1 Day Jinja Tour and Source of the Nile Trip – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

This one-day Jinja tour and source of the Nile trip in Uganda start after an early breakfast preferably 6.30 am from Kampala to avoid the traffic jam. Jinja is approximately 80km from Kampala and the drive takes about 2- 3 hours.

The drive takes you past the impressive landscapes of the city outskirts, towns, and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life before making your first stopover at Sezibwa falls.

Sezibwa Falls Hike and Cultural Tour

The magnificent Ssezibwa Falls which is approximately 45km (1 hour) drive from Kampala lie on the Sezibwa River, a notable beauty spot and significant cultural site of Buganda. Legend has it that, the Sezibwa River is not a natural phenomenon, but the progeny of a pregnant woman called Nakkungu, who lived many centuries ago and belonged to the Kibe (Fox) clan. She was expected to give birth to twin children, but instead what poured from her womb was a twin river.

The name Sezibwa is derived from a Luganda phrase “Sizibwa Kkubo” which translates into “my path can never be blocked” and this the locals say is because its flow could not be stopped even with different obstacles it encountered along with its 150 km long distance from its source to the mouth.

On arrival at the Sezibwa, embark on a hike around the area. Encounter the many shrines where people come for worship and others performing cultural rituals at the top of the falls. Traditional healers have different shrines where people camp for days or overnight depending on their request as they seek blessings and removal of curses from their ancestors through the traditional doctors.

The worshipers believe the falls have supernatural powers that connect them to their ancestors to receive long life, defeat their enemies, and get wealth among their many needs. As you explore, you come across various unique bird species and monkeys.

From Sezibwa continue your Jinja Town and Source of the River Nile tour by driving through famous towns like Lugazi famous for tea and sugarcane plantations and Namawojolo where you can enjoy an optional stopover at the famous roadside fast food dispenser of fruits & roadside chicken for photos or purchase. Namawojolo is a roadside market famous for its delicacy of roasted chicken and beef on sticks. You will have another stop at Mabira Forest for a nature walk which is about a 22km (1 hour) drive from Sezibwa.

Mabira Forest Reserve Visit

Mabira is a natural evergreen forest situated on an area of 306 km². It is the largest remaining block of semi-evergreen rainforest in the Victoria Basin forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion.

Mabira Forest is one of the most important birding sites in Uganda with a checklist of 315 species including the Great blue turaco, African grey parrot, three species of hornbills, forest wood-hoopoe, Africa pitta, Purple-throated cuckoo-shrike, Red-tailed leaflove, Weyn’s weaver, Nahan’s francolin not forgetting primates like the endemic Ugandan Mangabey, Red-tailed monkeys and Black-and-white colobus

Mabira forest also of significant value when it comes to the traditions of the Buganda Kingdom. The Baganda people believe that the forest is home to their ancestors that brings rain and food. They also believe that the forest act as a guard for the Kingdom and in case of any hurricane coming from the eastern part can be stopped by the forest not to reach the palace of the Kabaka on Mengo hill in Kampala.

Other optional activities you can do in Mabira Forest include

• This Canopy Super Skyway connects six lofty canopy platforms and offers an adrenaline surge that matches the white-water rafting at the Nile River.

Jinja – Source of the Nile Visit

From Mabira and continue with your Jinja Town and source of the River Nile Tour driving to Jinja. On arrival, you go for lunch at the Sunset Hotel -a lovely restaurant perched on a hill over the Nile serving very good food with chicken breast stuffed with spinach great delicacy. It has Ugandan, Chinese, Indian, and Italian dishes.

After lunch, you take a short ride to the source of the Nile, one of the most iconic places in Africa– the point at which the Nile River exit Lake Victoria to commence its long journey north to the Mediterranean Sea. Stepping the point where John Speke stood as the first European to discover the source of the River Nile takes you back to the ancient times when the mystical Nile River Source lured great men into the world of the unknown.

The source of the Nile River is a quiet beautiful place, filled with palm trees, fantastic tropical plants and as you walk down the steps toward the River Nile you can smell the flowers there. And as you stand on the Nile, hear the gurgling water; watch local fishermen throw their nets in the longest river in Africa.

Also, enjoy a short boat ride here. The boat cruise is a rewarding adventure as it exposes you to opportunities of exploring counts of birds including beautiful Kingfishers.

Other optional activities you can do at the source of the Nile River include:-

• White water rafting, world-class adrenaline on Nile’s grade IV and V rapids
• Kayaking along the Nile
• Bungee jumping into the historic Nile River
• Fishing for the Nile Perch
• Jet boating

Jinja City Tour Drive

After your source of the Nile tour experience, engage in the Jinja City tour drive which includes the old viewing of the old colonial buildings, the old railway station, diesel locomotives, golf course, the Hindu temple, and the Memorial Gardens where Mahat Magandi’s ashes were poured.

On this Jinja City tour, you discover that Jinja town was once the industrial capital of Uganda but today a residential town filled with many old Indian-styled structures in which many Indians lived during the pre-Amin area, some of whom have returned to reclaim their old properties.

However, Jinja is a multicultural town, dominated by native Basoga mixed up with Buganda, Banyankore Bagwere, Basamya as well as other eastern tribes making it a fusion of a true Uganda town good for any visitor to interact with.

Jinja town has many shops along the main road and also a place where to buy Ugandan crafts hence visit these local craft shops to buy a souvenir to take back home as a remembrance of your 1 day Jinja tour and source of the Nile trip in Uganda.

Other optional activities:-

• Horse Riding
• Quad Biking
• Horseback riding,
• Mountain biking

Drive Back to Kampala

Once all is done on your 1 Day Jinja Tour & Source of the R.Nile Tour, drive back to Kampala taking as many pictures of the local community/village people’s daily life activities, amazing scenery.

As you drive back to Kampala have an optional coffee break at Bannz Café along Jinja Highway and later proceed to Kampala. The journey back to Kampala takes 2-3 hours depending on the traffic jam. Drop off at your hotel/residence.

End Of The 1 Day Jinja Tour And Source Of The Nile Trip

1 Day Jinja Tour And Source Of The Nile Trip – WHAT TO CARRY/BRING?

• Hut & Sunglasses
• Rain Jacket
• Light Clothes
• Sun Screen
• Insect Repellent
• Binoculars/Zooming Lenses