Entebbe Travel Answers

Hi Not a great idea to try and connect through to Kampala that night. If 22:30 is your arrival time, you'll probably have you leave yourself an hour to collect your bag and clear customs and immigration, which already puts you at 23:30 - and that's if your flight's on time. Entebbe and Kampala aren't far apart, but it's slow going, especially during peak time traffic. It would be faster at night, but driving in the dark's not advisable as the lighting is poor, and the chance of your taxi being involved in an accident with a vehicle, pedestrian or livestock is relatively high. I'd just bite the bullet and book a hotel near the airport (there are several, so check on a website like Trip Advisor for recent reviews). I don't know whether you're immediately connecting to a tour from Kampala, but if you aren't on too tight a schedule, there are a few interesting things to do around Entebbe. My husband has been there a few times on business, and was hugely impressed by his trip into the Mabamba Swamp, where he had wonderful sightings of the shoebill stork (I am still trying to forgive him for doing this on his own!). There's also the Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary, although I have no personal experience of this. Hope this helps. Regards Cathy

There are lots of nice places to stay in Entebbe, and I would possibly advise against traveling on to Kampala given the late hour - although it is quite safe along the Entebbe-Kampala road, and your worries at that late hour believe it or not is the atrocious late-night drivers! I would recommend Windsor Hotel (formerly Lake Victoria Hotel)., Imperial Botanical Beach, Imperial Resort ... you really will be spolit for choice. Also, priced more modestly, is Sophie's Motel. And do not forget to pick some fine Uganda literature to read - Moses Isegawa's Abbysinian Chronicles, Doreen Baingana's Tropical Fish, Robert Bwire's Chain of Spring Love, Okot P'Bitek's Song of Lawino! Enjoy Uganda, home of some of the world's most hospitable people!

ardelean wrote:
I will arrive at 22.30 in Entebbe on Saturday. Is it safe to take a taxi to Kampala at that time or should I find a hotel near the airport? Is there a hotel near the airport.

Mahalo

living with Aloha, the Coconut Wireless

I travelled on arrival at about midnight without problems, except that the pre-booked taxi was late to arrive. It costs about USD35 for a taxi from the airport to central Kampala. Return journeys can be slow during evening rush hour - 60-90 minutes.

Aloha
You answer was very helpful. Would you recommend the company that you pre booked? Or was it really to late to make you want to use them again. Curious, did you come in on KLM from Kigali to Entebbe? We are taking Delta operated by KLM from LAX to AMS and then to Kigali and from there to Entebbe.

It was done through a travel agents, whose name I have forgotten, but there are plenty of official airport taxis that are competent.
Yes, I travelled the same route, crossing the equator twice in one night. It is a circular flight, which returns to Ams from Entebbe. The queue at immigration is a bit irritating, but it moves reasonable quickly and luggage is cleared efficiently. The exchange rate at the airport is similar to that in town, unlike many airports.

I would recommend that if you are travelling at night first book a hotel in Entebbe. There lots of Hotels near Entebbe Airport. Am sure you will be spoilt for choice, however if you feel that you'll need to get to Kampala urgently, it is also possible and safe too. At that time of the night you only spend about 30-40 minutes to reach Kampala. For booking agents i recommend http://www.wildadventures.ug/ they can help with bookings and transportation