Jinja, Uganda is one of the best cities to visit in Africa. It’s safe, low-key, and very mzungu (foreigner)-friendly. It has a stunning location amid the rolling hills on the banks of the legendary Nile River. Whether you want heart-pounding adrenaline activities or a relaxing day on the river, there are plenty of things to do in Jinja.
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How long should you spend in Jinja?
Jinja is a small city. You can walk around the downtown area in a couple hours. So you can easily squeeze Jinja into even a tight Uganda itinerary.
Two days would be enough to cover most of these activities in Jinja. You’d spend one day in the city and the second day doing a full-day activity. If you really want to do everything on this list, you’d need at least three days.
Some backpackers in Uganda spend significantly more time in Jinja. It’s one of the most traveler-friendly cities in all of Africa, due to its wide array of amenities and total lack of hassle. You’ll meet folks who thought they’d be here for a day or two and end up volunteering for weeks or months.
Jinja is also one of the most common digital nomad bases in East Africa — it’s one of the only places in the region where you can reliably find good WiFi!
The absolute best things to do in Jinja, Uganda
1. Go rafting
Topping every list of activities in Jinja is the thing the town is famous for: Epic Class V white water rafting.
The rafting in Jinja is so good that it rivals gorilla trekking as the main tourist draw to the country. It’s some of the best commercial rafting anywhere in the world.
Most people do a one-day trip with Nile River Explorers or Nalubale Rafting. You meet in Jinja around 9 am, drive out to the rafting spot, run the river, have lunch where you take out the raft, and get back to Jinja by 3 pm. This package costs $140.
Rafting in Jinja is extremely intense — you’ll almost certainly end up in the water on a few of the rapids. My raft flipped twice in Class IV+ white water and I ended up under the raft both times. But as long as you’re comfortable in the water, it’s very safe. You don’t even need to know how to swim!
If you want a less-intense day on the river, you can choose a Class III rafting option instead (which is also good for families). Or you can do a river boarding trip. You can even go tubing through some of the milder rapids. And if you’re a kayaker, there are options for that as well. In short, if you’re looking for any kind of outdoor activities in Jinja, you can find them!
2. Visit the Source of the Nile
While most visitors to Jinja will experience the most ferocious sections of the Nile on a rafting trip, it’s also worth checking out the little stream where the river begins.
The Source of the Nile has long been a topic of dispute. Colonial European explorers spent the better part of the 19th century tramping all over East and Southern Africa in search of it — encountering many false positives along the way.
Today, multiple sources of the river are acknowledged, but one of them is in Jinja. A visit here is more about the history and atmosphere (and checking it off your bucket list) than about the sight itself being amazing. But it’s an essential pilgrimage for anyone traveling in Africa and one of the most popular places to visit in Jinja.
Access to the site costs 30,000 shillings. You’ll pay your fee at the main gate and walk past handicraft stalls until you encounter a plaque marking the spot from land. Walk down to the river from here and you’ll find a few more signs detailing the history. To the left is a statue of Gandhi, whose ashes were scattered here (among other locations).
You can get the idea from land, but if you want a closer look at the source, a boat trip is the ideal way to get it. Boat captains will approach you and you can haggle for a decent price. $25 per group is pretty typical. The trip takes about two hours and you can be dropped off on the opposite bank if you want to check out the Source Gardens afterward.
You can walk to the Source of the Nile from central Jinja. Follow Bell Ave. out past the roundabout, and turn left on Cliff Rd. (It’s clearly signposted.) A boda (motorbike taxi) costs 3,000 shillings.
3. Check out the architecture
Under the facade of a typical East African town, Jinja’s historic center is quite beautiful. It clearly reflects the city’s status as a crossroads on East African trade routes.
Walk down Main Street and you’ll find British colonial buildings, Indian palaces, and Ugandan chapati stands. Some of the most beautiful buildings are at the intersection of Main St. and Naranbhai Rd. The Madhvani Building (on the corner here) is one of the most iconic buildings in the country. The side streets near Main St. also have some beautiful, if slightly more faded, examples of the local architecture.
It only takes about an hour to walk around the historic center. Many of the buildings house markets or cafes, so you can poke your nose in to see their elaborate old-world interiors. This is one of the best free things to do in Jinja, since none of the buildings charge admission.
4. Volunteer with Soft Power Education
Soft Power Education is one of the best charities of its kind in Uganda. This education center serves preschoolers and special needs children, and provides educational opportunities that most kids in East Africa don’t have access to.
