THE ADRENALIN CAPITAL OF EAST AFRICA
JINJA town stands beside the sole outflow from lake Victoria, a location that john speke proclaimed in 1862 to be the source of river Nile, thus settling the mystery of this iconic river that dated back to the time of the ancient Egyptians.
Today, the source attracts thousands of visitors each year.some are drawn by a sense of history and a fondness for geography. Others are lured by the knowledge that discovering the headwaters of the Nile is considerably more comfortable and entertaining than it was in 1862. Many of Jinja’s fine old Asian and British buildings have been restored as restaurants and hotels, while the river banks can be enjoyed with equipment as basic as a set of golf clubs.
The prospect of adventure still persists, however, and the source of the mighty river can also be explored with kayaks, white water rafts, jet boats, quad bikes, mountain bikes, on horse backs, on foot and on the original ‘African Queen’ at spectacular Kalagala falls.
CLIMATE: The Nile corridor enjoys good weather all year round.
LANDSCAPE: Below its outlet from Lake Victoria, the Nile descends between high, cultivated banks over a series of rapids marked by forested mid-channel islands.
CULTURE AND PEOPLE: The Nile at Jinja divides two tribes, the Baganda on the west bank and the Basoga on the Eastern, Jinja side. The Nile is of great cultural importance to both, with rituals being performed at shrines at the Bujjagali Falls and Kalagala Falls.
Things to See in Jinja
JINJA: Relaxation, history and adventure: Thanks to a combination of high octane activities and relaxing excursions, descent hotels and restaurants, pleasant scenery and an enduring historical significance, the Jinja Nile is one of Uganda’s main tourism destinations.
The town is located on a plateau above the Nile as it funnels out of lake Victoria. For many visitors, enduring memories of the town are of the bicycle taxis playing their trade along the flat main streets, and the view across the golf course towards the river from the Nile crescent, a road lined by fine 1950’s mansions.
Seven kilometers north of Jinja, the pace of life is very different at Bujagali Falls, a location firmly established as East Africa’s adventure tourism epicenter. Each year thousands of tourists visit the falls simply to stand on the banks and watch 1.8 million litres of water per second churning over the rock ledges between the mid-river islands. In addition, however, Bujagali hosts a constant stream of tourists, backpackers and overland truckers seeking a more interactive experience, namely travelling over this and numerous other rapids in a white water raft. For, since it was first negotiated in 1996, the 30km section of the Nile north of Jinja has become renowned as one of the world’s finest tracts of white water.
The thrill lies in the series of high grade rapids-mostly four and five –and a consistently high volume of water in the river compared with other top rafting destinations.
Rafting is no longer the only high; other activities keep the adrenalin flowing, such as kayaking, tubing, quad biking, jet biking, jet boating and a 44-metre bungee jump over the river. The menu offers mild as well as wild options. Family boat trips, sand owner cruises, horse riding and mountain biking provide an opportunity for gentle explorations on water and dry land. For movie buffs, the 60th anniversary of the classic movie ‘The African Queen’ is being celebrated on the source of the Nile this year with the restoration and launch in april at kalagala falls of the original steam-powered boat from the film.
In 2011 a new hydro power dam will open on the river to submerge the Bujagali falls. Seven of the original rapids on the upper stretch of the river are now no longer used for rafting and will be submerged as a result of the dam later in the year, including the well known Bujagali falls.
Rafting, however, will continue from new embarkation points below the dam. Improved road access allows rafting operators to access this lower action-packed section of the Nile, with just as enthralling rapids, guaranteed to endorse the river’s status as one of the best one day white water rafting trips in the world.
