Situated on the northern shores of Africa’s largest lake, in southern Uganda, Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda and is famous for being located at the source of the Nile. The rapids on the Nile make Jinja the white water rafting capital of East Africa. It is also known as the adventure capital of Uganda. While the main attraction is undoubtedly rafting down the Nile, there are also a variety of other adrenaline filled activities such as: quad biking, bungee jumping, kayaking, mountain biking and horse riding. Other popular activities include: browsing the colourful Jinja market, viewing the faded grandeur of the crumbling colonial architecture lining the streets and joining a bicycle tour to soak up the spectacularly scenic surrounds.
One of the most popular parks in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the western region of the country. In the northern part of the park, visitors can look forward to boating along the Kasinga Channel, which is home to the largest population of hippos in the world and an abundance of Nile crocodiles. Along the banks, an incredible number of birds and wild animals flock to the river’s edge. At Kyambura Gorge, fondly known as ‘Valley of the Apes’, chimpanzees are at home in a world of lush tropical rainforest spread with canopies, and three salty crater lakes are decorated with swathes of pink flamingos. On the western shore of Lake George, the vast Kasenyi Plains are inhabited by lions and several interesting bird species.
Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities - the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges. The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance, and aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly-coloured butterflies to identify. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, three of which are still active.
