Entebbe Botanical Gardens

The attractively designed Entebbe Botanical Gardens on the northern shores of Lake Victoria were set in 1901. The gardens, positioned 21 miles from Kampala are in Entebbe Municipality, a place where Entebbe International Airport is also located. Entebbe Botanical Gardens, one of the picnic places in Entebbe city occupies about 40 hectares of land, with a collection of 2,500 species of plants of tropical, sub-tropical and humid temperature zones.

The gardens host a diversity of open country and forest species under which you can definitely spend a pleasurable time here. The high giant trees nearby the main entrance are the preferred haven for Verreaux’s eagle owls.

The main Bird species found here are the orange weaver, orange tufted and red chested Sun birds. The orange weaver breeds in the shrubberies on the shores of Lake Victoria. Other birds include the Northern Brown–throated weaver, yellow backed Oriole, Jackson’s Golden –backed weaver, Black-headed weavers and Vieillot’s black weavers. The rocky point makes an ideal platform for viewing.

While on the lake shores, look for a long-tailed Cormorant, African Open-billed Stork, Common Squacco and black-headed herons, the Hammerkops, yellow-billed duck, Grey headed gull, giant and pied Kingfishers and Swamp Flycatcher. Use the boat to a large pier nearby and you will spot at least 2 to 3 pairs of birds available. The Black-headed Gonolek plus the Red-chested Sun bird are also found in the thick vegetation covering the garden cliff.

At the gardens, there is also a small ponder spot of the tropical forest where the Vervet monkeys and Guereza Colobus monkeys are seen. The Blue and Ross’s turacos, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Black and white casqued horn bill and fine starling are spotted.

Other two extremely vocal and noticeable species are the African Fish-eagle and Eastern Grey Plantain-eater that commonly utter their bizarre, chimp-like calls. Other bird species you likely see in the gardens are the Palmnut and Hooded Vultures, Hadada Ibis, Lizard buzzard, Shikra, Grey kestrel, Long-crested eagle, Black Crake, Angola swallow, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Red-faced Cisticola, common wattle –eye, Grey-capped warbler plus the Green–throated and the scarlet-chested Sunbirds. While on your birding tour in these gardens, do not forget your binoculars plus an ornithology book for superior understanding of birds in Uganda.