
Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens: There is only one national botanical garden in Uganda. This 1901 business is located on the border of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, barely 34 kilometres from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The gardens are a very popular spot for birdwatchers since they blend horticulture, cultivation, and natural woodland in a visually beautiful way. For lovers of birds, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, also called the National Botanical Gardens, is a mesmerising sanctuary. Ideally, these gardens present a well-balanced combination of natural woodlands, horticultural treasures, and man-made landscapes, making them a popular spot for bird lovers.
Why Entebbe Botanical Gardens the best Spot for city Bird watching.
Together with a number of shrubs and other plants that have organically regenerated throughout time, the gardens are home to a variety of plant species from tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones. As of 1998, there were 309 species in the collection: 110 were foreign, 122 were known to have medicinal potential, and 199 were native to Uganda. Since the gardens were renovated in 1998, some 40,000 people have visited the grounds annually, making them a popular destination.
Despite being almost a century old, the Botanical Garden has only grown more exquisite with time. Along Lake Victoria, there are an abundance of tropical trees, plants, flowers, birds, monkeys, and butterflies. Enjoy a picnic lunch and a fantastic day at Entebbe. Located almost exactly on the equator, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens were founded in 1898 on the northern banks of Lake Victoria. The gardens span 40.7 hectares and receive 1623 mm of yearly rainfall at an elevation of 1134 metres.
Birds to see at Entebbe Botanical Gardens
One of the best locations to see a variety of bird species close to Kampala is the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Aside from being a visual feast, it is also a serene and calm spot with very few people around. Instead, you are completely surrounded by nature, with just the sound of birds interrupting the silence.
Usually found in the tall trees right at the entrance are two Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls. Olive, Olive-bellied, Super, Green-throated, Scarlet-chested, Bronze, and Red-chested Sunbirds, as well as Orange Weavers, are among the garden’s avian inhabitants. Along with the Slender-billed Northern Brown-throated, Golden-backed, Black-headed, Village, and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, the latter breed in the shrubs along the shores of Lake Victoria. The Lake’s rocky headland provides a perfect observation spot. Look for African Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Duck, Grey-headed Gulls, Giant and Pied Kingfishers, Swamp Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Duck, Spur-winged Lapwing, Hamerkop, long-tailed Cormorant, Yellow-billed and Little Egret, Striated and Black-headed Herons on the lake and along its shore.
Pratincoles are frequently found on the main jetty; typically, there are two to three pairs present. Scan the boats there. There are Red-chested Sunbirds and Black-headed Gonoleks in the thick undergrowth that covers the headland. A medicinal garden, bamboo stands, dense undergrowth, tall trees, and just a beautiful morning, afternoon, or entire day in the peace of the Botanical Gardens beside Lake Victoria await you as you meander down the walkways. These sights seem to keep appearing as you go. The early black-and-white Tarzan movies are said to have been filmed here, according to local rumours (see Bradt Guide). Have a pleasant day at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
The Botanical Gardens nestles a wide variety of water, open country, and woodland bird species, including the Gull-billed Tern, Black-headed Gonolek, Senegal Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Spur-winged Lapwing, White-winged Tern, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Northern Crombec, Tambourine Dove, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul, and the Pink-backed Pelican.
The Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater, the Yellow-billed Stork, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Purple-banded Sunbird, Yellow White-eye Glossy Ibis, Pied Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Long-tailed Cormorant, Black Crake, Yellow-billed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Vieillot’ Black Weaver, Crowned Hornbill, the Slender-billed Weaver, the Egyptian Goose, the Madagascar Bee-eater, the Water Thick-knee, and more.
Many water, open country, and woodland bird species can be found in the garden, such as the Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill, Senegal Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, Black-headed Gonolek, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Spur-winged Lapwing, White-winged Tern, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Northern Crombec, Tambourine Dove, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Little Grey Greenbul, the Pink-backed Pelican and many others.
When to do birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Birding in the Botanical Gardens is done throughout the year since majority of Uganda’s bird species are resident. The weather is a crucial consideration when organising any birdwatching excursion. The two seasons that Uganda encounters are the dry season and the wet season. The roads leading to various birdwatching locations and hiking forest trails are frequently muddy and slick during the rainy season, which sometimes interferes with traveller movements and disrupts birdwatching opportunities.
Cost of birding in Entebbe Botanical gardens
The cost of birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens varies depending on the category of visitors accessing the gardens, where by East African Residents are Charged 1500 UGX per head and non-residents are charged 25000UGX per head as of recently.
Essential items to carry for birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
For any serious birder, to conduct a successful bird watching tour at the Botanical Gardens, you need to equip your self with the following: hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts and pants, safari hat, sunglasses, a checklist manual, camera, telescope, insect repellents, back pack bag, and a drinking water bottle, among others.
Other sightings in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Home of beauty: The Gardens provides a perfect introduction to the Pearl of Africa with all of its beauty and magical magnificence. The Botanical Gardens are a beautiful pearl within the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) that most visitors do not get to see since they are not on itineraries unless you are a birder.
A peaceful environment: The gardens are also clouded with butterflies, different plant species, Primates like monkeys and other wildlife. It is also a place of tranquilly and peace, a feast for the eyes, and there is a notable absence of people—you are simply immersed in nature, the sounds of birds breaking the stillness of the moment. It is simply a lovely place to spend a few hours; you can bring along a picnic lunch and make it an all-day adventure.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens was founded at the turn of the 20th century and is home to a variety of flowers, plants, and trees that are not only indigenous to Uganda but also originate from other tropical regions across the globe. Admission to the gardens is inexpensive, and you can explore the area without the assistance of a self-appointed guide who is only interested in making a few shillings; in most cases, your tour company’s driver-guide is the best person to guide you.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens are not accessible for people with disabilities; however, anyone who is unable to walk can still enjoy these wonderful gardens with a leisurely safari vehicle ride through the park. It is recommended that anyone planning to go birding bring an East African Ornithology Book with them, and having high-quality binoculars can enhance your experience.
The Botanical gardens were rehabilitated in 1998. In that year a recount of the species here was done and about 199 species of plants were recorded and indigenous to Uganda. There was a total of 309 plant species.
The garden is home to different types of water, open country and woodland bird species which include the Africa and Red-billed Firefinch, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill, White-browed Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, Black-headed Gonolek, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling, Northern Grey-Headed Sparrow, the Spur-winged Lapwing, White-winged Tern, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Northern Crombec, Tambourine and Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Little Greenbul, the Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Open-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Giant Kingfisher, Congo-pied and Crowned Hornbill, Vieillot’s’ Black , Orange and Gross-beak Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Water Thick-knee, Madagascar Bee-eater, Egyptian Goose, Black-headed weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Bat Hawk, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Black-headed and African Paradise Flycatcher, Grey Woodpecker, Gaber Goshawk, Lizard Buzzard and others.
Besides birding, Entebbe botanical gardens are good for relaxation and picnics. There are educational trips and scientific research organized here as well. You will come across several medicinal plants, almost over 100. Each of these has a specific disease according to the locals that it cures.
This is the only national Botanical Garden in Uganda. It was established in 1901 and strategically located on the shores of Africa’s greatest Lake, Victoria, just 34 km’s from Kampala. The gardens are an attractively laid-out mix of indigenous forest, cultivation, and horticulture, and a highly attractive destination to birdwatchers.