A zebra at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center.

© Inna Shport/Shutterstock

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre


While it functions primarily as a zoo, this centre is actually a world-class animal refuge that has benefited from international assistance in recent years. Most of the animals on display were once injured or were recovered from poachers and traffickers. Star attractions include chimpanzees (a good alternative to pricier Ngamba Island), southern white rhinos, lions, leopards and shoebill storks. Keep an eye out for the baby elephant wandering about too.

A variety of programs gets you closer to the animals, including chimp encounters (US$200), behind-the-scenes tours (US$70) and zookeeper for the day (adult/child US$100/50); book directly through UWEC for discounts. There are long-term volunteering opportunities and it has on-site lodging.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Entebbe Botanical Gardens

0.34 MILES

Laid out in 1898, these expansive gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The highlights are its pockets of thick rainforest, which locals claim some…

2. Uganda Reptiles Village

2.83 MILES

Get up close to some of the world's deadliest snakes, including mambas, cobras, puff adders and vipers, as well as chameleons, crocs and lizards, all of…

3. Makanaga Wetlands

8.94 MILES

Makanaga Wetlands (part of the larger Mabamba Wetland System) is a good place to spot shoebills. It's roughly a 60km drive from Entebbe, accessed via…

4. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

16.32 MILES

Located 23km southeast of Entebbe in Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, or 'Chimp Island', is home to over 40 orphaned or rescued…

5. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

16.4 MILES

This sanctuary in Lake Victoria is home to around 50 orphaned chimps that have been rescued from elsewhere in Uganda and are being rehabilitated as much…

6. Katereke Prison Ditch

16.43 MILES

Located on the outskirts of town, royal prisoners were starved in the prison ditch during the upheavals of 1888–89. Kabaka Kalema killed 30 of his…

7. Mpanga Forest Reserve

16.56 MILES

About 35km out of Kampala, the 453-hectare Mpanga Forest Reserve is a decent option if you want to escape the chaos of Kampala for a day or two. It's best…

8. 32° East Ugandan Arts Trust

17.57 MILES

This centre for Ugandan contemporary artists includes exhibit space, a library, workspace and resource centre. It is in the process of moving to a nearby…