Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre

The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, known locally as the Entebbe zoo, sits on the shore of Lake Victoria in Entebbe, about an hour from Kampala depending on traffic. It opened in 1952 as a reception centre for wild animals that were injured, orphaned or confiscated from smugglers. It became a conventional zoo in the 1960s, and in 1994 it was reorganised as a trust focused on conservation education. It works with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and its website says it has 253 animals in its care and has rescued 543.

Most of the animals are native species, and many are endangered. Exhibits are grouped into primates, carnivores, hoofed animals, reptiles and birds. You can expect to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, chimpanzees, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches and rock pythons, as well as the shoebill, the prehistoric-looking stork that many birdwatchers come to Uganda to find. For visitors with limited time this is a useful introduction to Uganda's wildlife before or after a safari.

Beyond the general day visit, the centre offers paid experiences. Behind the Scenes and Chimpanzee Close Up take you into areas normally closed to the public, Keeper for a Day lets adults work alongside the staff, and there is a junior version for ages 6 to 16. There is also a forest trail, a VIP option, and accommodation on site. The centre uses enrichment for its animals, including an artificial termite mound where the chimpanzees fish for food with sticks, as they do in the wild.

The centre is open every day from 08:30 to 18:30. Mornings are cooler and the animals are often more active. Allow two to three hours for a general visit, and book experiences in advance by phone or email, as the website notes that some online functions may be unavailable during maintenance. The centre suits families with children, and the junior keeper programme is designed for them.

Entebbe makes an easy half day or full day out from Kampala, and is close to Entebbe International Airport, so a visit can fit before a late flight. The Entebbe office of the Chimpanzee Trust, which runs boat trips to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, is also on Lugard Avenue.