Better yet, it has one of the most sustainable short term volunteer programs in the country. Whether you want to help out for a day or a week, you can do so. And you can rest assured that the tasks you’ll be assigned to won’t lead to unhealthy short-term attachments and other problems associated with voluntourism.
If you have more time in Jinja, and especially if you have the most in-demand skills, consider signing up for one of Soft Power’s longer-term volunteer efforts. You’ll be matched with work that’s most appropriate for your skill levels (possibly working with kids, possibly providing a support role to their infrastructure program, but never teaching). Volunteers are most needed during the Ugandan school sessions.
5. Relax at a river camp
Uganda may be a landlocked country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beach! Along with Lake Bunyonyi and the Ssesse Islands, Jinja is one of the top places to relax at a lakeside resort.
8 km outside Jinja is Lake Bujagali, an offshoot of the Nile River in the village of Bujagali. The village has two fantastic river camps catering to travelers of all budgets — Explorers River Camp and Nile River Explorers.
You could spend days relaxing at the camps: wake up late, have a leisurely breakfast, swim in the bilharzia-free water, play on the rope swings, take a boat trip, watch the sunset, repeat. The camps also organize more adrenaline-based river activities (including rafting).
Both camps charge around $8 per person to camp, $12 for a dorm bed, and in the $30+ range for private rooms. They have pools, restaurants and bars on-site. I stayed at Explorers River Camp and really enjoyed the mix of locals and travelers who hung out there, while Nile River Explorers attracts more overland trucks and party-focused backpackers.
You can also purchase a day-pass to use the facilities at either camp, or just stop by for a meal or a drink
It’s easy to reach Bujagali from central Jinja. A boda costs 5,000 shillings. Alternatively, pick up a matatu from the main roundabout by the big bridge for 1,000 shillings. You can also walk the 8 km in about 90 minutes — you’ll pass through a dozen friendly little villages along the way.
6. Shop for local handicrafts
Jinja is one of the best places in East Africa to stock up on authentic, locally produced handicrafts. You’ll get bargain prices purchasing directly from the artisans or from small shops where your money goes directly back into the community.
A few shops worth checking out are the store attached to The Source Cafe and the Cuupa Arts Gallery. Out by Bujagali you can also check out Kilombera Weaving and Endowoza Arts Center, where you can also see demonstrations from the students and artists.
If you’re just after cheap souvenirs, the craft shops lining both sides of Main Street near The Source Cafe are good options. Quality is lower than at the specialty shops, but you can still get a nice woven basket for less than a few dollars if your bargaining skills are sharp enough.
7. Chat with locals at The Source Cafe
The Source Cafe has to be one of my favorite coffee shops in the entire world.
This little colonial-era coffee shop barely has space for 30 people, and it’s always crowded. You’ll see old men reading the paper, groups of friends gathering to gossip, and even members of the local chess club coming to compete. It’s a very friendly atmosphere and you’ll almost inevitably be invited to join the locals for a cup of coffee. Even though it’s in every Jinja travel guide, I was the only mzungu in there all three times I visited.
In addition to the atmosphere, the coffee is pretty darn good and the meals are tasty and affordable. You can get a large French press and an egg/fruit/toast breakfast for under 10,000 shillings.
The only downside of The Source Cafe is service can be a little slow. Be patient and enjoy the conversation and atmosphere. Expect to spend at least an hour here, even if you’re just stopping in for a coffee.
Also, the cookies are awesome.
8. Take a sunset river cruise
In case you haven’t noticed, most of the top things to do in Jinja have to do with the Nile. And what better way to end a trip here than with a sunset cruise on the mystical river?
If the weather is nice, you’ll be treated to a spectacular sunset on the river from a double-decker boat. This is also one of the best ways to see the diversity of bird life around Jinja. African Fish Eagle sightings are almost guaranteed.
Sunset cruises depart from Jinja and Bujagali every night. They last about two hours and include drinks and snacks. Prices start at $40 per person if you book through a tour agency, but if you show up at the boat dock and bargain you can get it down to $25.
9. Enjoy a delicious meal at The Deli
Jinja is by far the best place in Uganda to enjoy all the creature comforts from home — including mzungu comfort food. Say goodbye to stuffy safari dinners and Rolex. This is your chance to get a kale salad or hummus wrap.
Of all the mzungu-focused cafes in Jinja (and there are many, and most of them are very good), the best is The Deli. You order inside and then grab a seat on the expansive patio or at one of the tables in the other room. The menu includes sandwiches and wraps, salads, heartier mains, coffee and smoothies. Prices are very reasonable — expect to spend $5 here including drinks.
