Life has sometimes been tough for Jinja, which has seen its fortunes ebb and flow since the arrival of Indian traders at the start of the 20th century.
These traders helped to develop a rather beautiful lakeside town that was once the heartland of Uganda’s industrial sector. By the late 1950s Jinja was at the peak of its powers and, today, a walk around the town will reveal that many of its finest buildings date from the
early post-war period.
Low-cost hydroelectricity from the new Nalubaale Power Station only accelerated Jinja’s post-war development, as did the establishment of a major textile operation employing up to 3,000 people.
During the 1970s and 1980s, however, Jinja went into a sharp decline with the expulsion of the town’s Asian community. Now the town is back to its best as business thrives once more and many of the people who left have returned to reclaim their properties and launch new commercial ventures.
Jinja city centre, so carefully laid out during colonial times with broad, tree-lined avenues and art deco-style architecture, is now full of activity again.
With Jinja’s economic resurgence has come the development of niche tourism. Jinja is East Africa’s top destination for thrillseekers, with white water rafting, bungee jumping, jet-boating and river surfing all on offer for those who like to live life on the wild side.
At the same time, Jinja has become a popular away from-it-all conference venue for Kampala-based companies and organizations. The city’s peaceful atmosphere and a reputation for high attendance from delegates often give Jinja the edge over the nation’s capital, only 80 km or so away by road.
In terms of accommodation, hotels in Jinja are mostly small and family run, with one or two notable exceptions. Most have views over Lake Victoria or the River Nile. This is a great venue for a weekend getaway, with lots to see and do, especially for the young at heart.
Things to Do in Jinja
Jinja is a great city, however if you travel to Uganda for the national parks, the gorillas, and the excitement of big-city Kampala, it can be a little out of the way. However, Jinja is highly recommended to anyone who is willing to go a little off the beaten track to find the smaller gems of Africa! Jinja is the base for those seeking to add thrills and spills to their otherwise leisurely trip to Uganda;
The source of the nile has been done up quite nicely, with a small restaurant/bar and small boat rides which can be purchased for a minimal fee. There is a monument marking the location where Speke first observed the source and there is even a small monument commemorating the fact that part of Mahatma Ghandi’s ashes were sprinkled at the source. A hydroelectric dam at the source fuels electricity to Uganda and much of Kenya. A new dam was recently completed which greatly increased the power output.
Both Adrift and Nile River Explorers offer superb white water rafting expeditions based out of Jinja. The white water is spectacular on the White Nile and the stretch outside Jinja boasts world class rapids. The guides for both companies are great and will lead you on a white water adventure which shouldn’t be missed. The trip will cost approximately $100 per person (prices are subject to change due to inflation) and the trip will feature five class five rapids in a one day trip, as well as several 3 and 4 class rapids. The Nile River Explorers base in Jinja also offers quad trips, chimpanzee viewing, and river boarding.
The top sport is white water rafting, which has been around since the mid 1990s, and today there are several adventure travel companies offering trips on the fast-flowing stretches of the River Nile below Jinja. There is rafting and then, for the really adventurous, there is extreme
rafting, offering a chance to shoot the truly ferocious Grade Five rapids using smaller-than-usual rafts and with passengers certain to spend time in the water. This activity can be combined with river surfing.
The submerging of the Bujagali Falls, as a new dam project takes shape, has had some impact on rafting, but just means that trips now start from a location further downstream from the centre of Jinja. The fun and excitement remain just as intense and the dangers are undiminished.
Bungee jumping is equally popular, but instead of leaping from a high bridge across a river, the jumpers use a specially built platform 44 metres above and out into the River Nile. This platform is located next to the Jinja Nile Resort.
A less dangerous but no less exhilarating means of seeing the Nile is by 450 hp, 12-seater jet boat. Again, these boats operate from bases in the Jinja area. This particular wind-in the-air fun ride is open to passengers of all ages (well, from five upwards) and costs about $75.
PARAGLIDING
Newly added to these daredevil sports is tandem paragliding from Mount Wanale in Eastern Province. Paragliding as a commercial activity began in mid 2012, providing a fresh challenge for those looking to enjoy as many of these white-knuckle sports as can be crammed into a visit to Uganda.