Entebbe International Airport – The gateway to Uganda – The best gateway to Gorilla trekking and wildlife Safaris in Uganda
Entebbe international Airport is located in Uganda and it’s the main entry point used by many travelers when getting in to Uganda. Entebbe city is the first destination of your arrival to and from Uganda from different countries across the globe. Uganda is one of the popular tourist destinations in east Africa. Uganda has got lots of attractions that have attracted many tourists in to the country, due to the availability of different national parks offering different activities, gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, chimpanzee trekking. The landscape view, source of the Nile with many activities to be done namely, the boat cruise, baggie jumping and others, Due to the strategic location and the favorable climate of the country, it has facilitated a number of activities to take place thus improving on the tourism industry. Entebbe international airport, is the only international airport in Uganda and the main entry point in to the country and to Kampala the capital city of Uganda, Uganda is a must visit country during any of your holidays and if you are looking for the country to visit in Africa, come visit Uganda, you will have the best of your safari trip full of fun and memories for the life time.
Entebbe international airport is located in Entebbe close to the shores of Lake Victoria one of the largest water body in Africa. Entebbe airport is about 10 min drives from Entebbe town and 40 minutes’ drive from Kampala capital city. The airport comprises of two terminals which handle both domestic and international flights. Entebbe airport operates service for a number of international airlines including, fly Dubai, South African airlines, KLM, Egypt airlines, Air Tanzania, Ethiopian Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Emirates, Qatar Airways, Brussels Airlines, Air Kenya among others. The airport operates direct schedules flights around East Africa and other destinations some of the countries among others, Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Bujumbura, juba and many others.
Entebbe airport assumed operation in 2015 and currently it’s under construction and going to be done in three phases due to the need to expand the airport in order to accommodate the number of people received at the airport. These areas include expansion of the existing cargo, strengthening of the existing runways, and expansion of the new passenger terminal building from the current 410 arrivals to 930 arriving passengers and 320 departures to 820 departing passengers. This is mostly received during the busy/ peak seasons in Uganda.
Requirements needed at Entebbe International Airport
For any person living his/her country for another country, must always make sure that you have all the necessary documents required for to enter that particular country you are travelling to, for example, travelers coming to Uganda, after your arrival at Entebbe airport or departing, you will be asked to present the following documents make sure you are well equipped with them including; Please note that at the moment due to COVID-19 pandemic, other measures have been put in place and these include presenting PCR negative results with in 72 hours from the time of sample taking, and you will be subjected to another test upon arrival at Entebbe international airport
- Passport,
it should be a valid passport which expires in at least six months.
- Uganda Visa,
It is now mandatory to secure a Uganda visa online or on arrival at the immigration office at Entebbe international airport (if you did not get response, print out the form that you filled and come with at), this is document that will give you rights to access in the country but sometimes when you purchase visa from the office, it takes time in case there are many passengers may cause delays therefore, is much convenient when you purchase online.
- Yellow fever vaccination Card,
This card proves that your health is in proper condition and you should acquire this card before travelling to Uganda, if found that you do not have the card, you will be vaccinated for yellow fever on arrival.
- Reason for visiting Uganda,
Reason for visiting indicates the purpose of your visit to Uganda, in case you travelling for business issues, you will be required to present a business and for travelers coming for tourism purposes, they will be required to present itinerary from the tour company you will be going for your safari with.
- Proof of funds,
Visitors arriving or leaving the country, will be advised to present proof of fund that shows that you have enough money to spend while in that country i.e. Uganda you will present documents like bank statements, credit card as proof that you have enough funds.
- Return ticket,
The air ticket indicates the time you will be spending in Uganda either you are planning on staying for a short while, or planning to stay in Uganda permanently. You will best explain why you would want to stay in Uganda permanently.
On arrival to Entebbe international airport, you will walk out of the aircraft, straight to arrival terminal where you be asked to show the yellow fever card, then you will move to the immigration office to present your visa and passport which will be stamped, then you will proceed to collect your luggage from the convoy belts and pass through the security machine then walk out of the building where you will be meet by the driver guide for the start of your safari and stay in Uganda.
Services offered at Entebbe International Airport to the passengers
Airline lounge, this is departure lounge, where visitors seat and with for their departure flights the services offered include, internet, drinks, flat screen TV, this is a privately own facility so the services offered is at an affordable cost.
- The VIP lounge,
This is a government owned facility mainly used by diplomats and government officials at Entebbe international airport.
- Baggage facility,
Visitor’s baggage is identified using address, names this is also done at an affordable cost, in case of misconnection and lost baggage, visitors can check on the ground handling office at the arrival hall.
- Baby changing facility,
These are the washrooms at karibuni lounge and along the departures transit course.
- Facility for passengers with special needs,
Passengers with special needs like the elderly, disabled and others Entebbe airport offers services to this form of people such as lifts, wheel chair, ramps, special walkways, and also you will find help from the passengers handling staff.
- Meeting passenger facility,
This is located on ground floor outside Entebbe international airport, the meeting passenger facility is where the visitors will meet the drivers, guides that will transfer them to their respective destinations they came too, on this same place, there other services offered like customer care desk, restaurants, telephone, postal service among others.
Domestic Airlines at Entebbe international airport
Entebbe Airport operates domestic flights to various national parks and destinations within Uganda, the Airline include;
- Aero link Uganda Airline,
This is an Airline in Kampala that operates chartered domestic flights from Entebbe to Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip, kihihi for the travellers visiting Bwindi national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, for gorilla trekking or any other business service, also kasese airstrip, Mweya airstrip , Ishasha airstrip, for visitors visiting queen Elizabeth national park, and Lamoj airstrip, Pakuba airstrip and Chobe airstrip for travellers visiting Murchison falls national park famously known for wildlife safaris. There other national parks to be visited like Kidepo valley national park, Semuliki National park among others.
- Eagle Air Airline,
This is Uganda’s based airline which operates regional scheduled and private chartered flights for passengers. The eagle airline offers quick and reliable flights from Entebbe airport to various destinations in Uganda that Is Arua Airport, Kitgum Airport, Soroti Airport, Adjumani Airport, Gulu Airport, Moyo Airport, Kihihi, Kisoro, Pakuba, Kasese, Mweya, Jinja Airport among Others,