Things to Do in Jinja
Whitewater Rafting
This is arguably one of the top things to do in Uganda and Jinja town particular. The Grade 5 Whitewater rafting experience in Jinja is the best in Africa. It is a scary activity but also very exciting and thrilling like nothing else. Whitewater rafting is organized as a half or full day activity. The activity not only involves navigating through the rapids but also making stops at some of the islands. The islands have an amazing collection of green vegetation, birds and primates like Vervet monkeys. Prepare to be thrown out the raft at least once as you head downstream but with nothing to worry about – You will be rowing with some of the most experienced crews in the world. The crew will pick you up each time you are thrown out of the raft. You do not need to be experienced to take part in the activity. The companies know how to handle both beginners and expert rafters. All whitewater rafting companies take safety seriously. Participants are given protective gear and escorted by several rescue kayaks. So why not go for whitewater rafting in Jinja? The memory of floating down rapids of the longest river on earth will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Bungee jumping
This is one of the craziest activities you will ever do in your life. It involves jumping from a tower (44 meters high) and down towards the Nile waters with a rope tied to the ankles. Bungee jumping is common around the world but we are talking about doing it over the longest river on earth. As one leaps from the raised platform, they get a birds view of the terrain below. This activity is not for the faint heated, It take 2 minutes at most but the memory will last a lifetime. The Bungee jumping site in Jinja is arguably the best and most thrilling in Africa. The jumps are organized both during the day and in the night. The crew has won several international awards for organizing the activity to the highest possible standards.
Visiting the source of the Nile
As already noted, the river Nile is the longest river in the world. It flows from Uganda all the way to Mediterranean Sea after passing through several countries like South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and finally Egypt. Using a speed boat, tourists can go to the point where the river begins its journey to the sea. John Speke was the first European to discover the source of the Nile in 1858. The site where Speke stood and first spotted the source has been turned into a park with beautiful garden that are perfect for relaxation and marveling at the river Nile. It is one of the most visited places in Uganda. One needs to take a boat to go up to the exact place considered the source of the Nile.
Jet Boating
This experience is similar to white water rafting but with a difference. Instead of using the balloon rafts, you conquer the rapids using a high speed boat moving at speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour. This activity cost is for adults and will also give you the same adrenaline rush typical of all the other water activities on the Nile.
Golfing
The Big Game Mini-Golf course in Jinja is intriguing. It was constructed with large statues of the big five (leopard, buffaloes, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and other creatures. A typical golfing day involves putting past the rhino, rounding the python, teeing past the hippo, hacking from inside the buffalo or bogeying beside the lion. It is unique golfing experience and comes with a lot of fun, drinks and mingling with the local high class and tourists from all over the world.
Quad Biking
Go for a Quad biking adventure through the forests, villages, farms and the banks of the river Nile. You do not need to have any experience in order to take part in Quad biking. The Quad biking companies provide free practice sessions for participants. During the briefing and training session, participants are warned against overtaking and riding at very high speeds. It is important to be away of kids and animals crossing the roads. Quad biking in Jinja is very adventurous and by the end of the day, you would have learnt a lot and seen how the rural people live their lives.
Fishing on the Nile
Jinja has some of the best fishing spots in Uganda and in the Nile Perch; the River Nile has one of the largest freshwater fishes on earth. It is possible to catch Nile Perches weighing over 150 kilograms. Fishing is arranged throughout the day. The best time for fishing on the Nile is in the morning but afternoon trips have also been known to produce amazing catches. Fishing is open to both experienced and first-time anglers. Full day fishing starts in the morning and ends late in the evening with breaks for lunch. For the full day option, anglers need to move packed lunch. The companies arranging the activity provide all the necessary fishing gear, bottled water, safety and camping equipment. Apart from the Nile Perch, the other notable species are the tilapia, cat fish and yellow fish. Anglers are required to release all the fish in the water except for those that won’t recover after being caught. The fishing techniques used include spinning, bait fishing and trawling.
MABIRA FOREST: Mabira forest, between Kampala and Jinja, offers a taste of tropical forest just an hour from the capital. Central Uganda’s largest forest reserve offers guided and unguided forest walks, specialist birding and mountain biking.
ACCOMMODATION: jinja town offers upmarket guest houses and mid-range and budget hotels. Bujagali falls has backpacker accommodation and mid range tented camp while, upriver, superior lodges overlook the over time rapid and Kalagala falls. Mabira forest has an upmarket lodge and back parker accommodation.
TRAVEL: Jinja is 80km east of Kampala on a tarmac road. Travel time is about two hours.
CAR RENTAL:
There are several car rental agencies that offer affordable car hire services in Uganda for clients interested in exploring Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda. Checl out the listing of car rental agencies offering car rental in Jinja and other destinations like Kampala, Mbarara, and Fort Portal among others.