent hospital, and many of the guests are medical volunteers and staff, some from Uganda and others from the US and Europe. 

The team at the guest house can arrange various activities in and around the park, including a nature walk or gorilla trekking, depending on your budget. 

Ultimately, if you’re looking for budget accommodation in Bwindi in 2023, it simply doesn’t get better than Bwindi Community Guest House. 

Option #2: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Photo Credit: Buhoma Community Rest Camp.

Prices from $115 per night.

Pros

  • Great location immediately next to the park entrance. This makes it ideal for people heading on early morning gorilla treks. 
  • Compared to the lodges in the immediate vicinity of Buhoma Community Rest Camp, the price of $115 per night is extremely reasonable. 
  • I found the staff to be friendly, courteous, and helpful, as is the case with most Ugandan lodges.

Cons

  • The accommodation at Buhoma Community Rest Camp is a no-frills option, ideal for people on a budget, and the lodgings are slightly tired.

Overview

This community-run camp is ideally located right next to the entrance of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, making it the best option on this list as far as location is concerned.

Many of its immediate competitors are five or even ten times more expensive per night, so this really is a fantastically affordable option for people who don’t want to spend hundreds (if not thousands) of bucks for a night next to the gorillas. 

While the camp could perhaps do with a little refresh, there’s still a lot to like about it. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, the food is great, and there’s an incredible view from the dining hall. 

Overall, this is one of the longest-standing accommodations in Bwindi and is a great option for travelers on a relatively tight budget.

Option #3: Crested Crane Hotel, Bwindi

Photo Credit: Crested Crane Hotel Bwindi.

Prices from $120 per night.

Pros

  • Perched atop a hill, the view from the Crested Crane Hotel is unrivaled. 
  • The rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated, making for a peaceful and tranquil stay in the Ugandan countryside. 
  • The food at the Crested Crane Hotel is delicious and one of the standout features of this accommodation!
  • As the name suggests, this is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous crested crane – Uganda’s national bird that calls the hotel grounds home.

Cons

  • The Crested Crane Hotel is not actually in Bwindi; it’s on the road to the national park and is approximately 15-20mins from the park entrance.

Overview

Given the exorbitant cost of much of the accommodation in Buhoma, the fact that the Crested Crane Hotel is approximately 20mins away from the main entrance to the park works in our favor as visitors! 

It’s priced at a very reasonable $100 per night, which is great value given the comfort of the rooms and the friendliness of the staff. 

The food served in the restaurant is simply delicious, and the views across the surrounding countryside are exquisite, even if you can’t see the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from this hilltop location.

I’ve only stayed here once for a couple of nights, but I really enjoyed my time here, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other travelers looking for a good value place to stay in close proximity to Bwindi.

Option #4: Bwindi Cultural Centre, Kishenyi

Photo Credit: Bwindi Cultural Centre, Kishenyi.

Prices from $40 per night.

Pros

  • Excellent value accommodation set amidst peaceful gardens. 
  • Friendly staff who are willing to go the extra mile to accommodate visitors and inform you about the local area. 
  • You can arrange local village walks, which provide you with an insight into life in this rural part of southwestern Uganda. 
  • The fact that you’re not in Bwindi makes everything here cheaper, including accommodation, food, and drinks!

Cons

  • Like the Crested Crane Hotel, the Bwindi Cultural Centre is not actually in Bwindi. In fact, it’s in Kishenyi, which is a 45 minute drive from the park entrance.

Overview

I’ve stayed at Bwindi Cultural Centre on numerous occasions, and my longest stay was for two months. As such, I can say with confidence that it’s one of my favorite places to stay in the area, even though it’s not particularly close to Bwindi and is a good 45-minute drive from the park entrance. 

But on the flip side, it’s only 30 minutes away from Queen Elizabeth National Park, so it’s a great place to stay if you want a budget-friendly option that’s practically equidistant between the two parks and doesn’t cost a fortune. 

The rooms at the Bwindi Cultural Centre are relatively simple, but they have everything you need – including hot water!

You can enjoy your evening meal in the on-site restaurant that has been purpose-built before enjoying a couple of beers under the stars. The lack of light pollution offers an incredible look up into the night sky and is one of the best things about staying here.

Option #5: Ride For A Woman Guesthouse, Bwindi

Photo Credit: Ride For a Woman, Uganda.

Prices from $120 per night.

Pros

  • The accommodation at Ride 4 a Woman is new and super comfortable. 
  • Ride 4 a Woman is located at the end of the trading center in Buhoma, a 5-minute drive to the park entrance, making it ideal for gorilla tracking. 
  • Ride 4 a Woman is a social enterprise, and there’s a great craft store (albeit a tad expensive) in which you can buy locally created products for friends and family back home. 
  • The restaurant rustles up delicious Ugandan cuisine.

Cons

  • You need to contact Ride 4 a Woman directly to book, and they don’t publish their rates directly, meaning they’re likely to fluctuate considerably. The $120 listed here is based on a conversation with a friend who recently stayed there.

Overview

Ride 4 a Woman has attracted tourists, volunteers, and donors for several years now and is a popular hub of activity in Buhoma. Its strategic location means that it’s difficult to miss, which is why so many people end up at least visiting Ride 4 a Woman, even if they don’t stay there.

I visited a couple of months ago for dinner with friends and found that the recent work they’ve done has really paid dividends – this is a cool and trendy place to be and offers good value in and around Bwindi. 

You can also get chatting with the Ride 4 a Woman team to find out more about their projects and how they support local people in different ways.

Recap: Budget accommodation in Bwindi

The reality is that budget accommodation in Bwindi is hard to come by. But as introduced in this article, it does exist if you do a little bit of research and look past the super expensive lodges that surround the national park entrance.

If you have any more questions about affordable accommodation in Bwindi or need help booking somewhere to stay for your upcoming gorilla trip, let me know in the comments below, and I’d be happy to help!

Planning a trip to Bwindi in the near future? Read our complete guide to gorilla trekking to prepare for the ultimate wildlife experience!

East Africa Birdwatching for Beginners Checklist

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Welcome to my birdwatching for beginners guide!

Birdwatching is one of the most accessible hobbies in the world, and the stark truth is this: you don’t need anything to go birdwatching. 

There, I’ve said it. 

You can simply walk outside and look above you before waiting to see what birds make their way into your immediate surroundings. This is the reason why I enjoy bird watching so much, as you can just pop outside for five minutes to see what’s around. 

Still, there are certain items that make birdwatching that little bit easier, particularly if you’re heading out into woodland for an actual bird-watching trip, or planning to go bird-watching on an upcoming safari in Africa.

But before diving in and buying all the latest and most expensive gear, the reality is you probably have most – if not all – of the items you could possibly need to go bird-watching already. 

Therefore, I’ve put together this super helpful checklist that includes everything I think you need to go bird-watching as a beginner. I’ve also included some tips on what you don’t need, regardless of what you might have heard from an experienced birder. 

Ready to dive into our list? Let’s go.

Birdwatching for beginners: What do you need?

Instead of telling you what you need to take birding, I’ve decided to list seven things that I think you might find helpful as a beginner bird watcher. You can agree or disagree with me; it’s entirely up to you!

