1 Day Jinja City Tour – Ssezibwa Falls and Boat Ride on the Nile

Jinja city is in the Jinja district on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Eastern region of Uganda. It is known as the adventure capital of Uganda and is the second largest town in Uganda after Kampala. It is where the mighty river Nile the world’s largest river is found. Jinja is just 81 kms away from Kampala hence it is easy for travelers to go for an excursion safari from Kampala and then return the same day.

Detailed Itinerary – 1 Day Jinja City Tour

Early in the morning after breakfast, leave your residence and drive along Jinja road from Kampala toward Jinja on one of the busiest roads in Uganda, you will pass through Lugazi which is a sugar cane town meeting sugar cane trucks with their ware on them.

Ssezibwa Falls
Ssezibwa Falls

Your first stop is Ssezibwa Falls – a favorite place of rest and healing for the Kabakas of the Buganda Kingdom – it is still a place where people go to seek the old ways. Old or new, the falls will leave a peaceful imprint on your heart.

Continue with your journey and you will have a stop in Mabira Forest. You will pull off and soon reach the place where you will take a walk in the forest. This is one of the few rainforests in the central region of Uganda.

Apart from the spectacular forest, there are over 300 species of birds and over 218 kinds of butterflies. More than 312 tree and plant species. You will also find lots of monkeys and other mammals in Mabira Forest walking underneath this canopy.  Afterward, drive to Jinja town for lunch. You can order Ugandan, Chinese, Indian or Italian dishes. Most of all enjoy the food.

After lunch, take a short ride to the source of the Nile, a quiet Park, nowadays there are some souvenir sellers there, otherwise, it is quiet and beautiful, filled with palm trees, fantastic tropical plants and as you walk down the steps toward the Nile you could smell off the flowers.

boat ride on the Nile river in Uganda
boat ride on the Nile River in Uganda

When standing on the Nile, you can hear the gurgling water, and watch fishermen throwing their nets, taking in the longest river in Africa, a river that flows from south to north toward the Mediterranean Sea. You can close your eyes and sense history. Take a Boat Ride to the source of the Nile and beyond the lake-great picture opportunities for you.

Then you will be off to town, which at one time was the industrial capital of Uganda.

There are many shops along the main road and it’s as well one of the places to buy Ugandan crafts.

This visit will wind up your safari after which you will embark on your return journey to Kampala

End of the 1 Day Jinja City Tour – Ssezibwa Falls and Boat Ride on the Nile