Entebbe Zoo Tour – Entrance Fees – Uganda Tours : Visiting the ‘’UWEC’’ Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in your free time or along your holiday safari is one of the most enjoyable weekend activity for local tourists. Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is located in Entebbe. Entebbe is known as a small town but very interesting to stay in while in Uganda.
Entebbe is the main location for Uganda’s international Airport, the official state house and several other key government offices. Entebbe would have been an Island on Lake Victoria had it not for a stretch of country’s leading capital city ‘’Kampala’ ’What sets Entebbe apart is the serenity, historical role as an administrative center plus other incredible tourist attractions.
The most important tourist attractions in Entebbe is the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ‘’UWEC’’ or more popularly known as Entebbe zoo which offers a suitable introduction to Uganda’s biodiversity and given its proximity to the capital Kampala. Entebbe zoo which is officially named Uganda Wildlife Education Centre – has become one of the most visited and popular tourist sites in Uganda. The Centre is mixed of zoo and safari parks because large number of animals can be seen here and spacious enclosures that are similar to their natural habitats.
The Entebbe zoo lies on land covering about 72 acres in size with a network of walkways to the different animal enclosures and to a natural forest. The zoo stands out from similar establishment’s in other countries because of its perfect location along the shores of Lake Victoria. The Centre also stuns with an animal breeding program in place for endangered species and an animal veterinary hospital.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ‘’UWEC’’ contributes to wildlife research and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. The Centre has grown in size and given its perfect location and considered as one of the best places for showcasing Africa’s wildlife.
Tourists with enough time, after your long safari in the national parks, you can visit this one place as you wait for your flight. Nationals and residents in Uganda are so lucky to have a one stop Centre where they can see and learn more about Africa’s famous wildlife without going for expensive safaris in the remote national parks. To many visitors who visits ‘’UWEC’’ find it more rewarding than visiting the national parks in Uganda.
Note; Visiting the Entebbe zoo is not only less expensive but offers amazing opportunities of getting close to the animals, especially if one chooses to go for the special ‘’Behind the scenes tour’’ it’s done under the guidance of a caretaker.
History About Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ‘’UWEC’’
The Entebbe zoo began in 1950 as a Centre were orphaned, rescued or injured animals were rehabilitated. More so, the ‘’UWEC’’ was founded by the colonial government with help from the Wildlife Conservation Society. Then ,10 years later in 1960, the Centre operated as a traditional zoo were people would visit and be able to see some of Africa’s famous wildlife and a few imported ones like Tigers and bears.
The political instabilities in the 1970’s and 80’s led to many loss of animals, due to infrastructure break down, neglect and poor management. The zoo continued to run at a low standard till the government started showing greater interest and decided to change it. Later on, the government realized that the zoo could actually be used as an amazing Centre for educating Ugandans and international visitors about wildlife conservation.
Eventually, the study was carried out by the New York Zoological society which came out with a great report recommending that ‘’The Zoo’ ’be changed into a Centre for educational purposes alongside tourism. On May 1994, the facility was renamed as the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre under the Ministry of Tourism. More to that, the Centre increased its size and allocated more land that now stretches all the way to the edge of Lake Victoria.
As the Centre grew from its small size to expanded its facility, it has attracted many of funding from government, international organization/donors and gate collections, thus becoming one of the most respected wildlife conservation and educational centers in Africa.
Entebbe Zoo Tour : Animals at the Entebbe Zoo
Entebbe zoo is a home to biodiversity of animal’s species such as; giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, chimpanzees, baboons, hyenas, zebras, lions, donkeys, Ostriches, Uganda kob, camels, waterbucks, snakes, pythons and tortoises and rare birds –the egrets, Shoebill stork. There over 120 bird species and around 23 primates’ species which can be seen at the facility. This Centre is also home to species like cattle, crocodile, peacock, red-tailed monkeys, crested cranes, parrots, goats, elephants, chicken, warthogs, impala, cobras, topis, forest hogs and eland many more.
Besides animals, there is also beautiful plant life ‘’flowers, shrubs, trees and herbs’’ and butterfly species.
Sadly, there are no great mountain gorillas in the zoo, they only survive in the jungle. To more about them, you need to visit our website and read about Uganda Gorilla Trekking.
Since the Centre expanded its land, some of the animals and birds can be seen roaming freely and visitors can marvel around along their visit here. Most of the visitors to the Centre are students from primary organization, secondary and tertiary institutions. On daily basis, the Centre receives at least 15 student groups. During the weekend, the numbers can be many. Visiting the Entebbe zoo can be highly recommended for families with children –there is children’s playground, mobile toy shops, ice cream among others fun activities. Visiting the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is the best way of contributing to wildlife conservation. The money collected is used to pay the caretakers, feed the animals, breeding wildlife and picking rescued animals from remote locations within Uganda.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Entrance Fee;
The Entrance fee to Entebbe zoo is USD15 for adult nonresidents, USD10 for children –nonresidents.
Uganda pay 10,000 UGX while children pay UGX5,000. There is separate rate for schools and tertiary institutions who visit the Centre for education purposes. Those wanting to make a video while at the zoo, you will be charged 10,000 Uganda shillings.
All vehicles pay a parking fee of 2000 shillings.
Opening hours – Entebbe Zoo/ Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ‘’UWEC’’;
The Entebbe zoom opening hours are between 8:00am and 6:00pm.
Note; If you will not be allowed in to show up at 6:00pm. For the best experience and time with the animals, we recommend that you visit the Centre by 4:00pm.
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