Birdwatching for beginners: 7 helpful items

So, here’s my suggested checklist, followed by a closer look at why I think you can utilize these items during your upcoming birding trip to East Africa.

An open mind

Okay, so the first thing isn’t actually a “thing,” but it’s perhaps the most important point on this entire list. When you’ve decided to go bird-watching, you need to adopt an open mindset and manage your expectations. 

What I mean by this is that birds come and go as they please, and you’re not guaranteed to see one species over another. 

If you leave home expecting and hoping more than anything to see an elusive shoebill, for instance, on your first-ever trip, you might end up disappointed. 

While it’s nice to think of birds that you would like to see, you shouldn’t set any expectations of what you will see on your upcoming trip.

Instead, regard the trip as an opportunity to be present in the great outdoors, and see what you discover. 

This way, you won’t be bitterly disappointed if you don’t spot a rare bird that you had very little chance of seeing in the first place.

Time and patience

Birdwatching in Uganda - a long-crested eagle
There’s something about eagles! I snapped this moody looking long-crested eagle in my garden in Uganda recently. One of the many perks of living in this beautiful part of the world!

Adding to my previous point, you need to be patient when you’re out birding. Birds don’t adhere to the same strict patterns that we do, and you will find that different birds come and go throughout the day. 

While I’m not saying that you need to go and sit in the bush all day just to see something, you equally can’t expect to rock up and see all the native species in a specific area in a matter of minutes. 

So many of us (myself included!) are guilty of wanting things to happen right away. With birding, you need to be patient as you observe the natural world around you.

I actually think bird watching is an excellent mindfulness activity, and it encourages people to focus their attention on the present moment. 

As such, it can be a great way to de-stress and unwind, so long as you don’t get agitated about not seeing a specific bird species!

The right clothing

Okay, so now it’s time to look at the practical items on our checklist. When you go birding, you need to dress appropriately. Here are my suggestions: 

  • Long-sleeved shirts to keep the insects and sun at bay. 
  • Lightweight pants with pockets – cargo pants or something similar are ideal. 
  • Long socks and comfortable footwear. What you wear on your feet depends on where you’re going, but if you’re planning to follow trails, hiking boots are your best bet. 
  • A hat and sunglasses if you’re birdwatching in the summer. 
  • Choose dull colors that help you blend into your natural surroundings. Birds don’t like white and bright colors, so bear this in mind when picking your outfit.

In addition to these items, you should dress for the weather. Obviously, if you’re birding in East Africa during the rainy season, take some waterproof clothing with you. 

But as you can see from the list, you don’t need to wear anything fancy to go birding. Just wear some comfortable clothes that you already have in your closet and get out there!

Binoculars

Binoculars aren’t essential for bird watching, but they do help considerably. The best thing about birding binoculars is that they help you keep your distance from birds. 

Most birds are scared of humans, so if you get too close in an attempt to spot a certain species, you might scare them away before you’ve been able to take a good look.

However, investing in a pair of binoculars is a decent way to improve your overall bird-watching experience. 

There’s absolutely no reason to splash the cash on a pair of binoculars if you don’t want to. In fact, you can grab a great pair of binoculars for birding on Amazon for less than £30, which will serve you well as you head out into the woods.

Top tip: When you’re looking for birding binoculars, pay attention to the power magnification and lens width. For instance, a pair might be expressed as 12×42, which means it has 12x power magnification and 42mm lenses. This would be ideal for getting you started.

A camera

As is the case with binoculars, you don’t need a camera to go bird watching. If you want to get out into nature and see what’s around you, there’s absolutely no need to take pictures at the same time, if you don’t want to. 

Personally, I love taking pictures of birds, so I take my camera with me when I go birding, but that’s just my preference. I have a Sony bridge camera with 30x optical zoom. 

Is it the best camera in the world? No. 

Does it enable me to take awesome pictures of birds that I can share with my family and friends? Yes.

As I’ve got more into bird watching, I have considered investing in a new camera, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet. 

My advice here is that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on an impeccable wildlife camera if you don’t want to. 

A digital camera with zoom capabilities is more than sufficient for anyone with interest in watching and taking pictures of birds. If you have one already, great. But if not, you can hop onto Amazon and pick up a great camera for a few hundred dollars.

One thing I would say is that you probably need a camera instead of relying on your smartphone. The reality is that unless a bird is super close to you, a smartphone camera won’t be able to do the shot justice.

Notebook/Journal

I find it helpful to carry a small journal with me when I go bird watching. That way, I can make notes about the birds that I sight. 

For instance, I have a little journal that I keep on my desk that includes the birds that I see in and around my garden. In Uganda, so many birds I’m unfamiliar with come and go, so my notebook always comes in handy.

I’ve got to know all of the species pretty well that I share a home with, but I’m always thrilled when I see a new bird enter the fray! 

Having my journal on hand is my way of learning (and remembering!) the species native to my area as I check through my field guide to help me. What is a field guide, I hear you ask? More on that below.

Field guide

My birdwatching Bibles! I take these books everywhere with me when heading on safari or holiday in Uganda.

A field guide is basically a book that consists of pictures and descriptions of the bird species that are native to a certain area. 

As a beginner birder, a field guide will help you enormously, as it will provide you with tips on how to identify a species while serving as a pictorial reference guide when you’re completely unsure of what you’ve just seen! 

Of course, you can use the internet to help you in this day and age, but I love nothing more than flicking through a field guide to identify a species that I’ve just spotted. 

I use two field guides right now to help me. The first is a pocket guide containing the Birds of East Africa, and the second is a charming coffee-table book containing all the birds of Uganda specifically.

I use the two in tandem, but I like to carry the pocket guide around with me when I’m on the road. I’m headed to Kenya next month, and I will no doubt have my pocket field guide in my backpack.

Birdwatching for beginners: What you don’t need

As you can see from my checklist, the truth is that you don’t need a great deal of things to go bird-watching. Therefore, it’s a really easy hobby to get into. 

Before bringing this article to a close, I just want to touch on a few things that I don’t think you need to go birding. In other words, I don’t want them to serve as barriers to entry!

The best and most expensive gear

As is the case when you’re starting any hobby, a quick Google search will reveal a whole host of items that might at first seem essential to your life as a bird watcher. 

And before you know it, you’ve spent thousands of dollars on binoculars, a camera, and a range of other high-tech equipment that you don’t actually need. 

While everyone is entitled to spend whatever they like on gear, I just want to reemphasize the fact that you don’t need the best and most expensive equipment to enjoy bird watching. 

You can always upgrade your equipment as you get more into bird watching if you like, so don’t feel as if you need to spend the big bucks when you’re just getting started.

Special clothing

Living in Uganda, I marvel at the fact that so many tourists dress in the same way to come on safari! Be it a wildlife trip or a birding experience; people seem to wear super expensive clothes that they’ve obviously ordered specifically for their safari. 

But to go birding, you don’t need to wear anything special. You certainly don’t need to order expensive pants or shirts to try and look a certain way.

Just make sure your clothing doesn’t cause you to stand out when you go birding, as bright colors are likely to scare away the birds. 

