Activities that you can do near Kampala
The Top Things to Do and See near Kampala that visitors like Best
Top Things to Do and See near Kampala: Kampala is the perfect location to access various activities and exciting places around and near Kampala. Most of them are within a short driving distance of Kampala. As outlined below, one can do numerous activities around Kampala, such as birding, nature walks, hikes, wildlife viewing, scenic wonders, and many other things.
Enjoy exploring the Top Things to Do and See near and around Kampala.
Using Kampala as your base, you can explore much territory from here. There are many places to explore here in the Central Region of Uganda.
These are places where your adrenaline will freely flow, like Jinja on the Nile, places of culture like Ssezibwa Falls, the magical Mabira Rainforest, the vast Mabamba Swamp, and more.
Let us know what you want to see and do around Kampala, and we will include it in your safari.
Please Note: The Activities Below can be included in any of our Safaris. We do not do Stand-Alone Day-Trips.
Top Things to Do and See Near Kampala
Things to do and see in Entebbe
Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Entebbe Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to spend a day in tranquility with its exotic plants, paths to walk down, and birds, which you can do in the Botanical Gardens and along Victoria. Bring a picnic lunch and visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens, which is over 100 years old.
We include Entebbe Botanical Gardens with many of our clients at the beginning of their safari. The new expressway can reach the Botanical Gardens in less than one hour from Kampala.
A typical visit here is about 3 hours, but we can create a farewell picnic event for you, or you can have dinner at one of the many restaurants in Entebbe. We always suggest one along Lake Victoria.
We do not offer stand-alone day trips but include Entebbe Botanical Gardens in our Safaris, where we either suggest a visit or our Clients request it. Read more here.
Uganda Wildlife Educational Center
A visit to the Uganda Educational Center allows us to see much of the Ugandan wildlife – it only includes walking along Lake Victoria – and one can even stay overnight here. The location is near Entebbe Botanical Gardens – so one can easily combine the two on a one-day visit,
It may seem odd to visit a Zoo when you can visit wildlife parks and see the animals in their natural settings.
The Zoo is primarily an educational facility; you can readily see that by the number of schoolchildren, you will find here during the week.
The attraction for tourists is the hands-on Zoo Assistant programs offered here at reasonable prices and staying overnight in the Zoo.
A Day on the Beach at Entebbe:
A day at the Beach: Spending a day on the Beach comes with a hook that you may not be told that Bilharzia is present in the waters of Lake Victoria. And that is especially true in waters close to shore, still waters, and near settlements of one kind or another. If you go ahead and swim in Lake Victoria, we suggest you spray an insect repellent before entering the water of the Lake and dry yourself briskly with a towel when coming out of the Lake.
Some beaches at a hotel in or near Entebbe where you can swim in a pool instead. Enjoy sunning, playing a game of Volleyball, and enjoying some food and drink, but stay out of the water. Ugandans will often swim here without any effect, but there is that risk.
You are the one that has to choose.
Ngamba Chimpanzee Island Sanctuary:
Ngamba Chimpanzee Island is a favorite with most that come here by boat, and now one flies in – it is a unique place that visitors to Uganda love, and one can stay overnight here and, under certain conditions, interact with Chimpanzees.
Something about a Chimpanzee Island Sanctuary strikes a chord with many visitors to the Island.
Even Jane Goodall is a regular visit to the Island – in the Primate world; it cannot get any better than to be Jane Goodall-approved.
Chimpanzee orphans from near and as far away as DR Congo find their way here. It would be nice if more schoolchildren were brought here.
Upmarket overnight stays can be arranged for you, and not many can say they spend the night on Chimpanzee Island.
Toward Jinja, you can find the following Top Things to Do and See
Ssezibwa Falls – Culture – Legends – Scenic Wonders
Just a short drive from Kampala –a place of tranquility – a mixture of enriching nature, scenic wonders, culture, legends, nature walks, and birding. It is a quiet place, especially during the week.
Ssezibwa Falls reflects the religious beliefs of many in Uganda, including the esteemed Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament.
If you ask most Ugandans what faith they are, rarely would one say “traditional Beliefs.| Most would tell you that they are Christian, maybe break it down to Church of Uganda, Catholic, Born Again; others would say Muslim. Many Ugandans flock to Friday Prayer at Mosques and Church services on Sunday. Some of those still practice the traditional beliefs of their forefathers. One such site is Ssezibwa Falls; Kabaka, the King of Buganda, comes here. Traditional Rites like fertility blessings are still offered here. People bring gifts of appeasement in the shadows of the Anglican Church that owns the site.
Ssezibwa Falls. A blend of traditional Uganda with the new. Legends, myths, and traditional practices were brought into Christianity or Islam. Read more here.
Mabira Forest – a Rainforest at Kampala’s Doorstep:
Mabira Forest, the only rainforest in Central Uganda, is just an hour from Kampala. It is a place of natural discovery with nature trails, waterfalls, and bubbling creeks. It is a perfect place for nature lovers, birders, and those who want to escape it all for a day. You have the option of staying overnight at the exclusive Mabira Rainforest Lodge.
This ancient forest, the only rainforest in the Central area of Uganda, has been under constant threat for many years.
Illegal logging is the chief one now, but in the past, the government wanted to turn portions of the forest into sugar cane fields.
If it is not that, someone wants to run power lines through it, and the road that goes through it is another thing.
It is a place of relaxation, hiking and biking trails, activities, and enjoyment. Read more here.
Jinja – the Adrenaline Pumping Capital of East Africa:
Jinja – the Adventure Capital, is a 1 1/2 drive from Kampala, and activities abound – you can also spend a quiet time there at the source of the Nile, Itanda Falls, Jinja, and more.
If you want to have adrenaline pumping adventures, you need to hear East through Mabira Forest over the new suspension bridge to what seems to be a sleepy Jinja.
White Water Rafting, Kayaking, Bungee Jumping into the Nile, Quad-Motor Biking, and Horseback Riding along the Nile.
There are family raft trips, sunset cruises, fishing excursions, birding ventures, biking, hiking, and visiting the Source of the Nile Park.
Things to do and see in Jinja, the Adrenaline Capital of East Africa. Read more here.
Heading West, you can find the following Top Things to Do and See
Mabamba Swamp is the Best Place to see Shoebill Storks
Mabamba Swamp is one of the best places in Uganda to see the elusive shoebill stork. It is a short drive from Kampala or Entebbe to here, and you traverse the vast swamp lanes in a boat.
It is a one-hour drive from Kampala – about the same as Entebbe, but you will most likely see the rare shoebill stork if you venture through the Lake Victoria Swamp called Mabamba.
The swamp is best visited on the way to Western Uganda or coming from Western Uganda, especially Lake Mburo Park, while you are on a Safari with us.
A decent lodge is now nearby where one can have lunch and spend the night comfortably.
You see the Shoebill stork and other Water Birds found here.
Mabamba Swamp is best for Shoebill Stork Sightings.
There are many other places one could list here. These are just a few areas around and near Kampala where you can see and do things beyond the busy city life of Kampala. Mostly – enjoy the Pearl of Africa. Read more here.
