Behind the Scenes at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

At only 10 minutes drive from Entebbe airport, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre provided a perfect first destination following our super early flight, and what an amazing introduction to Uganda!

And a great place to spend your birthday!

The centre itself was first established in 1952 as a reception centre for wild animals that were found as casualties before morphing into a zoo proper during the heady heydays of animal exhibitions (or should that be exploitation?) of the 1960s, before transforming again into the refuge centre that it is today.

Aside from providing its inhabitants with veterinarian and pastoral care, it’s main focus is to educate local Ugandans – and foreign visitors – that these gracious creatures are not prey to be hunted and sold, meat to be eaten, pests to eliminate but rather peaceful beings with which we can co-exist, admire and respect. The centre regularly takes animals on visits to local villages to educate rural Ugandans and give them an opportunity to admire an animal close up. Unfortunately for us, this week it was the resident Leopard’s turn. but that’s ok, we found the mini ones…

What kind of dinosaur is that Rem? Oh… a hippo! Doh!

The Centre is home to a multitude of local creatures, who are either recovering from injuries, suffering from habitat destruction, the bush meat trade, or escaping poachers and illegal trafficking, providing us with a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the species we were hoping to meet on our upcoming safari.

It was very exciting to join a ‘Behind The Scenes’ tour, which enabled us to get right up close and personal with some of the species we’d come to Uganda to spot!

And no, that’s not a dog haha haha…

We were taken under the wing of a highly knowledgeable and experienced ranger, and got stuck right in!

It’s common knowledge that someone’s most favourite animal ever is the Cheetah, so expectations were running high…

Our ranger was quick to explain that unfortunately (or rather more fortunately for me), the Cheetah cubs had now grown to a size that they were no longer pettable, but fabulous they were all the same! This is Maya, who has recently been welcomed to the centre. This meant that she was still spending time indoors, as they worked through her gradual introduction to the rest of the pride.

Just one gorgeous kitty…

With pink toe beans!!!

Next up were Maya’s cousins, although she was definitely going to be a tough act to follow…

Not very active at all, although points for the cute sleeping kitty face…

But it would seem that it was going to be the small cats who were the winners on the day… first the mini leopards known as the Serval Cat, very shy but oh so gorgeous…

And not to be outdone by the incredible Lucy the Caracal, the most gorgeous of them all….

My what big ears you have Lucy!

On the topic of ears, what could be any cuter than this adorable little orphan?

Next up it was time to meet some of the tough guys…

The Southern White Rhino. Now officially extinct in the wild here in Uganda, save for these two here safe at the UWEC and the lucky dudes up at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which we were looking forward to visiting in a few days time.

As scary as these guys look, it appeared that these gentle giants like nothing more than a fistful of grass…

…and a good scratch behind the ear!!!

Meanwhile over on Chimp island havoc was about to break out as the sight of a ranger with a bucket full of peanuts came into their view…

And soon enough a crowd began to gather at the waters edge. Let’s hope our aim is good enough to satisfy this mob!!

Me want peanuts!!!

But it wasn’t just the Chimps that that we had to keep our eyes on, but the sneaky sneaksters creeping up beside us trying their luck at our bucket!

Butter wouldn’t melt, would it?!

Oh hello! Who’s this?!

None other than Uganda’s national bird the Crested Crane!

…and his mate Sushi, the endangered, jurassic looking, prey decapitating Shoebill Stork!

Hmmm, pleased to meet you Sushi!

So, what’s better than meeting a Nile Crocodile?

…introducing Croccy to his long lost cussies…

…and having the guy next to you jump sky high thinking that he was real!!! Hahaha!

And now to my favourite, the beauticious, graceful, vegetarian, pacifist giant…

From the moment we locked eyes I knew it was love 😍

Is that a banana in your pocket?!

Time for a great big collective *sigh*

And so, after a day of getting to know our new neighbours, what could be better than getting locked in with them!! That’s right, we even managed to stay the night at the centre in our very own East African Banda…