My advice would be to wear clothes that you already have, instead of investing hundreds of bucks in the latest brands of clothing.

Knowledge of birds

Finally, I want to reassure you that you don’t need to know a single thing about birds before heading out on your first bird-watching trip. 

The best way to learn about something is to go ahead and find out for yourself. Even if you can’t identify one single species during your first outing, it doesn’t matter. 

I invite you to head out into the natural world and look around you. You can then use a field guide (or your smartphone) to try and discover what the bird is that you’ve just spotted. 

And that, in a nutshell, is my favorite thing about birding! You’ll be an expert in no time at all.

Recap: Birdwatching for beginners in East Africa

So, to recap, here are seven things that can help you when you’re just starting out as a bird watcher and are about to undertake a trip in East Africa: 

  • An open mindset 
  • Time and patience 
  • The right clothing 
  • Binoculars 
  • A camera 
  • Notebook/journal 
  • Field guide

If you have any other tips on items that will help beginner birders, please feel free to drop your suggestions in the comment section below! 

Otherwise, happy birding, and I hope you’ve found my birdwatching for beginners guide helpful!

If you’re planning to take your kids’ birdwatching in East Africa, this guide to birding with children will help you prepare for the adventure! You might also find this informative guide to what not to wear birding helpful, ahead of your first birdwatching trip in East Africa!

Driving in Uganda as a Tourist (What to Know!)

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If you’re in the process of preparing for your vacation in Uganda, you might be wondering if driving in Uganda is safe for tourists. 

After all, it’s a perfectly legitimate concern to have, given that roads in Uganda have a pretty bad reputation, whether or not it’s justified. 

To answer this question, I introduce some very basic statistics about the safety of driving on Ugandan roads, but I also explain what driving is like based on my own experiences. 

I first drove in Uganda in 2015, and as I now live here, I have my own car and regularly drive from point A to B. The purpose of this article is to prepare you for driving in Uganda, and to show that, provided that you’re responsible and sensible, driving in Uganda as a tourist can be safe.

Is driving in Uganda safe for tourists?

If you plan on driving in Uganda, a 4WD is essential. My Land Cruiser does the business, particularly in and around Bwindi where roads are poor!

Depending on how you look at it, driving in Uganda can be safe for tourists. For instance, I have driven in Uganda since around 2015, and I now have my own car that I use to drive across the country (often from Bwindi to Kampala – a journey that takes 8-10 hours). 

As such, I can offer an anecdotal look into whether driving in Uganda is safe for tourists, which I will do shortly. But first, I want to introduce you to some statistics. 

Statistics from 2016 show that approximately 25,700 crashes occurred on Ugandan roads in that year, with more than 7,500 reported fatalities. What’s more, research shows that the road traffic death rate in Uganda is equal to 29 deaths per 100,000 population, which is higher than the global average of 18 per 100,000.

Therefore, when compared to roads in other parts of the world, it’s fair to say that driving in Uganda is more dangerous. So, why is this the case? From my experiences of driving in Uganda, here are some things you ought to know before getting behind the wheel:

Car maintenance issues

In Uganda, cars are often poorly maintained. This is because there aren’t the same required standards for car maintenance in the country as there are in other parts of the world (the British MOT, for instance). 

As a result, some drivers get behind the wheel in vehicles that have old, faulty parts that can cause serious issues when driving on the roads. If you’re hiring a car in Uganda, it’s so important to check its mechanical condition before setting out. 

Taking it for a spin around Entebbe is a good idea before heading up-country, so you can get a feel for how well the vehicle is maintained.

Road issues

The main tarmac roads that run throughout Uganda are generally in good condition. However, potholes do exist, and you need to be mindful of the speed bumps that appear as if from nowhere when you enter towns and pass through trading centers. 

The problem with Uganda roads becomes more pronounced when you travel to rural areas, and tarmac roads give way to murram. Murram roads change in condition with the season, and many become impassable during the rains. 

Therefore, when driving outside of urban areas in Uganda, you need to take things slowly, for more reasons than one, as I explain below.

Animals on the road

Something that many tourists will be unfamiliar with is the presence of animals on the road. In Uganda, it’s perfectly normal for cows, goats, chickens, ducks, and other farm yard animals to amble across the road, no matter where in the country you find yourself.

Of course, in national parks, you also need to be mindful of wild animals, as they can appear out of the bush with practically no warning before entering the road. 

On several occasions driving from Kasese to Kihihi through Queen Elizabeth, I’ve had to pull over to one side to allow elephants to pass before proceeding with my journey! 

Again, the presence of animals on the road is only a hazard if you drive too quickly. Be mindful that animals and pedestrians might appear out of nowhere on the road, and you can at least prepare for their appearance when you head up-country!

Erratic driving

I don’t think it’s fair to single Ugandans out over erratic driving, as I’ve seen my fair share of it in the UK and other parts of Europe. However, one thing that Ugandans seem to do frequently is overtake other vehicles when they absolutely shouldn’t! 

Be it on hairpin bends or when there’s an oncoming car in close proximity, some Ugandan drivers are incredibly impatient and will simply pull out and expect you (the oncoming car) to move out of their way. 

There’s no room for stubbornness here – if someone does this to you, just move to one side, as they’re not likely to back down! 

Be especially careful with taxi and bus drivers, as they tend to be the worst culprits when it comes to overtaking when it’s not safe to do so.

Driving in the dark

It’s not a good idea to drive in Uganda after dark for several reasons, so make sure you plan your journey so that you reach your destination before 7 pm. From my experience, the most dangerous thing about driving in the dark is the way that Ugandan drivers use their lights. 

Some vehicles don’t switch them on at all (honestly!), which is common practice in urban areas, for reasons I’m yet to understand fully.

Other drivers – and this is more common – leave their full beams on for the entire time, essentially blinding you when they’re hurtling toward you on the highway.

Neither of these situations is ideal, so if you’re planning to drive in Uganda as a tourist, make sure you do so during the hours of daylight to make your life easier (7 am – 7 pm).

Variable speed limits

This isn’t unique to Ugandan roads, but you should be mindful that the speed limit changes quite often on the highway. For instance, the maximum speed you can drive is 100 kph, while some areas of the highway restrict you to 80 kph. 

When you’re passing through built-up areas like trading centers, you should reduce your speed to 50 kph. While Ugandan roads don’t have speed cameras, there are police on the road at various junctures with speed guns, as explained below.

What about police on the road?

Photo credit: Max Fleischman

Another thing that might seem a little strange to European and North American drivers is that Uganda traffic police are positioned on the road at various intervals throughout the country. 

They put up checkpoints and block one-half of the road, meaning that all drivers have to slow down to pass through. In most instances, provided that your car is in good condition and you haven’t been speeding, you can pass through without issue. 

However, sometimes, the police will wave at you to ask you to pull over. In practically all of my experiences on Ugandan roads when I have been stopped by the police, I’ve had zero issues.

The officer asks to see a permit and checks that the vehicle is insured before sending you on your way. As long as you have a valid permit and are polite in your interactions, you shouldn’t have any problems. 

