Ssese Islands
The Ssese Islands are a group of 84 small islands scattered across Lake Victoria in Uganda, ranging from large inhabited islets to tiny forested spots. The main island, Bugala, stretches roughly 40 kilometers in length and hosts most of the settlements, while smaller islands often measure less than a hectare and remain covered in rainforest.
The islands were long inhabited by fishermen and small farmers before British explorer John Speke stopped here in the 19th century during his search for the source of the Nile. His fort on one of the islands still stands as a reminder of that period of European exploration in East Africa.
The name comes from the word for the tsetse fly, once more common near the shores and sometimes seen in large clouds during breeding season. Local fishermen speak Luganda and use the waters daily, while palm oil farming and simple homesteads shape the interior landscape of the larger islands.
Most travelers reach the islands by boat from Entebbe or Masaka, with trips taking around three and a half hours on regular ferries or less on faster vessels. The islands are accessible year-round, though the dry seasons offer clearer weather and calmer waters for crossing.
A nearby sanctuary on Ngamba hosts rescued chimpanzees that visitors can often watch playing and feeding from the shore. The small museum on the islands displays preserved wildlife and tools that document the daily life of island residents across generations.
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