BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR – UWEC, ENTEBBE ZOO
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) Known as Entebbe Zoo is the only place in Uganda where behind the Scenes tour experience is offered. This is a unique activity that goes beyond the viewing and learning about the animals. It allows you participate in the up close Wildlife viewing and feeding experience.
The UWEC Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center is located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe town and it’s so close to Entebbe international airport. It is a home to rescued animals and helps to keep animals for long time while getting special care before they can be released the wild habitat or being integrated in the education center.
This Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center was opened in 1952 by the colonial government in Uganda as a reception center for Wildlife causalities named Entebbe zoo at that time. Entebbe zoo was then established to protect injured and orphaned wild animals, It was later upgraded to a Wildlife Conservation Education Center in 1994 to educate the population about wildlife conservation.
Visitor Feeding the Giraffe at UWEC Entebbe Zoo
The Entebbe zoo/ Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center UWEC consist of rescued animals like leopards, lions, baboons, camels, Uganda Kob, warthogs, impalas, waterbucks, elands, chimpanzees, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, shoebill storks, tortoise, cheetah, reptiles like snakes, rock python, birds, butterflies and a lot of plants and trees. The center has big enclosures where these animals roam and feed similar to their natural habitats.
UWEC is still playing a vital role in conservation by being in charge of rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, breeding endangered wildlife species with the goal of re-introducing them in the wild. It is also responsible for educating Ugandans and all visitors about the importance of Wildlife conservation.
While on behind the scenes tour in UWEC, you will join the well trained keepers and guides at the center to participate in their daily activities of preparing animal’s food, feeding the animals, doing health checks on the animals, cleaning the sleeping areas of animals and learning their behaviors. You will get to know about animal’s behavior, their habitats and what they eat. The experience takes about 2-3 hours while you get close to the animals, see, feed, groom them, touch and smell them unlike the wildlife experience in the national parks where you only view these animals at a distance.
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) is the best place for family outings, School trips and individual tours where you get to see a lot of wildlife in one place and at a cheaper price. Visiting Entebbe zoo/ UWEC is one way of contributing to wildlife conservation.
Other activities/ programs that are done at UWEC include Keeper for the day, volunteering, keeper’s guided tour, chimpanzee close up, forest trail and bird watching, Donkey and camel rides and Noah’s ark discovery tour.
Children visiting Rhino at UWEC, Entebbe Zoo
This beautiful UWEC has a children playground and toy shops keep children busy while learning many things. There are other activities that can be done around Entebbe besides visiting UWEC while preparing your mind to proceed on your Safari tour. These include; Visiting Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary on Lake Victoria, visit Entebbe botanical gardens, boat cruise on Lake Victoria, fishing on Lake Victoria, visiting the fishing villages, shopping for crafts and souvenirs, cycling and so many more.
Entebbe zoo/ Uganda Wildlife Education Center is open from 8am to 6pm and all through the year. This Wildlife Education center UWEC has accommodation facilities within its boundaries which are basic and comfortable. You can still get more up market accommodation outside the zoo in Entebbe town.
There is need to book in advance if you wish to take part in behind the scenes tour adventure and this is done at the following charges:
- Non East Africans Adults pay USD: 70, Kids $35
- Foreign Residents pay USD: 50, Kids $15
- East Africans Adult pay Ugx: 50,000, Kids pay Ugx 30,000
Your are also required to be in good health conditions without some of these diseases Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Meningitis, Tuberculosis, Polio and Tetanus. You need to be vaccinated against these diseases before getting into contact with the animals at the Wildlife Education center.