If you’ve been speeding or contravening traffic laws, you will be issued a ticket, which you are required to pay at a local bank.

What about driving in national parks?

Most tourists who hire a vehicle in Uganda tend to do so in order to go on self-drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth NP, Murchison Falls NP, Lake Mburo NP (link), or Kidepo NP.

Looking for information on self-drive safaris in Uganda? Learn what you need to know about organising a self-drive safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park in this article.

Self-drive safaris are incredibly fun and liberating, and it’s an awesome way to see the wildlife that Uganda is famed for. But when you’re driving in a national park, you need to go slowly, as the roads are in poor condition and animals can appear out of nowhere. 

You should also fill up on supplies and fuel, as your options are limited when you arrive at the entrance of all national parks in Uganda. 

If you’re planning to do a self-drive safari, it’s imperative that you hire a 4WD. Heading into a national park without the ability to shift the car into 4WD will almost certainly result in you getting stuck!

What documents do you need to drive in Uganda as a tourist?

Of course, you will need a full driver’s license to drive in Uganda. I have an International Driving Permit, which is a good investment if you’re planning to drive here, but you can also use your permit from your home country if you’re only in Uganda for a short period of time. 

As foreign nationals may differ in terms of required documentation, you should check with your government’s travel advice before arriving in Uganda, and you can always reach out to a hire company if you’re not sure. 

As well as a permit, the vehicle that you’re driving must be insured, and the certificate must be affixed to the front windshield for verification by the police.

The verdict: Is driving in Uganda safe for tourists?

As is the case with driving in all countries, you need to be super careful when driving as a tourist in Uganda. You should stick to the speed limit at all times and make sure your vehicle is in sound mechanical condition. 

You also need to be mindful of the changing road conditions throughout the different seasons, as this can make a big difference to the safety of a particular road. 

But provided that you’re sensible, hiring a car and driving around Uganda as a tourist can be a memorable experience for all the right reasons. 
Having used them several times before, I highly recommend Road Trip Africa if you’re looking to hire a 4WD for your upcoming African adventure.

Traveling from Entebbe Airport to Your Hotel (Options!)

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Wondering about traveling from Entebbe Airport to your hotel? Read on!

Arriving in a new country for the first time can be daunting, particularly when you’re traveling independently. One of the biggest problems that all tourists face in a new destination is how to get from the airport to their hotel or guesthouse. 

Although Entebbe International Airport is by no means big, it does welcome a fair amount of international flights, mainly through Ethiopia, UAE, Qatar, and Amsterdam. Also, most of the international flights that arrive in Entebbe do so in the early morning (2 am or 3 am), for instance. 

So, if you’re planning to arrive at Entebbe airport for the first time in the near future, you’ve come to the right place. Having been going in and out of Entebbe Airport for the best part of a decade, I want to articulate your transfer choices when you arrive in Entebbe for the first time.

Hopefully, this advice will help you navigate a potentially tricky start to your vacation in Uganda and help you get your trip off to a dream start!

Traveling from Entebbe Airport to your hotel: 2 Options

When you arrive in Uganda on a flight, there are two main ways of traveling from Entebbe Airport to your hotel – hotel transfer and private taxi. I introduce both of these options in detail below.

Option #1: Hotel transfer

Assuming that you have arranged your trip to Uganda independently, you don’t necessarily have the luxury of arranging for a safari tour company to pick you up at the airport in the middle of the night. 

But the second best option is to arrange a hotel transfer. I’ve lost count of how many hotels and guesthouses I’ve stayed at in Entebbe (I like to mix things up and stay in different places every time), but all of them have provided a reliable and fairly priced transfer to and from the airport on my behalf. 

Presently, the going rate for a transfer from practically every hotel to the airport (and vice versa) is $11.00, which equates to around 40,000UGX.

No matter what time of the day or night you arrive at Entebbe airport, send an email in advance to your guesthouse arranging an airport pickup. They will send a driver with a sign with your name on it, and they will be waiting outside the terminal building for you. 

In most instances, you will then pay the hotel for the transfer, but some do require you to pay the driver, so it’s best to confirm this via email in advance. 

This is, without a doubt, a convenient and reliable option, and it ensures you don’t need to negotiate with taxi drivers after a seriously long flight! Which brings me nicely to option number 2…

Option #2: Private taxi

Hopping in a private taxi is one of the best ways to travel from Entebbe Airport to your hotel. Photo credit: Waldemar Brandt.

If you haven’t been able (or willing) to negotiate a transfer with your guesthouse or hotel in advance, you will need to arrange a lift to your accommodation with a private taxi. 

There are dozens of taxi drivers outside the main terminal at Entebbe Airport, many of whom will try and engage you as soon as you leave the building. 

While they’re not as aggressive or as in your face as taxi drivers are at some airports, you need to proceed with caution! 

When I arrived at Entebbe Airport on a flight from Nairobi last month, I forgot to pre-arrange a transfer with my hotel. I wasn’t particularly bothered, as I knew I could grab a ride from one of the taxi drivers out front.

After collecting my bag, I asked the first taxi driver I saw how much for a ride to one of the guesthouses in town. He quoted 80,000UGX ($22), which was twice the price I had paid to get there before my flight out!

I laughed, exchanged a few greetings in the local language, and he immediately accepted my offer of 40,000UGX when he realized that this wasn’t my first time taking a taxi from the airport to the town center. 

I can’t say for sure whether this guy was just trying it on or whether it is standard practice for taxi drivers at the airport to do this. Either way, you need to be prepared to negotiate if you’re planning to hop in a cab at the airport! 

Know that the standard fare to a hotel or guesthouse in Entebbe town should be 40,000UGX, but if you end up paying slightly more, it’s not the end of the world.

Wait – are there no other options for traveling from Entebbe Airport to your hotel?!

That’s pretty much it as far as your transfer options are concerned, I’m afraid! There is no train or metro service that can take you from Entebbe airport to the town center, and there isn’t any form of public transport that leaves directly from the airport to take you to your guesthouse. 

But given that you can get a ride into town for $11, it’s not going to break the bank, and you don’t really need to rely on public transport for this short stretch of your journey.

Now, if you’re transiting from Entebbe town to Kampala, Uganda’s capital, there are a few more options to consider, as I explain below.

What about traveling from Entebbe Airport to Kampala?

Again, you can arrange a transfer from Entebbe to your accommodation in Kampala through your hotel directly. Although it’s further away, every Kampala hotel that I’ve stayed in has been willing to arrange a transfer to the airport. 

In terms of price, Kampala is a big place and the fare quoted depends on where you’re going. However, you can reasonably expect to pay anywhere between 95,000 and 150,000 UGX ($25 – $40) for a private transfer to your Kampala hotel.

It’s much better to arrange this transfer in advance, but you can hop in a cap when you arrive in Entebbe. Just be mindful of some drivers’ creative approaches to pricing, as explained above! 

For those of you on a budget, you can hop in a shared taxi from Entebbe town to Kampala city. These shared taxis are essentially minivans that run throughout the day and until late at night, leaving from just across from the Victoria Mall in Entebbe. 

