Explore Entebbe
Entebbe City Hub (Image by Cymon Charnley (Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe))
Welcome To The Eye Magazine Directory
- All Locations :
Welcome To The Eye Magazine Directory
Entebbe City Hub (Image by Cymon Charnley (Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe))
Most visitors’ first impressions of Uganda are flying over Lake Victoria to land at Entebbe International Airport, the country’s first international airport. It’s a relaxing town for a few hours – or days – but often overlooked by those rushing to the National Parks.
The small town has a good selection of hotels, and enough activities and restaurants to keep you happy for a few days. It’s a good place for a staycation away from Kampala, defined by tree-lined streets and lake views.
In addition to being Uganda’s international travel hub, Entebbe is the location for State House, the official residence and office of the President of Uganda and several key national and international institutions, including Uganda Virus Institute and the United Nations.
Entebbe, which means "seat" (or literally wood, from which the seat was made) in the local Luganda language, is thought to have been named for its function as the place where a Baganda chief would sit to adjudicate legal cases. Entebbe became a significant British colonial administrative and commercial center in 1893 and the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda prior to the country’s independence in 1962. In the same year, the capital was transferred to Kampala.
Located on a peninsula of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, Entebbe is nestled on the lake’s northern shores. Entebbe covers an area of 56.2 square kilometers; 20 km square of which is water.
Lake Victoria is Entebbe’s biggest attraction, whether for ferries to the Ssese islands, the town’s (small) beaches or the leisure boat rides.
Entebbe International Airport (EIA) is Uganda’s primary international gateway and largest commercial and military airport. It is 41 km by road from Kampala and served by a growing number of African, international and domestic airlines. The Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda is headquartered near the airport. (Domestic flights also depart from Kajjansi, an airstrip on the Entebbe Road). Entebbe International Airport opened in 1929. In 2021, the airport opened a new departures hall and car parks after expanding its cargo handling facilities. The airport gained global fame in 1976 during Operation Entebbe, when Israeli forces covertly rescued 100 hostages from a hijacked Air France plane. Uganda's President Idi Amin was reportedly caught off guard by the raid.
Entebbe has a tropical climate with relatively constant temperatures throughout the year. January is the city's driest month. Entebbe's wettest months are April and May.
An alternative to the congested two-lane Entebbe Road is the 26.2 km Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, a four-lane toll road linking Entebbe International Airport to Kampala, Munyonyo, Kajjansi, Busega and the Northern Bypass. An alternative to the congested two-lane Entebbe Road is the 26.2 km Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, a four-lane toll road linking Entebbe International Airport to Kampala, Munyonyo, Kajjansi, Busega and the Northern Bypass. This recent development means it's possible to drive from the airport to the National Parks and all major tourist destinations without having to drive through central Kampala.
Congratulation!