Updated
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) is Uganda’s only international airport and the arrival point for most gorilla trekkers. It sits on the shore of Lake Victoria about 40 km south of Kampala, a 45- to 60-minute drive on the Entebbe Expressway. The airport is compact and straightforward; most delays come from queues at immigration when several long-haul flights land together. Here is what to expect on arrival, after landing and when you leave.
Before you land
Have your e-visa approval printed and your passport ready, with at least six months’ validity. Keep your yellow fever certificate with your passport, because health officers can check it on arrival. Note the name of your driver or hotel and their phone number, and if you are carrying a drone, read up on the rules first, since drones without clearance can be held by customs.
Arrival and immigration
After leaving the aircraft you pass a health desk and then immigration, where officers check your e-visa approval, take fingerprints and a photo, and stamp your passport. Queues are longest in the early morning and late evening when several European and Gulf flights arrive close together. Baggage reclaim and customs follow; most visitors walk through the green channel, but bags can be scanned and checked.
In the arrivals hall
Before leaving the terminal you can buy a local SIM card from the MTN or Airtel desks, withdraw Ugandan shillings from ATMs, or use the forex bureaus, although rates are usually better in town; see our guide to changing money. Your safari driver or hotel pickup normally waits outside the arrivals exit with a name board. Agree taxi fares before getting in if you have not arranged a transfer.
Onward travel
Most gorilla trips leave Entebbe the next morning for the long drive west; read Entebbe to Bwindi for routes and timings. Short flights to airstrips near Bwindi and Kidepo depart from Entebbe and from Kajjansi airfield between Entebbe and Kampala; see internal flights. If you land late, spend the first night in Entebbe rather than Kampala, which saves the evening traffic. Our list of places to stay near the airport covers simple options.
Spare time in Entebbe
If you have half a day at either end of your trip, Entebbe is pleasant and close to the airport. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens on the lakeshore have colobus monkeys and good birding, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre is nearby, and a morning canoe trip at Mabamba Bay offers a good chance of seeing the shoebill.
Departing from Entebbe
Allow plenty of time: aim to arrive three hours before an international flight. Vehicles and passengers are screened at the airport entrance and again at the terminal door, before check-in and departure immigration. There are cafés and souvenir shops airside, but choice is limited, and Ugandan shillings are of little use once you leave, so spend or change them before departure.
Frequently asked questions
About 40 km, usually 45 to 60 minutes via the Entebbe Expressway, longer in heavy traffic.
Plan on an e-visa approved before you travel; airlines and immigration check for it.
Yes. MTN and Airtel have desks in the arrivals area; bring your passport to register.
About three hours before an international departure, because of the security checks at the entrance.