The price for a seat in a shared taxi is between 5,000 – 15,000UGX ($1.50 – $4), but again, it depends on where in Kampala you’re going. Bear in mind that if you have lots of luggage, it will be strapped to the top of the taxi!

Also, these shared taxis aren’t super comfortable, and they take quite a while, as they frequently stop to pick up and let off passengers. Also, if you don’t know exactly where you’re going in Kampala, it can be difficult to know when you should disembark. 

Another option is to take a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) from Entebbe to Kampala, which is likely to cost slightly less than a private taxi, but considerably more than a shared taxi. The issue with boda-bodas is that their pricing depends on various factors (time of day and weather, for instance), so the price you pay will depend on your negotiating skills.

Equally, a boda boda isn’t the safest option to travel between Entebbe and Kampala, particularly if it’s your first time in Uganda. 

Therefore, if you’re traveling from Entebbe to Kampala, your best bet is to book a private transfer with your hotel or to hop into an airport taxi with the above guide price in mind. 

You can also check out my guide to traveling from Entebbe to Kampala for more information about traveling from the Airport to the capital city.

Recap: Traveling from Entebbe Airport to your hotel

Traveling from Entebbe International Airport to your hotel or guesthouse in town is incredibly simple. The best way to go about it is to book a private transfer in advance with your hotel, but you can also jump in a cab stationed at the arrivals terminal. 

Provided that you know the going rate of taxi fares in Uganda – as introduced above – and are willing to negotiate with your driver, you shouldn’t encounter any issues when you arrive in the Pearl of Africa for the very first time.

Is White Water Rafting in Uganda Any Good? (Yes – Here’s Why!)

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While most people plan trips to Uganda for the incredible wildlife experiences on offer throughout the country, there’s another activity that the Pearl of Africa is renowned for – white water rafting. 

But is white water rafting in Uganda any good? Having been on two separate white water rafting trips in Jinja, I want to explain why I think it’s an absolute must for any thrill seekers visiting Uganda. 

But first, let’s look at some basic facts relating to white water rafting in Uganda, so you can get a good idea of what to expect from this incredible experience.

White water rafting in Uganda: The facts

  • The hub of white water rafting in Uganda is the town of Jinja, located approximately 80km east of Kampala. 
  • The “rapids” in Uganda run for a stretch of around 20km, incorporating ten individual rapids spanning from grades 2-5. 
  • You can opt for grade 3 or grade 5 rafting, depending on your preferences and desired thrill level! Rapids are universally graded from 1-6, 1 being mellow and 6 being unpassable in a raft.
  • White water rafting in Uganda starts at $140 per person, and several companies offer tours from Jinja. 
  • As well as white water rafting, you can also complete a bungee jump at the source of the River Nile.

Is white water rafting in Uganda worth it?

I would rank white water rafting as one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done! I first experienced white water rafting in Uganda in 2012 and then did it again in 2016.

I have also been white water rafting on the Zambezi River in Zambia, which was also incredible! 

So, in my humble opinion, white water rafting in Uganda is 100% worth it. If you’re not convinced, here are seven reasons why I think you should incorporate white water rafting in your upcoming trip to the Pearl of Africa.

Reason #1: It takes place at the source of the Nile

The Nile is the longest river in the world, running from its source in East Africa all the way to the Mediterranean Sea north of Egypt. The Nile runs through (or along the border of) ten African countries, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting rivers in the world. 

The source of the River Nile has been disputed for centuries, with British explorer John Hanning Speke often credited with being the first western explorer to attribute the source of the Nile to Lake Victoria in Uganda.

Today, most people agree that the source of the Nile can be traced to the Ugandan town of Jinja, which is a short journey east of the country’s capital city, Kampala. 

And that brings me to the topic of this article – white water rafting on the Nile! All of the rafting companies that operate in Uganda are based out of Jinja, the source of the river Nile, offering you the perfect opportunity to visit this incredible natural landmark. 

Jinja is an awesome place to relax, and enjoying a Nile Special beer while watching the sunset over the source of the River Nile is a pretty special experience. But the chilled vibes in Jinja don’t adequately prepare you for the carnage out on the river, as I touch on below.

Reason #2: Grade 5 rapids!

When I first went white water rafting in Uganda in 2012, I was ill-prepared for what lay in wait. Uganda is home to Grade 5 rapids, which are the biggest rapids that you can pass through on a raft.

I was pleased to learn that rapids are rated via a relatively simple grading system, and a destination with grade 5 rapids is highly sought after among thrill seekers. 

The sheer power of the rapids that you ride from the source of the Nile is pretty hard to describe in words, particularly if you’ve never gone rafting before.

The best analogy I can offer is that when the boat capsized and I was flung into the water, it felt like what I imagine being inside a washing machine must be like!

While thrilling, I was taken aback by just how violent the water on the Nile is and was extremely grateful to the chap who helped me back onto the boat a few hundred yards down the river. 

So, if you’re seeking a thrilling adventure in East Africa, it’s hard to beat the thrill offered by grade-five white water rafting at the source of the Nile!

Reason #3: The activity is offered by reputable tour companies

White water rafting on the Nile
If you’re planning to go white water rafting on the Nile, I’d highly recommend Adrift, a company I have used twice. Photo credit: Adrift.

As is the case with any extreme adventure, you want to make sure that the guys that are in charge of your white water rafting experience know what they’re doing and follow all the relevant safety protocols. 

After all, it’s a dangerous enough activity without having to deal with cowboys who are looking to make a quick buck while neglecting your safety.

The good news for thrill seekers in Uganda is that there are several reputable companies offering white water rafting experiences in Uganda. Each time I’ve gone rafting on the Nile, I have booked with Adrift, and I highly recommend their service.

The team at Adrift has more than thirty years of experience rafting on the Nile, and they’re the ideal company to trust as you seek out a whitewater rafting adventure!

Reason #4: You can spot lots of wildlife

When you’re not trying desperately to keep your head above the water, sitting in a raft and sailing down the River Nile is a wonderful way to pass the time. There are actually some big sections of water between the rapids, meaning that there’s lots of opportunity to see the world around you. 

From your boat, you can spot an abundance of wildlife as you make your way down the river. I remember spotting a sunbathing monitor lizard on the river’s bank, and after being reassured that it wasn’t, in fact, a crocodile, my panic attack subsided!

There are so many birds of prey in and around the river, too, with the majestic fish eagle being the star attraction. You will see them perched in pairs looking for the perfect opportunity to swoop down and secure lunch or dinner for themselves! 

So, as is the case when you visit most places in Uganda, you can see an abundance of birdlife and wildlife along the Nile, adding another dimension to the white water rafting experience – perfect for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts!

Reason #5: There are great places to stay close by

Jinja is a unique town with a large expatriate community. There are lots of nice places to eat and drink, and the people that live and work in Jinja are friendly and outgoing. 

What’s more, there are lots of hotels, guesthouses, and AirBnB options in and around town, meaning that you can easily secure a room for the night before heading into town to experience Jinja’s renowned nightlife.

If you’re like me and you prefer something a little more chilled, you can find some off-the-beaten-track properties in and around Jinja, offering great accommodation options in more relaxed environments. 

