Introducing Jinja

Famous as the historic source of the Nile River, Jinja has emerged as the adrenaline capital of East Africa. Here you can get your fix of white-water rafting, kayaking, quad biking, mountain biking, horseback riding and bungee jumping. The town itself is a buzzing little place with some wonderful, crumbling colonial architecture.

Coming from Kampala, the Owen Falls Dam forms a spectacular gateway to the town; but don’t take pictures – people have been arrested for doing so, even though there are no signs informing people of this law.

Top Things Do to and See in Jinja on the River Nile

Nile White – Water Rafting from Mild to Wild – Jinja

Nile White – Water Rafting
Nile White – Water Rafting

Experience the best rafting in Africa -Nile White – Water Rafting from Mild to Wild – Jinja – from half-day, to full-day or longer trips  on the wild portions of the River Nile near Jinja – memory making experiences during your time in Uganda.

 

You thought driving a car in Kampala was the ultimate exhilaration.  Let us whisk you to what has been beyond your wildest dreams -Rafting on the Nile -no matter Nile White - Water Rafting from Mild to Wild - Jinja what is your like…it can be “wild or mild,”  and then there is everything in between. 

 

You may have thought that the roller coaster ride you took at the amusement park was the ultimate – The answer is found here on the longest river in the world….with volumes of water that exceed that other renown rafting hotspot on the Zambezi river by over ten times.  At the end of the day, after you thought it was all done….there is more…143 feet of bungee diving into the river before you head back to Kampala…and you thought going on an African Safari was a calm affair….go rafting on the Nile and enjoy the adrenaline pumping adventure that if offers you along the way.

 

Safety is the key, and though it looks wild and crazy, your safety is foremost on everyone’s mind…the guides on the water have often  competed around the world winning awards for their knowledge of white water rafting and their safety records.

 

The Rafting Trip:

 

The Rafting Trip-starting out with a safety orientation and then off down the river for the most exhilarating ride of your life.  Lunch on an Island on the river and after the rafting trip- free drinks and transportation back to Kampala.

 

White Water Rafting – a day or two if you so choose on and in the ancient River Nile.

 

We can add this to any of the safari tour packages we offer.  An overnight safari with Jinja sightseeing is most recommended to make your day even more special and the next day you can raft once again or do one of the many activities offered here along the River Nile in Jinja – the East-African Adventure Capital.

 

Enjoy your time on the Nile White – Water Rafting from Mild to Wild – Jinja – there is nothing to compare with it.  All companies have a great safety record – you are surrounded by safety rescue boats in case you take a spill into the Nile.

If you are interested of including Nile White – Water Rafting from Mild to Wild – Jinja in your safari with us – please contact us

Jet Boat up the Rapids of the Nile at Jinja

Jet Boat up the Rapids of the Nile at Jinja
Jet Boat up the Rapids of the Nile at Jinja

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. Simply a most awesome experience.

Kayaking the River Nile at Jinja

Kayaking the River Nile at Jinja
Kayaking the River Nile at Jinja

Tandem Kayaking with a most knowledgeable guide to take you down the rapids of the River Nile. You can also try River Surfing, another option at Jinja along the River Nile.

Sunset Cruise at Jinja/The making of the movie the African Queen in Uganda

Sunset Cruise at Jinja
Sunset Cruise at Jinja

The making of the movie The African Queen in Uganda – The RealityThe Making of the Movie “The African Queen” was almost as adventurous as the Movie itself.

The making of the movie The African Queen in Uganda – Humphrey Bogart – Katherine Hepburn – The making of the movie the African Queen in UgandaDirector John Huston looked forward coming to Africa – Katerine Hepburn wrote a book  “How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind.” 

 

It was an adventurous movie and it was adventurous to those making it, drama was the rule of the day. In those days they did not have the modern conveniences of 21st Century Safari Goers, one could easily “Lose one’s Mind,”  Katherine Hepburn almost did.

 

John Huston and Humphrey Bogart never got sick like the rest of the crew due to the volumes of the liquor that they consumed.

 

The Adrift Rafting Company has a restored African Queen on the Nile in Jinja, the decaying wreck was found i K – it is only one of two restored versions out of three.  The African Queen was supposed to be used in Cruises on the Nile in Jinja which are not taking place presently.

 

Hopefully near future, the African Queen will once again be seen on the River Nile in Uganda with a restored version of the original boat used in the Making of the movie.

The making of the movie the African Queen in Uganda:  Many have seen the 1951 movie “The African Queen” with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, some of which african-queenwas made near Murchison Falls Park, along Lake Albert in the then port of Butiaba and the Belgian Congo.

 

Portions of the movie “the African Queen” were made in Uganda while the cast stayed in the historic Masindi Hotel-

 

a battered up African Queen Steam Boat was discovered in Kenya (which had originally been found near Murchison Falls) and lovingly restored in Uganda.

