Day 29 Friday February 9 Lake Nabugabo to Ssese Island

by Henry

Another relatively short day. Initially, 27 km riding on a very pleasant and traffic-free road surrounded by wetlands and many birds. We had our first view of Lake Victoria, one of the major sources of the Nile River. Only Lake Superior is larger in surface area. We took a 6 km ferry ride on Lake Victoria to Ssese Island. There we finished with an additional 36 km of riding on an unpaved road to our final destination at Victoria Forest Resort, for a total of 63 km biking.

Maximum 25° C, no rain or wind. The sun starts to get hot at about 11 AM every day.


The sun rising over Lake Nabugabo.


Very typical Ugandan homes we see along the roadside. Doors are made of metal, and there are always bars in the windows.


Happened upon a load of bananas, awaiting pick-up at the roadside. A cluster is surprisingly heavy.


Long, traffic-free road piercing natural wetlands and leading to the ferry.


Fried dough and sambusa vendor at the ferry depot.


Being loaded onto the Lake Victoria ferry.


Bikes all crammed onto the ferry.


Unpaved road on Ssese Island. The island is a major producer of palm oil, and we saw endless rows of cultivated palm trees.


Downhill, followed by a daunting uphill in the distance.


Our campsite on the grounds of Victoria Forest Resort, at the shore of Lake Victoria.


Our first chlorinated pool since Egypt. Very refreshing on a hot day. As tempting as it may be, it’s recommended that we not swim in African lakes or bodies of water, because of the possibility of contacting a parasitic disease such as bilharzia (known more commonly in the USA as schistosomiasis).

We have another ferry to catch tomorrow morning, necessitating an extra early daily bag drop off at 5:30 am. There was a collective groan at this announcement. Most of us would have to arise by 4:30 am at the latest to be packed up in time.