The Ssese islands have always been known for fishing until recently when people started appreciating its geographical location and the serene beauty that it offers. Located in the middle of Victoria Lake,

The archipelago is divided into two parts that is the south western part which is known as the Bugala and the North eastern part which is known as the Koome. These two groups are separated by the Koome channel. The Bugala  consists of the following islands the Bugaba island, Bufumira island, Serinya island, Buyova island, Bubeke island, Funye Island and many more others. The main islands that are located on the Koome group include the Luwaji Island, Koome Island, Damba and Island. Bulago is also prominent and it features a number of sand beaches

Ssese islands are about 84 in number found in Kalangala district and are now one of the best destinations in the country due to the serene nature that is found in the area. Kalangala district has two banks and these include Finance trust bank and stanbic bank and you will not find any high rise buildings in the area. The island has roughly 65,000 people and these live on the different islands that is 25,000 people live on Bugala Island while the rest live on the other islands.

How to travel to Ssese Island

The different prices of the MV Kalangala which travels to and from Kalangala especially for a one way journey are as follows. Those traveling in the economy class pay 10,000 and first class pay 14,000 Ugandan shillings only.

A ferry leaves Nakiwogo in Entebbe at 2:00pm every day and reaches Ssese Island at 5:30pm.

The MV Kalangala which is the main ferry on that route leaves Ssese Island every morning at 8:00am and therefore people leaving the Island should keep time.

A ferry leaves Masaka from Bukakata and this one is always free of charge although it is a tiring and long journey which is why most tourists do not use it.

This route uses the Mv Pearl and Mv ssese operated by Kalangala Infrastructure services. The drive from Kampala to Bukakata in Masaka to Nyendo is about 2 hours 48 minutes or 141 km

The ferry crosses from starting 7:00 to 5:00 pm from Bukakata to Bugoma then to Kalangala and the reverse is true.  Crossing time is 2:20 minutes

Economic activities carried out on Ssese Island

The main economic activity that is carried out in Ssese is fishing that is majorly done at the Lake Victoria and the most common fish that is caught in Ssese is the Nile perch and the Tilapia. The recent over fishing on the different islands around Lake Victoria due to the various illegal methods have reduced the number of fish in the lake

Other Economic activities carried out on the Ssese islands include farming, boat riding in form of tourism and charcoal production on the island.

Activities in Ssese Island

There are several activities that you can do when you decide to travel to Ssese Island and some of these include the following:

A visit to the Island club

This is more of a campsite where various people gather around to take part in the evening activities after a very long day.th relaxing nature in the gardens is good for resting and you also get to see the setting sun in its glamour but note that the bar closes roughly by midnight as the bartenders have to rest before they open up the next day.

A visit to the Kihumuro cave

Kihumuro cave is located at Kalaya village and is located on the Bugala Island. It is 30 to 40 meters long cave and when you visit the cave you will notice the small exit and wide entrance. With rich cultural and traditional spiritual history that is best explained by the tour guides that you find at the cave as these will take you through the various stories as you tour the cave.

The cave is known as a local traditional place of whorship to many and when you get inside the cave, you will find that the floor is fully covered with grass and you are supposed to remove your shoes before you enter since it is considered to be a holy place. There are different contents that you will see in the cave and these include spears, bark clothes, calabashes, coffee seeds in a basket and many more other local items.

Spot fishing on the Lake Victoria

A tour to the Ssese Island will give you a chance to enjoy spot fishing. You will be able to catch some of the common fish species like the Tilapia and Nile perch with the help of a tour guide and after enjoy smoking it on a fire that is in most cases provided by the resort where you are staying. This is an experience that you do not want to miss when you visit the Island.

Explore the billionaire’s view

The billionaire’s view is located south of Kalangala town and it is on top of a hill. The road leading to the billionaire’s view is a bit dusty and is mostly accessed by bodas that are found in the area. When you are on top of the hill, you get to see the whole island with a new perspective as you get to see the lake view, beaches, the valleys and different housings on the island perfectly. Very few people know why it is called Billionaire’s view but if you want to see the best of the island then this is the best place for you to be.

Explore the tropical forest

The island has a tropical forest which is a home to some wild animals that are found in the area and some of these animals include the sitatunga antelopes, monkeys, crocodiles lounging in the Lake Victoria and various bird species. The forest is also filled with various flora and fauna that can only be found on the Island and you can get to enjoy birding, game drives through the forest and nature walks. But remember to walk with sunscreen and put on long sleeved clothes to avoid insect bites

Ssese islands is a place that you do not want to miss especially if you have booked for a safari to Uganda. It is one of the country’s hidden treasures that have not yet been tampered with and you get to enjoy nature at its best as you unwind after a long day. And since they are far away from the city, you get to enjoy the peace and quiet at one of the most beautiful islands in the whole world.

Other Activities include: Boat Rides, Palm Island Visit, Swimming, Volley ball, Nature walks, Quad biking, Bicycle rides and speed boat experience etc.