If you’re looking for a recommendation, I stayed at the Adrift Lodge during my most recent visit to Jinja, and I would undoubtedly stay there again.

Reason #6: Bungeeeeee!

Bungee jump on the Nile
This is me, enjoying a splash while taking on the bungee jump at the source of the Nile!

If white water rafting isn’t thrilling enough for you, there’s a bungee jump at Jinja for you to try! During my first trip to Uganda in 2012, I did the bungee jump at Jinja and loved every minute of it! 

Like the white water rafting at Jinja, the bungee jump is safe and operated to the highest standards, ensuring strict safety measures are adhered to at all times. 

What’s unique about the Nile High bungee experience in Jinja is that you jump from the platform over the river itself – a scintillating experience in anyone’s book!

If you’re keen to crank things up a notch during your visit to Jinja, you can find out more about the Nile High Bungee here.

Reason #7: It’s the perfect way to round off (or begin) your trip!

When people arrive in Uganda for relatively short trips, it’s tempting to pack so much into a short space of time, given how much there is to see and do in the country. 

The safaris, treks, and various other experiences can lead to burnout and a less-than-relaxing trip back home. 

But heading to Jinja and kicking back with a few beers while overlooking the great River Nile is an awesome way to bring your trip to a close.

Of course, hopping in a boat and going white water rafting cranks up the adrenaline a few notches, but you can also head out for a relaxing boat trip on different sections of the river if you prefer. 

Equally, if you want to kick-start your trip to Uganda with a bang, white water rafting could be the perfect way to go about it!

How to book white water rafting in Uganda?

There are several companies that offer white water rafting in Uganda. But based on my personal experience (and going by independent reviews online), I would highly recommend Adrift for booking your white water rafting experience. 

As mentioned, they have 30+ years of experience rafting on the Nile and follow strict safety protocols to ensure that you’re rafting experience in Uganda is memorable for all the right reasons. 

You can read independent reviews of Adrift here, and if you’re keen to book a white water rafting trip, you can do so directly on their website.

How much is white water rafting in Uganda?

The cost of white water rafting in Uganda depends on various factors, but for a full-day white water rafting package from Jinja, you can expect to pay around $140.00 per person.

Recap: Is white water rafting worth it in Jinja?

Having been white water rafting in Uganda on two separate occasions, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s a scintillating experience offered in a stunning part of Uganda, and traveling to Jinja is worth it, even if you don’t plan on rafting down the Nile. 

So, if you’re on the fence about white water rafting in Uganda, my advice is to go for it; you certainly won’t be disappointed by the experience!

A Complete Guide to Gorilla Trekking in East Africa: Three Options! (2023)

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Gorilla trekking in East Africa – the best wildlife experience on the planet? I certainly think so!

If you’ve started researching your gorilla trekking options, you will be aware that three countries in East Africa provide gorilla trekking opportunities: Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo. 

In this article, I introduce you to each of these options, weighing up the pros and cons of each, before providing you with a helpful resource that will give you more information about the destination in question.

I also answer some FAQs relating to gorilla trekking in East Africa to help you make up your mind about whether you should opt for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or DR Congo in 2023 and beyond!

How much is gorilla trekking in East Africa?

When you head into the forest, you do so on the gorillas’ terms! I took this photo in Bwindi National Park, during a trek in 2012.

The price of gorilla trekking in East Africa depends on the country in which you do it. In Rwanda, a permit costs $1,500; in Uganda, the same permit is $700, while a permit to trek gorillas in DR Congo costs $450. 

While the difference between gorilla trekking in each country varies significantly, you’re essentially paying for the same experience: a trek through the wilderness to spend around one hour in the company of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. 

Although it’s expensive, gorilla trekking is by far the best animal experience I have ever had, and I loved every second of my trek back in 2012. I would love to do it again someday soon, but I will need to get better at saving money!

In what remains of this article, I provide you with a complete guide to your East African gorilla trekking options in 2023. I run through the cost of the activity in each of the three countries that offer this unique wildlife adventure and help you decide which is the best option for your budget.  

I begin with the most expensive option – Rwanda – and work through to the cheapest – DR Congo. After reading through each of the options, the choice of which to opt for is very much yours!

Option #1: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

At $1,500, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is twice the price of the same activity in neighboring Uganda and three times the price of the same activity in DR Congo. So, why is it so expensive in Rwanda? 

Well, it’s not an easy question to answer, as there are various factors that contribute to the cost of acquiring a gorilla trekking permit. I would speculate that gorilla trekking is so expensive in Rwanda because it is the country’s focal tourism activity, while Uganda has more to offer the tourists that arrive in the country each year.

What’s more, Rwanda has invested heavily in infrastructural development since the 1994 genocide, and a visit to Rwanda is extremely convenient for tourists, given the small size of the country and the ease of accessibility to its various points of interest. 

I’ve visited Rwanda on three separate occasions, and each time I’ve been struck by how organized the country is. It’s also like a microcosm of East Africa, offering stunning mountain views, lakeside retreats, and unrivaled wildlife opportunities, as evidenced primarily by gorilla trekking in the Park National Des Volcans.

But if you plan to visit Rwanda for your gorilla trekking adventure, you need to be prepared to pay the big bucks, and the fact that the cost of a permit is so much higher in Rwanda than in Uganda and DR Congo will be off-putting for many potential visitors to this part of the world.

Pros of gorilla trekking in Rwanda

  • Rwanda is super organized, with great roads and excellent tourist infrastructure, making traveling in the country largely hassle-free for tourists. 
  • The Park National Des Volcans – the location of gorilla trekking in Rwanda – is nothing short of spectacular, with incredible views and amazing photo opportunities at every turn. 
  • Many flights from Europe fly directly into Kigali, making Rwanda slightly more accessible than Uganda and DR Congo for some tourists.

Cons of gorilla trekking in Rwanda

  • The biggest downside to gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the cost. At $1,500, it is three times the price of the same activity in DR Congo and twice the price of trekking in Uganda. For some tourists, it’s simply too much money to spend.

More information?

If you would like more information about gorilla trekking in Rwanda, head to the dedicated page at Visit Rwanda.

Option #2: Gorilla trekking in Uganda

During my trek in Bwindi, I was amazed at the human likeness of gorillas. I could have spent much more than the allotted hour in their presence.

When I went gorilla trekking in 2012, I did so in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The experience was beyond my wildest expectations, and it was genuinely one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever done in my life. 

Spending an hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is so rewarding, and to see these guys up close and personal is something that will truly stay with me forever.

In all honestly, I didn’t choose Uganda over Rwanda or DR Congo specifically; I simply opted to go gorilla trekking in Uganda because I was in the country for another purpose. 

But when I consider the cost of the activity in Rwanda and the political instability in DR Congo, I believe that gorilla trekking in Uganda is the best option for most tourists.

Uganda is safe for tourists, and Ugandan people are extremely welcoming. In comparison, the roads and infrastructure are behind neighboring Rwanda, but Uganda more than makes up for it with access to so many wildlife opportunities in addition to gorilla trekking, with the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha just over an hour’s drive away from Bwindi National Park.

