Jinja
Jinja is one of the most scenic towns in Uganda. It is located in Eastern Uganda and its only two hour’s drive from Kampala. Jinja town was once the leading industrial town because of the hydro-electricity dam along the Nile.
The river Nile is the key attraction in Jinja with almost all tourism activities centered on it. The Nile supports a number of adrenaline raising activities like bungee jumping, canoeing, white water rafting, Kayaking, horseback riding and quad biking among others. No wonder Jinja has come to be referred to as the “adrenaline centre” of East Africa.
Apart from water sports, visitors can also tour the old colonial style buildings, old Hindu temples. Jinja is one of the best places for cultural tourism in Uganda. Apart from the adventuresome activities in Jinja, the city is also blessed with rich history and culture to explore on your Uganda safari tour.
Adventure in Jinja
Jinja has over the years gained a strong reputation of fun and adventure. The availability of spectacular physical features including the source of the longest river in the world has attracted multitudes of people from far and wide who opt to experience fun and adventure during their visit to The Pearl of Africa. The wonders of Jinja are quite invigorating and the popular tour activities are just right even for the most adventurous of people.
Key Tourist Attractions in Jinja
Source of the Nile. The Source of the second longest river in the world, marketed as a discovery of one of the first European explorer, is an internationally unique attraction.
Itanda Falls. The Itanda Falls are also found on the Nile, 18 kilometers north-west of Jinja town. The falls offer opportunity for bird watching (especially the weaver birds), camping and picnic outings.
Kyabirwa Falls. Located 8 kilometers from Jinja, the falls offer a good scenery and landscape for campsites that is not yet fully exploited. Potential also exists for bird watching and Ethnobotany.
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, which would attract the domestic, foreign resident and foreign non-resident tourists.
Islands in Lake Victoria. These include Samuka, Ndaiga, LwabitookeI and LwabitookeII. Apart from Samuka, the rest of the Islands have not been exploited for tourism purposes despite the existing potential. The existing potential includes boat racing, sport fishing, over-night camping, day excursions and various water sports.
Sports. Sports facilities, especially the out-standing Jinja golf pitch and the Bugembe Stadium, offer opportunity for attracting international and national tournaments, whose participants are over-night visitors.
Community market visits. Jinja main market and several other markets operating on various days are a potential attraction particularly to foreign tourists
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. Mpumudde is also the place where King Kabalega, of the Bunyoro Kingdom died.