Brovad Sands Lodge Kalangala — Hotel in Buggala

My girlfriend and I had a truly memorable escape at Brovad Sands Lodge from 6th to 8th June, and everything—from the scenic boat ride to the food, service, and activities—was perfectly done. It’s an ideal destination for couples or small groups looking to unwind by Lake Victoria.||||🚤 Getting There – Smooth & Scenic via MV Brovad||We traveled from Entebbe to Kalangala aboard MV Brovad, and it was a great way to start the trip. The boat was clean, comfortable, and offered stunning views of Lake Victoria throughout the journey.||Special thanks to Irene from the MV Brovad team for being warm, helpful, and professional during the crossing.||||⏱️ Efficient Check-in Despite Large Group||We arrived in a large group, but check-in was impressively fast and well-organized, thanks to the outstanding reception team.||Shout-out to Justine, Flavia, and Florence—your friendliness and efficiency made a great first impression!||||🏝️ Setting & Accommodation||The lodge is perfectly tucked away on the island’s quiet beachfront. Our room was neat, comfortable, and peaceful. We loved the natural beauty, swaying palm trees, and calm atmosphere around the property.||||🍽️ Fantastic Food with Variety||The food was consistently delicious.||||Breakfast was the highlight—diverse and filling, with fresh fruits, eggs, sausages, pancakes, and local options.||||Lunch and dinner were equally tasty, especially the freshly prepared fish.||||Just note: Soft drinks aren’t included with meals—you’ll need to purchase sodas, juice, or water separately.||||🍽️ Excellent Restaurant Service||A big thank you to Sarapio and Jimmy, who served us with such kindness and professionalism during our stay. Your attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed—we appreciated you both!||||🌅 Activities – Optional & Worth It||The sunset cruise on MV Brovad (at an extra cost) was breathtaking. Floating on the lake as the sun dipped behind the horizon was a magical experience.||||We also did quad biking through Kalangala town (also at an extra cost), which was a fun and adventurous way to explore the area.||||❤️ Perfect for Couples||The trip gave us space to relax, reconnect, and enjoy nature—exactly what we needed. The lodge strikes a beautiful balance between comfort, calm, and a touch of adventure.||||⭐ Overall Rating: 5/5||We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend getaway. Beautiful setting, fantastic food, friendly staff, and memorable moments.||Whether you're traveling as a couple, a group of friends, or just want to escape the city, Brovad Sands Lodge is worth every moment. Don’t miss the sunset cruise, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be served by stars like Sarapio,...

BROVAD SANDS PLEASANT ENOUGH!

CUSTOMER CARE: 7/10 they were many who were very courteous polite and truly helpful. All those I met around the grounds and some at the restaurant were really very polite and helpful.

I gave 7 instead of a 10 because there are some who behave differently to different clients esp the lady who works in the restaurant. She was exceptionally courteous and friendly with the foreigners and distant and aloof with Ugandans. Big put off!

The ROOMS 10/10 LAYOUT AND DESIGN are all large and well designed with a Bohemian/African theme. Its got a nice rustic feel to it that's very homely and welcoming. The water was very hot as per one's choice, the bath and toilet good and quite spacious enough, with the theme. The beds and good quality mattress that give you a solid night's sleep. The walls seem thick enough with no noise interference. There is a good lay out if electrical fittings do you can have all your gadgets charged.

WIFI: None existent if ever😠 that was a real downside. Fortunately enough as a Local I was able to use my item data but even then some parts of the room didn't have good network.

CLEANLINESS: 5/10 I had to toss the throw pillow up above the wardrobe because it was stinking with over use and dirty. i couldn't imagine how that was overlooked and choked it up to COVID neglect. The pillows had the left over scent of male scent was distinct on one pillow but tolerable. The Beddings are white but some tiny stains had been over looked. They could up their effort in that area.

FOOD 9/10 I only had the Breakfasts which was nice enough and had a variety to choose from.

GROUNDS and LOCATION:10/10 the ambience is to die for, truly beautiful well designed and well tended. Its right on the lake so you can dip your feet in the waters as your morning or...

The island's best resort due to lack of competition

S00°19.074', E032°16.811’ Brovad Sands Lodge on Bugala Island, part of the Ssesse Islands in Lake Victoria, is widely regarded as a resort with good guest service. The staff look neat in their uniforms and reception operates efficient. Brocade Sands Lodge offers a variety of accommodation, from lake-view bungalows to hotel rooms. As a resort, Brovad Sands Lodge offers guests a restaurant and recreation activities, such as swimming pool (only sunbathing on the beach because of the parasite that causes bilharzia (schistosomiasis) in the lake water), boot trips, excursions and forest walks.

In January 2023, we slept in room 14 at the resort. This room has a veranda, bedroom with double bed, desk, chair, television, wardrobe and a bathroom with hot shower. At first glance, everything looks fine, but on closer inspection it lacks maintenance, possible due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Where is the porch ceiling? The bed slept comfortably and was clean. Sound insulation between rooms is poor. Wi-Fi reception is only available in the main building, but often does not work there.

There is no visible dinning option outside the resort (perhaps at other resorts), so guests are a captive audience to the restaurant. The restaurant offers buffet or a la carte dinning, served inside, on the veranda or on the lawn. For the staff, the buffet is self-serve and therefor good to go. The drinks are a challenge in themselves. For a la carte dinning, the system falls apart. No head waiter for directions or coordination between the waiters on the floor. Ordered soup took 75 minutes to arrive after 5 requests to waiters and complaining at the reception. Waiters perform their solo duties and do not talk...