Created in 1898, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens-originally the National Botanical Gardens of Uganda is situated in Entebbe on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria. This site covers an area of 40.7 hectares of land and is the perfect place for botanists or nature lovers interested in exploring several exotic plants, trees, Birds especially water bird species and butterfly species. Entebbe Botanical gardens in the only Botanical garden in Uganda and is one of a kind. Annual rainfall within the gardens is 1626 mm and strands at an elevation of 1134 meters/3720 feet above sea level.

The garden used to be as home to over 2500 plant species but due to the period of insecurity in the country, it reduced the number to plant species within the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. By late 1990s, there were only 309 plant species that included 200 species indigenous to Uganda, 110 exotic plant species and 122 species that were specifically medicinal plants.

The Gardens are beautifully laid-out assortment of indigenous tropical forests, cultivation and horticulture and is also a very fascinating destination for bird enthusiasts. For travelers interested in birding safaris in Uganda, the Entebbe botanical gardens are a great place not to miss during your trip. The gardens offer shelter to several aquatic, open savannah and woodland bird species. Some of the bird checklist are

• Grey-cheeked hornbill-one of the biggest bird species around.
• Africa Firefinch
• the African Grey Parrots,
• the Red-chested Sunbird
• Woodland Kingfisher
• Cameroon Sombre Greenbul,
• Water Thick-knee
• the Pink-backed Pelican
• the Crowned Hornbill
• the Striated Heron
• Common Sandpiper
• Black and White Casqued Hornbill
• the Woodland Kingfisher
• Great Blue Turaco
• the Glossy Ibis
• Red-billed Firefinch
• the Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill
• the Ross’ Turacos
• the African fish eagles
• the Purple-banded Sunbird
• Black-headed weaver
• African Open-billed Stork
• Hooded Vultures
• the Tambourine Dove
• Vieillot’ Black Weaver
• the Long-tailed Cormorant
• Blue-checked Bee-eater
• the Little Grey Greenbul
• Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling
• Madagascar Bee-eater
• Northern Crombec
• the Egyptian Goose
• Grey headed gull
• Grey kestrel
• the Spur-winged Lapwing
• Ppalm nut Vultures
• the Slender-billed Weaver
• White-winged Tern
• the Senegal Coucal
• Yellow billed duck
• the Wood Sandpiper
• the Grey-Headed Sparrow
• Grey capped warbler
• the Gull-billed Tern
• the Black Crake
• the Pied Kingfisher
• the Little Stint
• common wattle-eye
• the scarlet-chested Sunbirds
• the Malachite Kingfisher
• the Angola swallow
• the Blue-cheeked Bee eater Broad-billed Roller
• African Jacana
• the Diederik Cuckoos
• Red faced Cisticolas
• the Yellow-billed Stork
• Eastern Grey Plantain-eater
• the Common Squacco
• Hammerkops
• the long tailed Cormorant
• the Lizard buzzard
• the Marabou storks
• black-headed herons
• the Verreaux’s eagle owl-Africa’s largest owls
• Winding Cisticolas
• the Black-headed Gonolek
• the Eastern Grey Plantain-eater
• the Yellow White-eye
• Long-crested eagle
• the Little Weavers
• the Red-headed Lovebirds
• Black-headed Gonolek
• the Meyers Parrot
• the Lesser Jacana
• Yellow-backed Weaver
• Yellow-billed Duck
• the African Open-billed Stork
• the Green Sandpiper

In addition to the plants and bird species, the Entebbe Botanical gardens home several primate species such as the Black and white Colobus monkeys, the vervet monkeys and the Red Colobus monkeys among others and tree squirrels. With these interesting attractions, the Entebbe Botanical gardens are known for interesting activities such as monkey feeding, music festivals, birding, nature walks and biking among others.

How to Reach Entebbe Botanical Gardens

The easiest and cheapest way to reach the Entebbe Botanical gardens is by use of taxi (matatus) from New Taxi Park within Kampala City, leave every 10-30 minutes and charge around Shs 3000. It takes between one and two hours depending on the traffic jam and you will stop at China Garden City Restaurant.