 

The making of the movie was an adventure, pit latrine outhouses were used and due to the cast drinking foul water, everyone but Humphrey Bogart and director John Huston came down with dysentery. (large quantities of Scotch)

 

There was a time when there was a long line in front of a pit-latrine when a woman came screaming out of it after having encountered a poisonous Black Mamba which somehow cured the rest of the cast and staff and another reason that Katherine Hepburn almost lost her mind during the filming of the movie.

 

This was then raw Africa, no safari comforts except when they stayed in the oldest Hotel in Uganda built in 1923, the Masindi Hotel and later in Entebbe in a more resort like place, Entebbe in those days was the capital

While the movie was being filmed in Uganda, things were relatively reasonable, but when they moved into a makeshift cam in the Belgian Congo – Life became touch.  You jumped into bed at night in order to avoid mosquitoes and in the morning you checked your shoes for centipedes.

 

The cast of and crew was one of the first visitors to the Murchison Falls Park area in those days with many before them and after them. Today you can visit the area where Katherine Hepburn almost lost her mind and Humphrey Bogart was numb on imported Scotch.

 

This was not the romantic Africa as the cast and crew might have imagined it before coming here, this was the reality of daily life where one learns to thrive on chaos.

 

“The country is like a great sponge—it finally absorbs you. Eventually you will get malaria or you will get dysentery and whatever you do, if you don’t keep doing it, the jungle will grow over you. Black or white, you’ve got to fight it every minute of the day.” 

― Katharine Hepburn, The Making of The African Queen, or: How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and almost lost my mind

Ironically one of the boats using in making the movie became the S.S. Murchison which was manned by a Goan Pilot who rescued Ernest Hemingway after his plane crashed near Murchison Falls after clipping a telephone wire and there were stranded for a few days.

Hopefully soon, the restored African Queen now in Jinja along the Nile will take passengers on Nostalgic Cruises on the Nile and visitors African-Queen-sails-againcan experience Uganda in one of the original African Queen.

 

Such a cruise during the day or at sunset would be simply an amazing experience and very different from the ones that Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn had a bit north in Murchison Falls Park and in the Belgian Congo.

 

The making of the movie the African Queen in Uganda – The African Queen may have been made in 1951 but in the 21st Century there are still fans from around the world that love the movie and want to experience the boat first hand aIf nd there would be no better place than the historic River Nile itself. The sight of the crocodiles put a bit of fright into cast and crew, but they managed.

 

If the African Queen begins to operate again, we will let you know on this page…enjoy Uganda

Houseboat Safari on Lake Victoria – Jinja

House boat safari on Lake Victoria - Jinja
House boat safari on Lake Victoria - Jinja

Take a two-day houseboat safari on Lake Victoria – Jinja.  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.  Two Crew members are on board – your food is prepared for you and you the houseboat can accommodate up 8 – sleep on top or below, two bathrooms are available.

Horseback Riding Safaris along the Nile at Jinja

Horseback Riding Safaris along the Nile at Jinja
Horseback Riding Safaris along the Nile at Jinja

Horseback riding safari along the Nile and there is even 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.

All Terrain Quad Bike Safari along the Nile at Jinja

All Terrain Quad Bike Safari along the Nile at Jinja
All Terrain Quad Bike Safari along the Nile at Jinja

All Terrain Vehicle Quad Biking along the River Nile taking in the sights and the local cultures as you ride through various villages. Visitors to Jinja find this an exhilarating experience.

Mountain Biking along the Nile at Jinja

Mountain Biking along the Nile at Jinja
Mountain Biking along the Nile at Jinja

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.

Ssezibwa Falls on the way to Jinja

Ssezibwa Falls
Ssezibwa Falls

Ssezibwa Falls is combination of scenic wonders, culture, tradition and legend and can be incorporated into your time to or from Jinja.

Mabira Forest on the way to Jinja

Mabira Forest on the way to Jinja
Mabira Forest on the way to Jinja

Mabira Forest 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 Mabira Forest.

Bungee Jumping into the Historic River Nile at Jinja

Bungee Jumping
Bungee Jumping

Bungee Jumping, not for the faint of heart, however many simply enjoy the experience of diving into the Nile River below. It is an unforgettable experience for most.

Visit the Source of the Nile at Jinja

Visit the Source of the Nile at Jinja
Visit the Source of the Nile at Jinja

Visit the Source of the Nile and take a boat ride into Lake Victoria from the Source of the Nile Park and back – the park is well kept and has many flowering trees, plants and shrubs attracting a variety of birds and butterflies.

The above were just a few of the Top Things Do to and See and see in Jinja along the River Nile and Lake Victoria, there is also fishing in Lake Victoria or along the River Nile, birding, both on land or by boat, cultural visits, exploring the town of Jinja to name just a few….mostly enjoy Uganda, enjoy Jinja…

 

If you like to include any of Top Things Do to and See in Jinja – contact us