Kampala Holidays
Kampala is Uganda’s capital city, and also the largest city in the country. It is one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, as well as East Africa’s best city to live.
When to go to Kampala
Best Time to Go
The capital and the biggest city of Uganda
Visit museums, markets, and historical buildings
Great destination for stop-offs and city breaks
Enjoy hotels, shops, cafés, restaurants, casinos, and bars
Uganda’s Bustling Capital City
For the most part, we sell stop-over stays here, to travellers spending just a night in Kampala before or after their safari in the national parks of Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, and Lake Mburo. The city has reliable transport links to and from Entebbe’s airport, which provides international flights. However, if you would like to spend more time exploring Kampala, we are happy to arrange this for you.
Activities
Kampala boasts a diverse range of restaurants, shopping malls, and cultural attractions to keep visitors entertained. Its hills are also interesting, as they are topped by mosques, churches, and some grand hotels.
Take in the cultural highlights
Restaurants, cafés and shopping
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If you head down into the lower parts of the city, you can visit the Uganda Museum, the Uganda National Theatre, and the markets of Nakasero and Saint Balikuddembe.
There is an excellent assortment of cafés, bars, and restaurants serving both local and international cuisine. Keen shoppers will enjoy trips to several shopping centres, particularly the Garden City Mall. That shopping centre is also the location of Kampala’s famous Casino Simba, featuring a hundred gaming machines.
History
Kampala, named after the “Hills of the Impala,” had origins as a royal hunting ground before the British East Africa Company established a base in 1890 under Captain Frederick Lugard. His fort secured Kampala and much of the Kingdom of Buganda, leading to British colonial rule in 1905. Entebbe was the capital during the years of colonial rule, with Kampala thriving as Uganda’s commercial hub, with institutions like Makerere Technical Institute founded in 1922. Independence came in 1962, and Kampala was designated as the capital city. Years of political unrest ensued. However, Kampala has rebounded, offering modern infrastructure, cultural vibrancy, and plenty for visitors to experience.
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
Speak to an Expert
Let one of our Yellow Zebra specialists design
your tailor‑made African adventure
