Photo | makerere university/ cross-cultural foundation of uganda. Retrieved from theeastafrican.co.ke

Excerpt from theeastafrican.co.ke

Musambwa Island in Uganda is one of the strangest and weirdest places on Earth. Surrounded by the serene waters of Lake Victoria, it’s a gem of mythical wonders. It boasts a cultural mosaic fused with superstitions that have fascinated visitors from around the world for generations.

Musambwa is inhabited only by men and snakes. Women are not allowed to stay there, and when they visit, they cannot spend the night.

Musambwa, which means spirits in the local dialect, is also home to over 150,000 birds.

Here, there’s no cutting down of trees, no killing of snakes, no rearing of sheep, and no sexual intercourse. Birds, too, shouldn’t be killed, and their eggs must not be eaten. There are more than 30 species of rare birds and reptiles. It’s also the largest breeding area for gray-headed gulls in Africa.

The island, which can be accessed through Malembo or Kasensero landing sites in Kyotera District in central Uganda, has about 120 men.