Uganda wildlife Education center
Uganda wildlife education centre is a world class refugee center for animals and an educative center located in Entebbe city, the centre was formerly known as Entebbe zoo deriving its name from Entebbe town. The Uganda wildlife education center is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria covering an area of 72 acres of land, the center is an amazing location where you get to enjoy many species of animals in the proximity of Entebbe city as it just 11 kilometers a 20 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport and 433 kilometers a 20 minutes’ drive from Kampala the capital city of Uganda.
Uganda wildlife education center administered and operated by the ministry of tourism, wildlife and antiquities is a prominent tourist destination receiving over 2000 tourist each year. Uganda Wild Education centre is the coordinating zoo for the zoos in East, Central and West Africa as mandated by Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA).
The centre is a famous for being a home to the big five and the amazing primates which are sheltered in caged locations in the wilderness, animals like lions, leopards, buffalo, rhino, baby elephant, giraffe, cheetah, spotted hyenas, impala, seals, turtles can be seen in the center. In the forested hill area of the centre you get to see primates like vervet monkeys, golden monkey, DeBraza monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, pata monkeys and olive baboons.
The center is also a perfect destination for bird viewing as it shelters over 120 bird species such as the rare shoe bill, famous African fish eagle, the Great Blue Turaco to Hammerkops, Giant Kingfisher the smallest sun bird, the ostrich, African grey parrot, crested crane and many more. Uganda wildlife education center is a home to reptiles such as Nile crocodiles, marsh terappin, Gabon viper snakes, African rock python and many more.
Uganda wildlife education center is consists of 500 plant species which depict Uganda’s three ecosystems that is wetland, the savannah and the forest, it is in this vegetation where the animals live and some of these plants are herbs used to cure illness. The centers eco systems attributed more to being situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, this has resulted the center to be flooded with migrant water birds and butterflies.
History of the Centre
Uganda wildlife education Centre started as a reception Centre in 1952 by the British colonialist, it was started primarily to shelter animals which were orphans, injured and the one confiscated from poachers and illegal trade. At the time the center was under the authority game department and in 1956 an animal orphanage was created purposely to raise orphaned animals received through game department , as time went on the collection of animals brought to the park became bigger and the same time the public had picked interest in the animals sheltered in this place . This forced the British protectorate to declare the center a national zoo in 1962, this resulted in to bringing even non-indigenous species like bears and tigers to be kept in the zoo.
The national zoo successful developed and carried out its operation even after the departure of the British as the granted Uganda her independence, sadly Uganda as a nation faced a political turmoil in 1970. The turmoil greatly affected the national zoo as an institution as it received inadequate funds from the government, this resulted into the breakdown of the zoo’s infrastructures and loss of important violable animal species as the park authority can’t afford to run the institution. The zoo remained in a bad state until early 90’s when the government of Uganda realized that there is need to establish an institution that would pioneer in educating Ugandans about the importance of conserving the biodiversity in Uganda.
Because of the government’s efforts a development study was done by New York zoological society, the study recommended the transformation of the zoo into a facility for environmental education and tourism. On 5th may 1994 Uganda wildlife education Centre was established and since the Centre has thrived and became one of the most respected conservation establishments in Africa and the whole world because it has successfully reached its goal of educating Ugandan the importance of conserving the biodiversity, sheltering rescued injured, confiscated and orphaned animals and also breeding endangered wildlife species into the wild.
Uganda wildlife education center has facilities which shelter different animal species and offer different fun filled activities to the visitors of the park such as
Museum
Uganda wildlife education center’s museum exhibits remains of different huge animals found in Uganda such as lion skins, ivory, snakes and many more. Here you get see portraits of Uganda map, national parks, the big five and many more, these portrait have small notes of names and descriptions.
Craft shop
The craft shop sells handmade crafts and souvenirs which are sold to visitor at reasonable price.
Children’s play ground
The Centre has a playground which is used by kids to play, it has bouncing castles, swimming pool and many more activities for kids.
Restaurant
Uganda wildlife education center has a restaurant where you can buy food stuffs and refreshing water.
Glass snake house
Uganda wildlife education center has a glass snake house which shelters different snake species which can be closely seen through thee mirror.
Beach
The center has a shore line on the Lake Victoria where you can go for beach activities like swimming, beach walk and resting.
When you visit Uganda wildlife education center you will be welcomed by two huge giraffe monuments which is a good spot to take pictures, as you walk in you after clearing with park’s offices you will come across a craft shop where you can buy handmade crafts and souvenirs. Your assigned tour guide will first take you to the center’s museum where you will see and know more about prominent animals found in Uganda as they are displayed (remains of these animals are displayed), from the museum you will proceed to the cages where animals are sheltered. The cages have platforms which enable you to clearly see the animals with notes describing the animals.