Plus, if you’re searching for good WiFi in Uganda, look no further. The Deli is the only cafe in Jinja where you could reliably work from a laptop for hours. Trust me, you won’t be the only relieved backpacker pecking away at your keyboard!
Where to stay in Jinja
Jinja’s accommodation scene has options for campers and backpackers, mid-range travelers, and all-out luxury. You can choose from a downtown hotel or a bush camp. Really, there’s something for everyone.
If you want to stay in town, the best option on a budget is Nalubale Tea House. They only have a few rooms, so you’ll need to book way in advance (as in, three months early in high season). Camping is available as well. Mid-range travelers should try Source of the Nile Hotel.
If you’d rather stay on the river, the best options are the camps in Bujagali. But if you’re after an all-out splurge, the Jinja area has one of Uganda’s most spectacularly situated lodges — Wildwaters Lodge. You can stay in a room with an outdoor bathtub overlooking the river’s most infamous rapids. It’s definitely not cheap, at $345 for a single full-board, and it’s only accessible by boat.
If you want remoteness on a more reasonable budget, consider pitching a tent at The Haven. It’s still outrageously expensive — $40 for camping — but the setting is beyond gorgeous, and it’s much more low-key than Bujagali. You’ll need your own wheels to reliably get here, or you’ll be dependent on very occasional matatus.
Unfortunately, the Jinja area lost one of its best backpacker bases when a recent dam project flooded the island that was home to The Hairy Lemon. The owners are reportedly looking for a new place to set up shop.
How to get to Jinja, Uganda
Jinja is well-connected to the rest of eastern Uganda and offers some of the safest transportation options in the country.
If you’re rafting or planning to stay at one of the river camps in Bujagali, the best way to get from Kampala to Jinja is on their daily shuttles. These are free of charge for customers. Pickups are in the early morning to get to Jinja, and in the late afternoon to return to Kampala. The drive takes about 90 minutes.
If you can’t get a shuttle from a rafting company, the next-best option between Kampala and Jinja is the Pineapple Express Bus. This costs $10 per person and picks up from hostels in Kampala and Entebbe. It’s worth paying the extra money for the improved safety standards compared to public transport.
Your option of last resort to Jinja from Kampala is to take a coach bus or — if you’re really unlucky — a matatu. The best coach bus company is Elgon Flyer, which continues to Mbale (book tickets a day in advance). The best place to pick up a matatu is on the corner of the roundabout outside the Oasis Shopping Mall in Kampala, or from the Bujagali roundabout in Jinja. Whatever you do, don’t go to the central taxi park in Kampala — you’ll end up sitting in traffic for over an hour just to get out of the city center.
If you’re heading to Sipi Falls or Mbale, your best bet is to hop on the Elgon Flyer Bus as it passes through from Kampala — but you’ll need to book tickets in advance. The bus station is another mile on the Mbale road past the Bujagali roundabout. If you can’t get a ticket, a regular stream of matatus runs from Jinja to Mbale, but they’re very slow (3+ hours). Your best bet is to go to the bus station and ask the staff there to show you the taxi stage (this way you can hop on an already-full vehicle and save time waiting in the taxi park).
A few additional Jinja travel tips
- Jinja is at lower elevation than southwest Uganda, but it still stays mild. Expect 80-degree-Fahrenheit days, with nights in the 60’s. If you’re rafting, the water is often warmer than the air.
- Jinja is one of the only places in Uganda where you can get an iced coffee. Enjoy it!
- Because Jinja is so popular with volunteers, the matatu and boda drivers make an extra effort to overcharge here. Know the correct price before you get in/on any vehicles.
- Both the Nile River and Lake Bujagali are theoretically free of bilharzia, hippos and crocs. So don’t be nervous when you raft or swim!
- If you’re continuing on to Kenya, you don’t need to double back to Kampala. The night buses to Nairobi pass through Jinja and you can get a last-minute seat. You can even get Kenyan shillings out of most of the ATM’s in town.
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That photo in the raft looks amazing and scary at the same time! I would want to try both, but the sunset river cruise sounds even more lovely!! How were the mosquitoes? did you have to lather yourself in anti-bite cream?
I have really been loving your posts about Uganda!
Thanks Josy! Honestly the mosquitoes weren’t bad — I didn’t really have any issues in Jinja. I did bring 98% DEET and put it on right before dusk and first thing in the morning, but I really only had to do that because I was camping.