Lake Victoria — Africa’s largest lake — shared by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya looks large as an ocean and contains to surprise to most visitors, the Ssese Islands — an archipelago of eighty-four islands in the northwestern part of Lake Victoria. This quiet and tropical paradise is nowadays easier to reach thanks to the good and steady improving infrastructure inside Uganda, the so-called “ Pearl of Africa ”.

 

The Ssese islands are characterized by pristine clear waters, white sandy beaches and virgin rain forest

Uganda is still nearly untouched by mass tourism and remains with diverse cultures, thriving and abundant wildlife and the largest Lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. The Ssesse-Islands are nearly undiscovered by Tourists and are the perfect setting for ending a safari in Uganda with Sun, Sandy Beaches, Fishing, Swimming, Nature walks on private islands, birdwatching, horseback riding, biking, sunset cruises and visits to nearby islands like the Ngamba Chimpanzee Island.

The romantic atmosphere around the islands makes these islands the perfect place for holiday makers, couples, lovers and honeymooners.

The islands are known for birdwatching and birders will be amazed by the unique species found in the islands. The islands have several primates like Vervet and colobus monkeys.

Getting there

Today reaching Bugala Island, the tourist hub on the Ssese Islands has become more comfortable with two large ferries serving between Bugala Island and the mainland. For Tourists the Nairobi International Airport acts as a global hub (in East-Africa) and Ugandas international Entebbe Airport also is not far from the local port(s) on Lake Victoria like Nakiwogo, which provide local ferrys connecting to the islands at least twice a day together with additional speedboat transfers on weekends.

After arriving in Uganda´s international Airport Entebbe, you have several options to continue your journey. The largest island in the archipelago is called Bugala Island. Its largest town, called Kalangala.

The most popular route to Kalangala that the islands can be accessed is through Nakiwogo by MV Kalangala, which is near Entebbe (Airport) as the main gateway to the archipelagos. This Transfer between Nakiwogo and Bugala Island is usually 3½ hours. The ferry found at Nakiwogo dock operates daily to Kalangala Bay — Lutoboka and departs from Entebbe (Nakiwogo) at 2:00 pm taking about 3.5 hours to Kalangala. It then returns from Kalangala daily back to Nakiwogo at 8:00 am. Then there is another ferry to Kalangala which departs from Bukakata site (near Masaka) and lands at Bugoma on the other end of Bugala Island. The new MV Vanessa Passenger Ferry which is the most convenient way with just a little bit more than one hour of getting to and from the Island from Entebbe to Kalangala on weekends. Bookings are mainly available though hotels.

Recommendations

Uganda is generally considered to be a safe country with low crime rates. I felt safe all the time! Simply use common sense at all times, take of your belongings and be aware of your surroundings and one should be totally fine traveling in Uganda (, like in most other countries). The Ugandan Ministry of Health requires all travellers to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination and Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus are strongly recommended. Concerning your visa, the easiest way (for most travellers) is to buy your Ugandan Tourist Visa on Arrival in Uganda at the point of Entry such as Entebbe International Airport. If you travel to (East-) Africa for the first time, then Traveling to Uganda and the Sse-See-Island won’t be anything like your standard (Europe/US) trip, but with a little more planning and enjoying your journey with a loose travel shedule can make a journey like this become a beautiful lifetime experience.

Safe journey & a lot of fun!