Location:
76 km south west of Kampala. Bearing: 209.74° (SSW)
46km by ferry from Nakiwogo Entebbe
170 km by road via Masaka – Bukakata Ferry.
Coordinates: -0.31377679146972304, 32.287951725876
The Ssese Islands, also known as Kalangala, is an archipelago of 84 islands in Lake Victoria, south of Entebbe, about 3 hours by a ferry from Nakiwogo pier in Entebbe. The islands vary in size from less than 10,000 square metres, to over 40 km in length for the largest island – Buggala. Buggala Island is the most popular destination as it has many hotels along Rutoboka bay. The main attractions are white sand beaches, clear waters, tropical forests and stunning sunsets. Most of the southern part of Buggala Island is dominated by palm oil plantations.
The water adventures include excursions to Virgin Island home to crocodiles and giant Monitor Lizards as well as a variety of birds
Cultural tours
Ssese offers tourism activities that belong to two different centuries – ancient and modern.
The cultural experiences in Ssese involve visits to Kalaya caves of Jjaja Kiwumulo or Semuggala. The cave is of cultural importance to the Nkima clan, one of the 52 in Buganda. The cave houses a collection of traditional items like spears, calabashes and backcloth.
A fire is kept alive inside the cave. Local people visit the cave to get close to their gods and ancestors by drinking alcohol and smoking pipes. Ssese has a cultural museum to preserve and promote the islands’ rich heritage to the rest of the world.
The historical sites include the Mapeera site where the first missionaries Amans Delamans and Simeone Loudel constructed the first Catholic Church in Uganda, Nanziri waterfalls, Wanema shrine on Bukasa Island and several caves.
Birding
The Ssese Islands in Uganda are known for their diverse birdlife, offering various species in their natural habitats, especially in the forests and swamps. The forest on the eastern part provides birding and nature walk experiences. The jungle songs heard along the way include familiar melodies from the Black and white Casqued Hornbills and African Paradise flycatchers.
Birds in Ssese
Some notable birds include:
African fish Eagle,
Brown-throated Wattle-eye,
Pygmy Kingfisher,
Robin-chat,