So, if I had to recommend one option over the other two, I would recommend gorilla trekking in Uganda as your best bet. I’ve listed the pros and cons below in the interest of fairness to the other destinations!

Pros of gorilla trekking in Uganda

  • At $700 for a permit, gorilla trekking in Uganda is half the price of the same activity in neighboring Rwanda. 
  • While gorilla trekking is one of the main tourist activities in Uganda, there’s so much else to see and do in the country at the same time. You can visit Queen Elizabeth NP, Murchison Falls NP, and even Kidepo NP for the ultimate safari experience. 
  • Trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is an experience like no other, and it’s a true wilderness. The moment you finally see the gorillas in their natural habitat is a joy to behold, making the trek through the unforgiving terrain worth every second.

Cons of gorilla trekking in Uganda

  • Bwindi National Park is located in the extreme southwest of Uganda. If you’re traveling directly from Entebbe/Kampala and going by road, it will take you a full day (10+ hours) to reach your destination, with around 3-4 hours of the journey on bumpy murram roads. You can book a domestic flight to Kihihi Airstrip, but internal flights are expensive, and you will then need to arrange a transfer from Kihihi to Bwindi.

More information?

For more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda, visit UWA’s official listing for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Looking for a decent place to stay when you visit Bwindi for your upcoming gorilla trekking experience? Check out our piece introducing five affordable accommodation options in Bwindi.

Option #3: Gorilla trekking in DR Congo

The third and final option for gorilla trekking in East Africa is DR Congo. Disclaimer – I’ve never been to DR Congo, even though I live less than 1km from the border between Congo and Uganda! 

Although gorilla trekking in DR Congo is the cheapest option in East Africa, it is often overlooked by tourists, who favor trips to Rwanda or Uganda. 

The main reason for this is that DR Congo is not particularly safe for tourists, and there has been a lot of civil unrest in recent times, particularly in Eastern Congo, where gorilla trekking is an option.

It’s not my intention to turn this article into a discussion about politics and civil unrest in DR Congo, but you should read your government’s advice carefully before planning a trip to the country, and take out all of the necessary insurance if you do opt to go gorilla trekking there.

To highlight this point, at the time of writing, the UK Government advises against all travel to most of the regions in Eastern DR Congo. Therefore, please check and follow your government’s current advice before planning a trip to this region.

Pros of gorilla trekking in DR Congo

  • At $450, a gorilla trekking permit in DR Congo is the cheapest option in East Africa.
  • There are some fascinating places to visit in DR Congo. For instance, Nyiragongo is an active volcano close to Goma that provides incredible hiking opportunities.

Cons of gorilla trekking in DR Congo

  • At the time of writing, most governments consider travel to Eastern DRC to be unsafe and advise against it. Therefore, you should review all travel advice before planning to travel there. 
  • Although a gorilla trekking permit is comparably cheap in DRC, the lack of tourist infrastructure and the expense of hotels in Eastern DR Congo add to the overall price of your trip.

More information?

You can find out more information about gorilla trekking in DR Congo by visiting the official website of the Virunga National Park.

What are the other costs associated with gorilla trekking in Africa?

I rank my gorilla trekking experience in Uganda as one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done.

Whether you go gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda, or DR Congo, the cost of the permit itself is just one of a number of things you need to think about before checking this incredible wildlife experience off your bucket list. 

Of course, you will need to think about the expense of getting to East Africa in the first place, including things like flights, visas, and inoculations. But when you’re in the region, there are a number of things that you need to prepare for. 

The biggest expense in each of the gorilla trekking regions is the cost of accommodation, which is offered at eye-watering prices.

I live just 45 minutes away from Bwindi National Park, and it blows my mind that many of the lodges that surround the National Park offer rooms for more than $1,000 per night! 

To help you find budget accommodation options in Bwindi, I’ve put together this helpful guide to affordable spots to stay in and around the National Park to alleviate the financial burden of the activity.

As well as accommodation, you need to plan for your transport to the destination. Most tourists arrange for safari companies to take them to the respective national parks in each country, which is the safest and most comfortable way of reaching the gorilla trekking destinations in East Africa. 

I’ve partnered with the good people at AJ Tours and Travel, who offer excellent rates for internal transfers in and around East Africa. They can also help you with affordable lodgings around each national park, saving you from spending the big bucks when it comes to making reservations at the most popular lodges!

Is gorilla trekking worth the price?

Something I have come to realize is that price is subjective. For some people, the thought of paying between $450 – $1,500 to spend an hour with gorillas is crazy! 

But to others, it’s the pinnacle of wildlife tourism, and the opportunity to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is worth practically any price. 

I’m in the latter of the two camps, and having been gorilla trekking; I can honestly say that it’s an incredible experience. The trek through the forest and the time spent in the company of the gorillas was absolutely worth the price I paid (I think permits were around $500 at the time).

I also spend a lot of time in Bwindi, living so close to the park, and I regularly speak to tourists who emerge from the forest, commenting on how it’s quite simply the most remarkable thing that they’ve ever done. 

So, in my personal opinion, gorilla trekking is absolutely worth the price. You should also note that a significant proportion of the fee that you pay goes towards the contribution of the mountain gorillas for future generations, which helps many people justify the price of the experience.

Do you need to get a gorilla trekking permit in advance?

While you can arrange a permit when you arrive in the country, it’s always better to get it in advance. You can arrange your permit via the three links provided earlier in this article. 

If you’re looking for a budget tour company to arrange a permit on your behalf, I again recommend my friends at AJ Tours and Travel, but you can also arrange a gorilla trekking safari with practically every tour provider in East Africa. 

The reason that it’s important to arrange your permit in advance is that each country only issues a specific number of permits on any given day, so you need to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Can you do gorilla trekking in East Africa on a budget?

Unfortunately, gorilla trekking is one of those activities that is super difficult to achieve if you’re constrained by budget. The cost of the permit, the accommodation fees, and the travel to the destination in East Africa makes it a pretty expensive experience overall. 

Of course, traveling by public means and staying in budget hotels along the way can significantly reduce the cost of gorilla trekking, but it’s still an expensive experience. 

If you’re a citizen or resident of East Africa, you can apply for a permit for a reduced fee. Again, you can find information on reduced permits via the links already provided.

The verdict: Which is the best option for gorilla trekking in East Africa?

In my humble opinion, and with all things considered, Uganda represents the best option for gorilla trekking in East Africa. But that being said, and in spite of the cost, Rwanda is also a super popular destination for this once-in-a-lifetime activity. 

While DR Congo offers the cheapest gorilla trekking permits in the region, the civil unrest in the country and the fact that most governments deem the country to be unsafe rules it out for many tourists. 

If you’ve got any questions about gorilla trekking in East Africa or would like to share your own recommendations, please do so in the comments below!

Five Fun Things to Do in Entebbe (On a Budget!)

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Looking for some fun things to do in Entebbe to kill some time before your flight home? You’ve come to the right place!

For most tourists, Entebbe is nothing more than Uganda’s international airport, and it’s a destination that many people leave soon after arriving. 

