The glorious Ssese islands are situated in the north western part of Lake Victoria comprised of 84 islands in all. The biggest of the islands is called Bugala Island. 43 of the Ssese islands are inhabited by the Bases people who are very closely related to the Buganda and Busoga people in Uganda. The islands were very important places of worship in the ancient times.
Ssese islands main economic activity practiced by its inhabitants is fishing other activities are tourism, forestry, live stock farming and agriculture. The Ssese islands are sub divided into two groups each named according to the biggest island in the group they are separated by the Koome channel. These two islands are Bugala and Koome islands.
Ssese Island is the best place for weekend getaway; the views are panoramic with various birds, animals and primates to be seen on the island. Other places to visit are the Kalangala ferry dock and the Kalangala golf course.
There various tourists’ activities that tourists can get to enjoy while at Ssese islands some of the activities can be seen below;
Sport fishing
One of the best ways to enjoy Ssese islands is by going for sports fishing, the famous fish specie here is the Nile perch, tourists must obtain fishing permits before engaging in this activity and also come along with their fishing gears though gears can also be hired at an affordable price.
Swimming
The sand beaches are the best places to enjoy this recreational activity, tourists can go swimming and sun bathing at any of the Ssese beaches or just sit and observe the world’s second largest fresh water lake. However, some people don’t prefer swimming in this waters and go to the swimming pools due to fear of Bilharzia.
Visit Ngamba Island
Tourists can make their stay at Ssese islands more fun by visiting the famous Ngamba island for a chimpanzee experience, Ngamba island is home to over 40 orphaned Chimpanzees that were captured from poachers who wanted to trade them through Entebbe airport for pet trade in outside countries. The safari to Ngamba Island is interesting as you can participate as a caretaker and feed the Chimpanzees during the time their given food
Ssese islands has also got other animals like bush bucks, hippopotamus and crocodiles to be seen on some of the islands.
Ssese islands can be accessed everyday a part from Sunday Bukakata. Routes of sailing. Kalangala Island that serves as the island’s headquarters can be accessed 51 kilometers from Entebbe town mainland, the journey normally takes about 3 and half hours when using Nakiwogo ferry. There also taxis that departs from Luku to Kalangala. Alternatively people can use local wooden boats from the Kasenyi landing site to get to the islands.
There are various accommodation units where tourists can stay while at Ssese islands ranging from camping, budget, mid range and luxurious some if the hotels in the islands are; panorama cottages, Broad sands lodges, philo leisure gardens, Kalangala beach resort hotel and Victoria forest resort among others.
