Best Islands on Lake Victoria

Best Islands on Lake Victoria

Looking for the best islands on Lake Victoria? Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest tropical freshwater body covering an area of over 59,947 square kilometers. Lake Victoria is amateur for its tropical lake and the second largest lake on the planet.  This lake is shared by three East African countries Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. It is home to many different fish such as mudfish, silverfish, the common tilapia, and encroaching Nile Perch. It’s also the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile. Lake Victoria also harbors marine animals including Nile crocodiles, hippos, cane rats, African helmeted turtles, marsh mongooses, and spotted otters among others.

Lake Victoria is not only the longest in Africa but home to the most spectacular islands and these fascinating islands are rich in culture, history, and landscape making them a must-visit when on a Ugandan safari. Some of the islands on Lake Victoria are discussed below with the attractions, activities, and accommodation facilities.

Ssese island

Ssese Island consists of over 80 islands. Visitors can relax on sandy beaches, swim in the crystal clear tranquil waters, and enjoy sport fishing and outdoor activities. The biggest island is Bugala Island which accounts for half of the land area. The island is in Kalangala district the largest town in southwest of Entebbe in Wakiso district. These islands are a haven to countless birds including shoebill stork, Shelley’s crimsonwing, African great broadbill, and crested cane.

Kalangala islands

The Kalangala Islands are well known for extraordinary wildlife, abundant greenery, and outdoor activities. Kalangala has several hills all offering magnificent lake views, approaching ferries, and human activities within the island. The islands have the largest palm oil plantations in Uganda offering employment opportunities to the local community. The island is home to bird watchers and primate sighting and the most sighted primates are vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, bushbucks not forgetting the snake.

Bugala Island

The Bugala Island is a private retreat known for its luxurious resorts, secluded beaches, astonishing natural surroundings, and one of the biggest islands of the Ssese islands. The island’s unspoiled beaches, clear waters, and abundant vegetation make it a stunning and attractive place to stay. Activities like sport fishing, kayaking, nature treks, swimming, and birding all make Bugala Island a must-visit and memories worth keeping.

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary is also part of the Ssese islands and home to the rescued and orphaned chimpanzees and the sanctuary is dedicated to rehabilitation and conserving them. The island is popular for tourists seeking to relax and enjoy nature as well as activities like swimming, and sport fishing also the island has several resorts, and lodges where visitors can experience local culture and mingle with the local people. The island offers animal species other than the chimpanzees and there are over 119 bird species, and monitor lizards also visitors to the sanctuary watch the chimps being fed before they return to their habitat, and volunteers can take part in feeding the chimps and help the young orphans adapt to life on the island.

What are some of the other places to visit on Lake Victoria?

Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens were established in 1890 on the northern shores of Lake Victoria. The gardens are home to a diverse species of plants. Some of them are of the tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate zones. Besides several shrubs, and home to different species of monkeys, reptiles, and birds. Some of these birds include; the Egyptian goose, black-headed weaver, and African open-billed stork. More so, malachite kingfisher, blue-checked bee-eater, common sandpiper. Additionally, there are wood sandpiper, green sandpiper, black crake, long-tailed cormorant, and crowned hornbill. Furthermore, there are vieillot’ black weaver, woodland kingfisher, and pied kingfisher. Lastly, there are red-billed fire finch, black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Senegal coucal, little stint, little weaver, and black-headed gonolek to mention but a few.

Mabamba Swamp

The Mabamba Swamp is home to the most sought-after bird in the whole of Africa, the great shoebill stork. Several other 300 bird species are lying on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The Mabamba swamp is very important because it contains endangered species. Some of the bird species at Mabamba swamp include hadada ibis, black crave, green cuckoo, and double-toothed barbet. It also has shining blue kingfishers, yellow-backed weavers, red-eyed doves, and cattle egrets. More so, pied kingfisher, great blue Turacos, common Squacco heron, lesser jacana, Goliath heron, orange weaver, the grey crowned cranes, weaver bird, marabou stocks, the Kori bustard, Long-tailed hawk, black-throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, and white-bellied kingfisher to mention but a few.

Accommodation facilities on the Lake Victoria Islands

Brovad Sand Lodge

The Brovad Sand Lodge is located on the island of Bugala in Ssese Island on Lake Victoria is a luxurious lodge with a private white sands beach facilities at Brovad Lodge include a spa, restaurant, en suite family, and swimming pool.

Victoria Sands Lodge

The lodge, with a romantic ambiance of Lake Victoria, is at the sandy beaches in Mbita overlooking Rusinga Island. Victoria Sands Lodge offers several different amenities. Some of these include an outdoor swimming pool, good breakfast, beachfront, and free Wi-Fi.

Banda Island Resort

This lodge is located on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria and consists of eleven small islands and is a good place to relax with lots of activities to participate in such as beach volleyball, kayaking, and board games. Banda Resort has an alternative for campfires for those interested in camping.

Mirembe Resort Beach Hotel

Mirembe is a Luganda word for ‘peace,’ and the resort is located on Buggala Island. The hotel offers an incredible travel experience mixing with wildlife and nature. So, while on a travel experience on Ssese Island please don’t forget to check out Mirembe Resort Beach Hotel. Mirembe Resort Beach Hotel also offers amenities such as an outdoor swimming pool and family suites.