Discover the Tranquil Beauty of Banda Island

Getting There

• Car

  If you are traveling by car within the Ssese Islands, start your journey from the main ferry landing at Bukakata. From there, drive towards the nearest landing site for Banda Island. You will need to take the ferry from Bukakata to Kalangala. The ferry ride takes approximately 1 hour and costs around 10,000 UGX per person. Once you reach Kalangala, head to the local boat dock where you can hire a private boat or join a scheduled boat service heading to Banda Island. The boat ride will take about 30 minutes.

• Public Transportation

  For those using public transportation, begin your journey at the nearest bus station in Kampala. Board a bus heading to Masaka, which costs about 20,000 UGX and takes approximately 2-3 hours. Once in Masaka, switch to a taxi or a matatu (shared taxi) to Bukakata, costing around 5,000 UGX and taking about 30 minutes. At Bukakata, take the ferry to Kalangala for 10,000 UGX. Upon arrival in Kalangala, you can hire a local boat to Banda Island that typically costs between 30,000 to 50,000 UGX depending on the number of passengers.

• Private Boat Hire

  If you prefer a more direct route, you can hire a private boat from Kalangala directly to Banda Island. This can be arranged at the dock in Kalangala. The cost for a private boat can range from 150,000 to 300,000 UGX depending on the size of the boat and the number of passengers. This option allows for a more flexible schedule and a quicker journey, taking approximately 20-30 minutes depending on water conditions.