Jinja is a town in southern Uganda, on the shore of Lake Victoria. It is famously known as the Adventure Capital of East Africa for her long list of adrenaline activities that include White water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking, horseback riding, standup paddling among others.
A jinja tour leads you to the source of the Nile, which is the longest river in the world. You get to see the ancient waters find their way to the Mediterranean Sea as they encounter rocky paths, something which creates up-to fifth grade rapids, making the Nile one of the best rafting destination in the world. Apart from the watersport activities in Jinja, the city is also blessed with rich history and culture to explore on your safari. The top attractions not to miss-out on your tour to Jinja include;
- Source of the Nile. The Source of the longest river in the world, marketed as a discovery of one of the first European explorer, is an internationally unique attraction. The source of river Nile is located in Jinja about 1,5 hours from Kampala the capital city of Uganda
- Itanda Falls. The Itanda Falls are also found on the Nile, 18 kilometres north-west of Jinja town. The falls offer opportunity for bird watching (especially the weaver birds), camping and picnic outings.
Some of the common activities to do along the Nile include;
Bungee jumping in the Nile River involves jumping from a platform with a bungee cord connected to two tied legs. Although experience is not required before taking part in the activity, one still needs to prepare psychologically before taking part in the activity.
Participants are tied in two different ways – There is the ankle tie with your face looking down and the whole-body tie allowing you to float like a butterfly. Before the Jump, the instructor counts 1 to 3 before shouting “Bungee” and off you go. The activity can be done during the day or night. Night Bungee jumping has its own thrill but may reduce the quality of views and photos taken. The main thrill comes from falling freely then rebounding softly over and over before finally touching the waters. It is one of the scariest things but also most adventurous activity one can do in their lifetime. Participants can choose to go for the long or short jump. The long jump goes all the way down enabling one to touch the river Nile itself while the short jump stops midway.
Whitewater Rafting – The main reason for visiting this area is to go on a whitewater rafting trip.
Grade 5 Rafting
The full version of this trip includes all rapids up to and including grade 5. The rides usually take 5-6 hours with a minimum child age of 16 years.
Grade 3 Rafting- The less extreme version of this trip includes all rapids up to and including grade 3. Rides usually take 5-6 hours with a minimum age of 7 years. Truly memorable full day experience for a slightly less strenuous day. Drift amidst the breathtaking scenery on the world’s most famous river. Marvel at the birdlife and raft through the breaking waves.
Kayaking and Paddling – These options are available on shallow sections of the river. Minimum age of 16 years.
Sunset Cruise – starts near Jinja and cruises along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, where you can visit various historical sites and attractions, including the Nile Spring.
River Ride Quad Biking-free training, then 2 hours safari. This is the most popular trip. The trail follows the Nile downstream from the Bujagali Falls, below the dam area and then away from the riverbanks through the farmland and the forest of rural Uganda.
The Mabira Forest is a rainforest area covering about 300 square kilometres in Uganda, located in Buikwe District, between Lugazi and Jinja. The forest is just a 45 minute drive along the Kampala-Jinja road would get one to Mabira forest. The forest is currently the second largest naturally existing forest in Uganda.It has been known over the past decades for its abundance in the prominent East African Mahogany tree species; a hard wood tree species. It happens to be one of the leading forest tourist destinations with a great deal of fun activities herein. Just as the usually known forest National Parks (Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Kibale forest), this forest would also provide a similar experience as would have been experienced within the forest parks. This forest is a true definition of a bio-diversity hotspot; this has been attributed to the composition of natural life forms it handles ranging from plants to animals and man more.
You can do Zip lining from Mabira.
- Sezibwa falls
The Sezibwa Falls are located 32 Km along the Kampala- Jinja highway. It is one of Uganda’s hidden cultural treasures. It takes approximately 30 minutes drive from the capital Kampala depending on the traffic flowing out of the city. The source of Sezibwa river is in Buikwe District and runs for a total length of about 150 km from the source to the end. The Sezibwa falls site offers beautiful views of waterfalls marked with sharp-edged rocks and splendid sound of waters flowing down the indented rocks. The Sezibwa Falls are 7 meters high with beautiful scenery for relaxation and enjoyment as birds sing in the trees.