Jinja Safari Tour Uganda , Trip and Vacation to Jinja Uganda
Jinja Safari Tour Uganda , Trip and Vacation to Jinja Uganda
Jinja is the second largest town in Uganda, situated at the source of the legendary River Nile. It lies off the Nairobi-Kampala road, 82kms east of Kampala. It is a humid, waterside town with thick vegetation and rattling with birds. The construction of the Owen Falls hydro-power Dam, in 1954, gave Jinja a tremendous advantage in attracting industries. One of Jinja’s main tourist attractions is the actual source of the Nile at Owen Falls (now submerged by the Owen Falls Dam).
There is a plaque that marks the sport where Speke stood and thus became the first European to sight the source of the river in 1862. Jinja Also offers other recreational activities such as sailing, golf, tennis, fishing and of course the action-packed whiter-water rafting and kayaking on the Nile River.
The Bujagali Falls lie about 7kms upstream the river from Jinja. It is actually a series of large rapids. It is legend that if you keep your eyes peeled, you may see the spirit of, Mr. Bajagali, who is said to float down the river on a backcloth. Actually, you are more likely to see a local who astounds onlookers by swimming through the treacherous rapids holding onto a jerry can.
He usually asks tourists to pay him 5 or 10 US dollars before he performs this dangerous feat. The Bujagali Falls are also known as a departure point for Adrift and Nile River Explorer’s white-water rafting excursions. Unfortunately, it has become the site of a controversial dam and second hydro-electric plant, which might put and end to all white- water rafting, and flatten out the beautiful rapids and waterfalls on that section of the Nile River.Jinja Safari Tour Uganda , Trip and Vacation to Jinja Uganda
Not far down the river after Bujagali is another set of rapid called the Kyabirwa Falls, which are also used by white-water rafting companies, and it’s a good place to spend a few nights camping next to the Nile.
20kms from Jinja, towards Kampala, is one of the last of the best preserved sections of the indigenous tropical forests remaining in south-eastern Uganda, namely Mabira Forest. It is abundant with bird life, butterflies and monkeys. Lovely walking trails and challenging mountain bikes trails make it an attractive spot for travelers. There are troops of red-tailed monkeys and some colobus monkeys too.
Much of the forest is semi-deciduous. Tall canopies tangle among trees which are hundreds of years old.
Trails through the forest can be walked with or without a guide. Birds to look out for include the magnificent great blue turaco, the casqued hornbill and a variety of colorful sunbirds. A community camp site offers bandas and camping site offers for people who wish to stay overnight in the forest reserve.Jinja Safari Tour Uganda , Trip and Vacation to Jinja Uganda