Jinja City lies 80km east of the capital Kampala, is a sprawling historical town of Jinja spread on a Uganda plateau at 1204m altitude asl on the edges of L. Victoria and the Nile. Set up in 1900’s by British as an administrative post to eastern Uganda, its geographic location made it a major trade port connecting several trade ports across the vast L. Victoria. The arrival of the East African railway in 1912 led to an industrial revolution where cotton ginneries sprout forth to process tonnes of cotton grown inland.
The opening of Owen falls dam in 1954 brought in further acceleration to the industrial growth that now extended to copper, sugar and steel factories. This industrial revolution attracted a diversity of expatriates and workers that by Uganda Independence in 1962, Jinja was an economic powerhouse with about half a million diverse residents also the biggest in the country. Sadly, the city’s prosperity took a nose-dive as thousands of foreign expatriates were expelled in 1972 that led to a total economic collapse.
The Adventure Capital
Today, although Jinja has been surpassed by other Ugandan town economically, it remains the most attractive town anywhere in the country, with its historical tree lined avenues, expansive golf course overlooking the Nile, pleasant weather, wide range of adrenaline activities and its closeness to Kampala.
A major highlight for visitors to Jinja is always to witness the source of the ancient Nile, a point where it starts its longest trek to the Mediterranean Sea and white water rafting down stream Nile. This ancient question was settled on 28th July 1862 when a British explorer John Hannning Speke became the first European to witness the source of the Nile recording Jinja in the books of history for good. Standing on the southern banks, John Speke witnessed the wide Victoria waters roar past a rocky ridge to funnel into a 200m wide R. Nile and race northwards. The rocky ridges at the mouth of this ancient river is locally called “edindha” thus the name of the town of Jinja.
5 Things to do in Jinja City
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White Water Rafting on the Nile
For a stretch of over 50km from its mouth on L. Victoria, the Nile cascades over rocks as it races northwards creating some of the biggest rapids on the continent. The sheer force and velocity have attracted thousands of adrenaline junkies to test and stretch their limits as they ride these rapids that have been graded from 2 all the way to 5 while several are classed as extreme. Superb safety guides and operators are available on the northern banks running this activity on a half/full day program.
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Boat Cruise to the source of the Nile
Once in Jinja, a boat cruise to the mouth of River Nile is a major highlight. The 1.5hr boat extends on the ridge where the Victoria waters departs for a 6500km trek to the Mediterranean Sea. The boat cruise begins from a fishing village that sits on the quite waters of L. Victoria extending to the source of the Nile. The locals call this point “ejinja” translated a place of stones to which the town of Jinja gets its name.
The first European to discover the source of the Nile John Speke named these water falls Rippon Falls. Heading northwards the now 200m wide Nile picks pace as it races over numerous rapids of which several have been dammed to generate hydroelectricity. The banks of river Nile and L. Victoria attract numerous birds and also host Nile Monitor all seen on the cruise.
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Explore the Historic Town
With time on your hands, take a stroll on the ancient streets of Jinja to learn of its diverse culture. This diversity is seen in architecture, railway station, markets, temples, tree-lined avenues, business and recreation centers. A better way to explore is to take bike across the quite streets.
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Quad Biking
While in Jinja, test your off-road biking skills at the quad biking park on the northern shores of the Nile. Tracks run along and overlooks the Nile, past typical and colorful African villages and farmlands. Experience is led by safety guides all the way.
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Kayaking and Tubing on the Nile
Stretch your limits further as you take on the Nile rapids in your individual kayak. This activity is run by rafting operators stretching to half/full da arrangement.
Other activities in Jinja include; Abseiling, horse riding, nature walk and ziplining at Mabira forest.