About Jinja Source of River Nile

Jinja, town located in eastern Uganda where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria, commonly known as The Source of The Nile, situated at an elevation of 3,740 feet (1,140 metres) above sea level.

Jinja was founded in 1901 as a British administrative centre and grew to become one of the larger towns in Uganda. When construction on the Owen Falls Dam (now the Nalubaale Dam), 3 miles (5 km) downstream, was completed in 1954, the hydroelectric power thus provided was instrumental in Jinja’s development as the country’s main industrial centre.

Tourism & Activities in Jinja

Source of the Nile

The Source of the Nile, the second longest river in the world, marketed as a discovery of one of the first European explorers, namely Speke, is an internationally unique attraction.

Bujagali Falls

They are located along the Nile River, within a distance of about 10 kilometers from Jinja municipality. The scenery and rafting activities of Bujagali Falls currently exploited on a small scale have an enormous potential for both excursions and international tourism. The falls also offer opportunity for bird watching.

Itanda Falls

Situated on the Nile, 18 kilometers north-west of Jinja town. The falls offer opportunity for bird watching, camping and picnic outings.

Kyabirwa Falls

Located 8 kilometers from Jinja, the falls offer a good scenery and landscape for campsites with an opportunity for bird watching

The hydroelectricity plant at Jinja Owen Falls is also an attraction, especially for the school tours and other domestic excursion groups.
Lake Victoria Beaches

The Lake’s beaches have been partially exploited for location of tourism developments, especially hotels. These beaches include the sites at Sailing Club, Tilapia Club and Masese. Besides the scenery, the lake can be exploited for water sports with potential for sport fishing and canoeing.

Islands in Lake Victoria

They include Samuka, Ndaiga, LwabitookeI and LwabitookeII. The existing potential includes boat racing, sport fishing, over-night camping, day excursions and various water sports.

Industries

They are numerous industries found in Jinja attract excursionists, especially school tours. These include textile Nytil Picfare, Nile Breweries, Kakira Sugar Works, Jinja Steel Rolling Mills, Jinja Grain Millers and Masese Fish Factory and tea processing industries.

Mabira Forest on the way to Jinja

It is the only rainforest in Central Uganda and one can stop here on the way to or from Jinja and take a guided nature walk through the forest. You can also zip-line above the tree-tops through

Agriculture

Tea and sugar estates are currently exploited as tourist attractions. Like the agro-based industries, the plantations have tourism potential as an attraction for tourists coming from countries where semi-finished or finished products of sugar and tea are exported.

Antiquities / Historical sites

A number of historical sites exist in Jinja district. These are: Bujagali ancestral site, for Soga tribe ancestral spirits, at Bujagali falls; the current Busoga King’s palace at Nakabango; Mpumudde hill, the historical meeting place of the Busoga chiefs and the British colonial Governors.

Activities to adventure in Jinja

White water rafting on the White Nile; this is an unforgettable experience of rafting on the Nile at Jinja in Uganda.

Jet Boat up the Nile Rapid; Jet boat up the River Nile Rapids at incredible speeds and enjoy the wild of the River Nile without being immersed in it except a bit of spray.

Kayaking on the Nile; Kayaking with a most knowledgeable guide to take you down the rapids of the River Nile with River Surfing as another option at Jinja along the River Nile.

Sunset Cruise while at the White River Nile, take a Sunset Cruise with dinner and drink at Jinja – simply a most enjoyable experience.

Houseboat Safari on Lake Victoria; A great way to relax and chill out in a most novel way in Uganda. Fish, relax, enjoy the scenery including fishing villages along the shore.

Horseback Riding with an overnight horseback riding safari of two days –another way to enjoy the Nile, visit Villages and hamlets along the journey and take in the culture and sights.

Quad Bike Safari along the Nile; An exhilarating experience on the all-terrain Vehicle Quad Biking along the River Nile taking in the sights and the local cultures as you ride through various villages.

Mountain Biking along the Nile; Bicycling along the Nile at Jinja is a most enjoyable experience for visitors to the Nile area; there are lot of places where you can ride a bike including along the Nile though various villages and hamlets.