Musambwa Islands

musambwa

Location
Musambwa Islands are three rocky islands about five kilometers offshore from Kasensero Landing site in Rakai District off the shores of Sango Bay region in Lake Victoria. The largest of the islands is about three hectares, the medium sized one about 2 ha and the smallest are rocky outcrops jutting out of Lake Victoria.

Flora and Fauna
The island is an important Bird Area (IBA) with an estimated bird population of 150,000 these are the Grey Headed Gull, the Long Tailed Cormorant, Greater Cormorant, and the Little Egret. They are known to have the largest breeding colony for the Grey-headed Gulls in Africa. Other birds on this island include White-winged Black Tern ,Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Plover, Black Crake, Cattle Egret, Yellow-billed Duck, Grey Heron, Lesser Flamingo, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Moorhen, African Fish Eagle, Pink-backed Pelican ,Open-Billed Stork, Water Thick-knee, Common Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Green-backed Heron, Hamerkop, African Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Heron, Pied Kingfisher, Squacco Heron.

Unique reptiles such as snakes estimated to be 2,000 and lizards are also found on these islands which have never harmed any one. The island has reptiles like the African rock pythons, cobras, vipers and monitor lizards but one unique thing about these reptiles is that they have a great bond with the people in that most of the community members are not scared being near these reptiles and look at them as the owners of the island.

The vegetation on two of the islands is mainly shrubby dominated Erlangea sp. and stunted trees mainly of Ficus sp. The shorelines are mainly rocky with no fringing swampy vegetation or sandy beaches.

Population
The Islands has a population of about 100 people

Communication
The islands are served by all the mobile telecommunication networks in Uganda including Uganda Telecom, MTN and Airtel and Warid Uganda.

TransportTransport on Musambwa Islands is by use of boats

Accomodation
There is tented accommodation at Musambwa Eco Tourism Site, contact Tel: +256-414-540719/+256-392-965407

A tourist can enjoy the following