For others, it’s the site of Operation Entebbe, an infamous 1976 event involving Idi Amin and a plane full of hostages.  

Regardless of how you regard Entebbe before you visit, the reality is that you are likely to be impressed by this quaint town on the banks of Lake Victoria when you visit it for the first time. 

So, whether you visit Entebbe at the start or the end of your trip, here are five budget-friendly activities that will help you make the most of your time in this interesting and often overlooked destination in central Uganda.

5 Things to do in Entebbe without breaking the bank

No matter why you find yourself with some time to kill in Entebbe, there’s a lot to see and do, without spending a great deal of money! Here are five things to do in Entebbe that won’t cost you a fortune and will offer some nice snaps as you start or end your vacation in Uganda:

Visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens

There are lots of beautiful plants on show in Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Photo Credit: Ivan Sabayuki

One of my favorite places in Entebbe is the Botanical Gardens. While the gardens might be a little rough around the edges and unkempt when compared to botanical gardens in different parts of the world, this green oasis on the shores of Lake Victoria is perfect for exploring. 

Initially sculpted toward the end of the nineteenth century, Entebbe Botanical Gardens have stood the test of time and endured, in spite of the problems that Uganda faced with instability for large parts of the twentieth century.

It’s not amiss to say that the Botanical Gardens are the jewel in Entebbe’s crown, and you will see a huge variety of flora and fauna around the site, as well as a troop of monkeys that are equal parts friendly and mischievous. 

For the film buffs among you, part of the first Tarzan movie was filmed here, and it’s a great opportunity to get some snaps for Instagram in a super interesting location!

While you can simply pay to enter the Botanical Gardens and walk around at your leisure, I would highly recommend hiring a local guide to take you around. You can enter the gardens and hire a guide for less than $10, and the guide adds a lot to the experience, particularly as there aren’t many signs or information posts within the park.

Enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria

A source of income for fishermen, Lake Victoria in Entebbe is also a great place to enjoy a sunset cruise. Photo credit: Hennie Stander.

Entebbe is blessed to be on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. Although Uganda is landlocked, Lake Victoria is more like a sea than a lake, bordering Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania and supporting millions of livelihoods in each of the countries. 

From a tourist’s perspective, Lake Victoria isn’t safe for swimming, but it is an excellent source of other activities. For instance, you can take a fishing trip out onto the lake to catch some tilapia, or you can arrange a boat trip with a number of local guides. 

In 2016, my best friend visited me in Uganda, and we took a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria, with a few cold beers in the canoe, to make the experience that little bit more special. It was a wonderful experience, and the fact that our guide stood up to sing the Ugandan national anthem as the sunset was as surreal as it was memorable!

While you can go to town with an expensive boat cruise (inclusive of meal/drinks/guide, etc.), you can also do a boat cruise on the cheap. Most local guides charge less than $20 to take you out on a canoe at sunset, providing you with stunning photo opportunities and a look at Uganda from the surface of the lake. A must when you’re in Entebbe.

To book a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria, simply ask the staff at your hotel or guesthouse, and they will be more than happy to make the arrangements on your behalf.

Go swimming at Lake Victoria Hotel

The vast majority of guesthouses in Entebbe don’t have a swimming pool, but that’s not a problem thanks to the presence of the Lake Victoria Hotel. LVH is on the main road and is unmissable as you travel from the airport to the center of Entebbe.

The hotel itself predates independence, and it’s a charming, colonial-style hotel that is part of the fabric of Entebbe town. The problem with LVH is that it’s expensive to stay at, with rooms anywhere between $150 and $250. But the good news is that you don’t need to stay there to take advantage of the hotel’s star attraction – the swimming pool.

You can pay 25,000 UGX (around $7) for a day-guest pass at Lake Victoria Hotel, which provides you with a towel and unlimited access to what is undoubtedly the best swimming pool in Entebbe.

There are three diving boards and a kids’ pool, as well as a poolside bar and restaurant that serves up delicious international fayre. Every time I’ve been to LVH for swimming, there’s been a nice mixture of locals and tourists, as well as kids enjoying the outdoor swimming pool. 

The bottom line is that spending an afternoon at the Lake Victoria Hotel’s poolside is an incredible way to start your holiday or round things off as you prepare to fly home. It’s a truly excellent way to spend your time in Entebbe while getting some respite from the Ugandan sun.

Shop for souvenirs at the Craft Market

While I’m not a huge fan of shopping, my wife loves spending time at Entebbe’s craft market. There are lots of places to buy crafts in Uganda, but leaving your shopping until the end of your trip is a smart move. 

You can visit Entebbe craft market on your last day in Uganda and stock up on souvenirs and gifts for people back home. It’s located directly opposite Victoria Mall, so you can’t miss it when you’re in Entebbe town. 

Having been to craft shops in different parts of the country, I can say that the Entebbe Craft Market has practically everything you could possibly want, from t-shirts to household ornaments and fabrics.

In terms of price, you need to be prepared to haggle when you visit Entebbe Craft Market. As a general rule of thumb, if a vendor tells you that something is 50,000 UGX, offer 25,000. You can then proceed with your negotiations and meet somewhere in the middle. 

This isn’t to say that people are trying to rip you off. Rather, they know that tourists always negotiate when trying to buy souvenirs, so retailers suggest an initial price in the knowledge that they’re going to have to sell their products for a lower price.

Sip rooftop cocktails @ K Hotels

Entebbe isn’t short of bars and restaurants, but the rooftop bar at K Hotels is an excellent place to enjoy dinner and drinks. You can order cocktails, local beers, and international spirits while enjoying an incredible view across Entebbe, out to Lake Victoria, and back toward the airport. 

The food at K Hotels is also delicious, with Asian-infused dishes to choose from on the in-house menu. The last time I spent a Friday night at K Hotels, dancers provided entertainment as the sun set behind the building. 

Even if you don’t want to eat there, the rooftop bar at K Hotels offers an excellent option for pre-or post-dinner drinks, and enjoying cocktails as the sunsets across Entebbe is a wonderful way to start or end your vacation.

And one to avoid…

Everyone is different, but I personally have a thing against zoos. I would never visit a zoo in the UK, and I avoid them wherever I am in the world. Entebbe has a zoo – or at least a Wildlife Education Centre – and I’ve never actually been to it, so I can’t tell you what it’s like. 

What I will say, however, is that you’re visiting a country in which wildlife abounds in the natural world, from the monkeys in Entebbe Botanical Garden to the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

As such, there’s not really any reason to visit Entebbe’s Zoo, as you can see animals in their natural habitat in this beautiful country. Regardless of your opinion of zoos and animal captivity, there’s no reason to visit a zoo in Uganda when you have an abundance of wildlife opportunities at your fingertips in the country’s national parks.

Recap: Five fun things to do in Entebbe

Although many tourists regard Entebbe as the gateway to the rest of Uganda and nothing more, the reality is that this leafy town that houses Uganda’s only international airport actually has a lot of interesting things to see and do. 

So, while you might not be planning to visit Uganda to explore Entebbe, the above activities are great options to consider as you arrive or just before you leave, ensuring that you make the most out of your time spent in Uganda’s main point of entry.