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Lake Victoria is located in East Africa on the equator. The
lake is roughly the same size as Switzerland or Ireland. Lake
Victoria is the source of the Nile, which at 6,600 km is the
world's longest river. Three countries share the lake: Kenya
(6%), Tanzania (50%) and Uganda (44%). There are three principal
towns on the lake: Kisumu in Kenya, Mwanza in Tanzania and Kampala
in Uganda. Entebbe, nearby to Kampala is the only international
airport on the lake and has direct flights to Europe.
Bulago is located ten miles east of Entebbe and eighteen miles
south of Uganda's capital, Kampala. It is perhaps the best located
of all islands on the lake due to its proximity to both capital
and international airport.
Lake Victoria is a freshwater lake. It is relatively shallow,
rarely more than 200 feet deep. The lake at 3750 feet above
sea level generates its own climate that affects the surrounding
landmass. Temperatures in the northern sector average around
25 degrees. Officially there are two rainy seasons and two dry
seasons. These seasons are virtually indiscernible on the lake;
in the dry season it is a little sunnier and in the rainy season
there are a few more showers each week; it is rare for rain
to persist beyond mid-morning on the lake. |
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Lake Victoria is home to several hundred species of birds -
perhaps the largest variety in the world and the greatest concentration
of Fish Eagles in the world. Otters are found throughout the
lake (several families are resident on Bulago), rare Sitatunga
and other smaller antelopes populate the islands and shores
of the lake. Elephants and other large mammals are found on
the more remote parts of the lakeshore. There is an extensive
variety of fish, but the Tilapia and giant (up to 200kg) Nile
Perch provide fine sport and excellent eating and are abundant.
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The islands and shores vary in vegetation depending on geological
formation; there are extensive, old rainforests and other areas
that are savannah. The rainforests support a wide variety of
fauna including primates. The Jane Goodall Foundation has established
a chimpanzee sanctuary for orphaned and rescued chimps on Ngamba
Island 4 miles from Bulago Island.
The lake has very low levels of pollution because there is little
intensive agriculture and little industry on the lake's shores.
It is one of the cleaner large bodies of water in the world. |
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There is a popular conception that Africa is riddled with diseases.
This is wrong. The truth is simply that there are fewer doctors
than elsewhere, so there appears to be more sickness. Bilharzia,
Sleeping Sickness and Malaria are associated with the lake.
There is no need to catch Bilharzia since it is a localised
parasitic infection that can be banished with ease through public
health measures. However, if infected, a handful of tablets
cures it immediately. LVSC has worked to ensure that the chances
of Bilharzia around Bulago are kept to the absolute minimum.
In fact, there is an ongoing project by the Uganda Ministry
of Health to wipe out Bilharzia. The project is funded by Bill
Gates Foundation and the Bulago Island is being used as the
first experimental site. A series of recent tests has shown
that there is now no Bilharzia on the Bulago Lodge shoreline
following stringent hygene measures. |
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Sleeping Sickness was prevalent at the beginning of the 20th
century and is carried by Tetse flies. Most of the lake is out
of the Tetse belt and it is rare to see a Tetse fly on the islands
nowadays. Bulago has a Tetse control programme in place initiated
by LVSC.
Malaria, which is the biggest killer in Africa, is almost unheard
of on Bulago since the conditions - little or no standing water
- militate against mosquitoes. Except occasionally at the height
of the rainy season, Bulago is mosquito free.
There are various European run medical centres in Kampala as
well as two private hospitals. |
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There
are very few indigenous islanders on the Ugandan islands. Most of
the present day fishermen originate from other parts of the region.
Most of the fishermen are nomadic, following the movement of the
fish throughout the year.
Lake Victoria is ideal for watersports. There are reliable winds
from mid-morning to late afternoon that provide excellent sailing
throughout the year. Although the lake can get rough at times -
it is more akin to a sea than a lake - storms never exceed force
6 or 7 on the Beaufort scale. Generally the lake is calm in the
mornings and late afternoons and water skiing and other power sports
are all enjoyed. Bulago has the tremendous advantage of an enormous
north facing bay that is almost always calm enough to be used for
skiing throughout the day, and also provides the perfect venue for
learning to sail with brisk winds over calm waters
More
information about Uganda can be found at:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963pf.htm
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/africa/uganda_background-en.asp
http://kabiza.com/Uganda-Directory.htm
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Copyright
© 2007 Lake Victoria Sailing Company
P.O.Box 25696, Kampala. Tel: 0772 709970.
E-mail :
lodge@islandinthesun.biz
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