Banda Island is part of the eighty-four Ssese chain of Islands situated in the centre of Lake Victoria, 60km from Uganda’s capital – Kampala
About forty-three of the Ssese islands are inhabited. The islands vary in size from less than 10,000 square metres, to over 40 kilometres in length for the largest island, Buggala.
According to The Guardian News paper published in the UK, been there readers revealed their favourite and Banda ranked #4 among the best beach holidays in Africa. Other countries with fine beaches include; Sierra Leone, Morocco, Zanzibar, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa’s Sodwana Bay.
Only 1km by 2km, it is owned by Dominic, an eccentric British Kenyan who has built stone huts for his guests, while settling for a modest castle for himself. Like turning up at Glastonbury after the crowds have gone, to find a few stragglers left by a campfire, Banda is a place where people intend to stay for a few days but end up staying months.
A typical day involves eating, hippo-spotting, making your way through the donated book selection, and sitting around a campfire on the beach – all accompanied by Dominic’s homemade banana gin in a plastic kettle.
Best for;
White sand, clear water and wildlife, boat & fishing trips, too easy to stay –either in your own tent or a basic stone cottage.
Getting there;
Banda can be reached by taking the Nakiwogo ferry (cost; Ush10,000 -2nd class and Ush15,000 -1st class) in Entebbe to Lutoboka where you can charter a boat for the 80-minute trip across the strait. The ferry leaves Nakiwogo at 2.00pm daily
You can also use motorized lake-taxis which service most of the inhabited islands. These run from Kasenyi, a fishing village which lies close to Entebbe and sail to Banda and other islands.
The Info;
For further, contact Banda Island on tel. +256 (0)772 222777 or email; banda.island@gmail.com
