Kicker: It is one place to go for honeymoon, to socialise or strengthen bonds by playing beach games such as volleyball, football, badminton or simply take a break and relax.
Kalangala is a place worth sailing away to. Those who are there on honeymoon can simply sit by the beach and talk, joke and make the most of their stay at these quiet 84 Ssese islands that form a raw, virgin archipelago.
Getting there: There are two routes to Kalangala; one by road, another by water, via Lake Victoria. You will need to travel to Entebe from where you can proceed by a boda boda or a car to Nakiwogo docking area. If you choose to take a cab or Uber from Kampala to Entebe, it will cost you a transport fare of between Shs70, 000 and Shs85, 000.
At Nakiwogo, you can buy an ordinary ticket at Shs10, 000 for a place on MV Ferry Kalangala. There is a VIP section on the ferry and a ticket goes for Shs15, 000. The ferry takes three hours to Kalangala.
MV Vanessa, a private option that also carries passengers to Kalangala. It takes an hour to Kalangala for Shs45, 000 one way and Shs85, 000 for a return journey. They return to Entebe on Sunday at 2pm.
If you are to get to Kalangala district by road, you can pass through Masaka, at Bukakata landing site off Masaka Highway. From Bukakata to Kalangala is a 30-minute sail across the lake. The ferry here is free of charge. The first ferry takes off at 7am. The rest keep ferrying people every two hours till 7pm.
The attractions: As you sail away, take in the breeze as the wind attempts to blow away your stress. For the traveller, a couple, a photographer, the ferry sundecks are an idea place to take it all in or capture moments.
Lake Victoria is one bird paradise, of relatively peaceful waves. It is Africa’s biggest fresh water body. Kalangala is pristine. It opens up to a virgin rural look from a fishing village dotted with semi- permanent shelters. The freshness, beauty and real country relaxation.
Where to stay: Kalangala has a number of facilities where you can book your stay while on holiday or work. You can choose from Ssese Islands Beach Hotel (http://sseseislandsbeachhotel.com), to Mirembe Resort Beach (www.miremberesort.co.ug), Brovad Sands Lodge (http://www.brovadsandslodge.com), Victoria Forest Resort (www.victoriaforestresort.co.ug), Panorama Cottages, Ssese Habitat Resort, Pearl Gardens Resort Beach and Islands Club.
About Kalangala: It is situated in Lake Victoria in south west Uganda surrounded by Lake Victoria with an area of 9,066.8Km. Only 432.1Km2 (4.8 per cent) is land. The rest is water.
