Uganda Reptile Village:
Get Up Close and Personal with Uganda's Snakes
The sign that leads to Snake Park in Kitende is one of the more interesting ones on Entebbe Road. Who would really think of dedicating an entire park to snakes in a nation where they are universally feared?
If you are traveling from Kampala, the park lies just before Kajjansi. A sign on your left will lead you down a dirt road. Even though the signs say the park is only a few kilometers from the main road, it feels longer because of the uneven Marram Road, which makes you worry if you're going to be looking for snakes in the bush. You will be rewarded, though, when you arrive to the specially constructed snake conservation enclosure at the end of the road.
Although the park is open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the two employees who met us were taken aback by our appearance on a Saturday morning. There is no tariff for foreign residents; the entrance price is 3,000 for Ugandans and 15,000 for international visitors.
The park appears to be well-organized at first glance. It is little but well laid out, with tidy stone walkways winding around banda-style buildings with expansive windows for viewing. There are various snake species in each of them. Even if the structures may use some renovation, seeing some amazing snakes up close is still worth it.
At the time of our visit, not all of the snake homes were occupied, indicating that their conservation stock is still growing. The actual reptiles are rescued from all throughout Uganda and given loving care. The guides will cheerfully spend hours telling your kids stories about these man-eating reptiles and are incredibly informed and enthusiastic about the snakes.
The brick snake houses are really safe, so those of you hoping for thrills and danger while interacting with these poisonous creatures might be let down. Naturally, if you want to use a visit to get over your snake phobia, this will be a comfort. The snakes themselves, who are enragedly concealed on trees and in corners, are not naturally entertaining and are frequently happy to lie. At feeding time, when they are munching on day-old chicks, you are likely to witness the most activity.
Although there is a children's play area, it is becoming old, and there is no close dining or drinking options. Therefore, Snake Park is more of a location to stop by for a quick visit than to stay, even if it may be a pleasant and educational detour between Entebbe and Kampala. It might be paired with a lunch in the Botanical Gardens or the Wildlife Education Center if you plan to make a day of it.
If you have run out of kid-friendly activities in Kampala or Entebbe or would like to learn about a variety of Ugandan snakes from a safe distance, you should check out the Snake Park.
Yasin Kazibwe, a reptile specialist who has rescued more than 40 snake species, founded Reptile Village in Entebbe in 2002. Visitors on safari trips in Uganda frequently visit the area to observe the many reptiles.
In addition to snakes, the town is home to chameleons, tortoises, crocodiles, and monitor lizards. Visitors on safari vacations to Uganda are safe since they are kept in cages, while the crocodiles are kept in a large pond. Yasin devoted his life to reptilian conservation. Under the guidance of the reptile guides, visitors get the chance to hoist the African rock python. A terrifying event, yet a chance to set one's anxieties aside.
Off the Kampala-Entebbe highway sits the Reptile Village. The distance from the main road is 3 km. The verdant community is the perfect location for excursions rather than vacationers. The village's founders stress that the village serves as both a home for various reptile species and an educational center for reptiles where visitors on tours in Uganda may learn and do research.
The village's knowledgeable guides frequently provide fascinating information about reptiles. You may spend your leisurely day in Entebbe examining the many kinds of reptiles. You will discover a charming and unforgettable entryway to the Pearl of Africa—Entebbe—in the friendly smiles of the guides.