This activity now has a fuller guide: Boat Cruise Tours on Lake Victoria.
The lake is the reason the island exists, and the only way to understand its scale is to get out onto it. From the shore Lake Victoria reads as a view. From a boat it reads as an inland sea, which is closer to the truth.
What happens
The lodge operates its own vessel, the MV Brovad, on both scheduled and private trips. A scheduled run puts you on the water with other guests. A private trip is yours to point — worth it if you want to be out at a specific hour, or if there are enough of you to fill it.
The water changes character through the day. Mornings are usually the flattest and the best for anyone uneasy about boats. Late afternoon is the one to book if you want the light, and it is the trip people photograph.
Who it suits
Almost everyone, including people who arrive certain they do not like boats. It is the single activity we would recommend to a guest staying only one full day.
What to bring
- Sun protection; there is more glare off the water than you expect
- Something warmer than the afternoon suggests for a late trip, because the lake cools fast once the sun drops
- A dry bag or a pocket for anything that must not get wet
- A camera, if you are the kind of person who will regret not having one
Life jackets should be worn on the water.
Arranging a trip
Boats need more notice than anything else here, particularly a private one or a particular hour of the day. Guests often pair a morning on the water with fishing, or follow it with an afternoon that goes no further than the spa.
Tell us which morning you want to be on the lake, and whether the boat is yours or shared. Those two answers are all we need to hold it.
