Panorama Cottages — Hotel in Buggala

Panorama Cottages has moved up to being my top resort when I’m visiting Ssese Island, #Kalangala District, Uganda. I’ve been traveling to #SseseIslands for the last few years and have stayed in 4 other still great hotels but the grounds of #PanoramaCottages has that feel and look of island comfort. ||||Now... my stay was short but still the friendly and professional staff, the ground’s island decor, and the AWESOME forest walk that leads to a private hidden beach made every moment spectacular.||||The #hammocks strategically placed throughout the property with soft white sand underneath made me feel so relaxed while birds chirping in the background.||||The bonfire had me tempted to just pitch a tent and go back to my favorite hobby, camping. I met some pretty cool people that allowed time to simply pass.||||OMG, the #ForestWalk which its entrance is right through #PanoramaCottages property is a photographer’s paradise. The guide was quite informative and had plenty of knowledge. As a micro #photography lover the walk took us a bit longer. When you reach the end of the forest walk you land at a totally private Lake Victoria beach.||||About the actual accommodations, the actual cottages were quite spacious and comfy. The units are independent and self-contained. Hot water was never a problem, however, you should now that it’s on a schedule from your shower head. From 6am to about 11am the water is hot then warm and again in the evening. Now if you’re like me... spoiled with taking hot/warm showers, the friendly staff will either provided you with hot water and/or they’ll turn on the furnace.||||I’m sure I will be revisiting for a longer stay and more to share before I leave #Uganda. I’ve become quite mesmerize the Ssese...

Looking for "basic" night stay to to explore and enjoy the island, this might be it. It was inexpensive and certainly a step down from the Bravad, but at about $19 USD for the Friday night (girlfriend negotiated price down), the 1 night in the quaint cottage was enough for us to walk with our packs to the nearby ferry, no boda or car needed. There's no "panorama view" except of other cottages, fire pit, basic cottage bar and tin roofed open air restaurant or "the wild bush" that surrounds and invades the narrow walkways within the compound. The real view is a short boda ride or medium-strong uphill hike to the nearby village up top where it is nearly a breathtaking overlook across the northern expanse of Lake Victoria's Uganda side. We did have hot water for morning and evening shower after letting it run from the apparent central heater and since it was only supposed to be available for evening; and we did have room service food that served the purpose, but be prepared that while the service is nice and polite, it may take longer than you may be used to elsewhere as it is certainly not "fast food." Be sure to keep your bags closed as well as your bed mosquito netting, otherwise be prepared to live like you are staying in cottages in the bush. All in all, if there were other things you wanted to do on the island or on the way, this might be ok for a 1 or...

We stayed three nights, although even before having slept through the first we were already looking for accommodation elsewhere. The room although spacious was very basic, a dirty bed cover with what I hoped were coffee stains was hiding an old and indented mattress and two poor excuses that resembled pillows. The windows which were always slightly ajar, had no mosquito nets and the staff's excuse was that there were 'few mosquitos on the island'. The bathroom and the sink were relatively dirty when we arrived and on occasions the flow of water from the shower would abruptly stop. The breakfast buffet was disappointing to say the least, the waiters gave 'limited' portions of food, e.g. one sausage and one type of egg per person and no more than two slices of mango. We did not try the dinner buffet as the food offered was very local for...