The Nile river is a famous river known around the world but there still a few facts that you might need to know and have on your finger tips every time occasion serves you to appear as someone informed about what the Nile River

The word Nile comes from a Greek word Neilos, which simply means ‘river valley’. In the ancient Egyptian times, the Nile was also known as the great river. Apart from a few unsettled debates concerning the Amazon, river Nile is still the longest river in the whole world flowing northwards through a few African countries including but not limited to Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt . It starts from the southern part of Africa around the equator in the EastAfrican lake Basin of Lake Victoria, Kagera and a lot more streams and lakes whence it flows pouring into the Mediterranean sea .

The Nile is around 6696 kilometers long, and because of its fame, it has many rituals and history attached to it. It was at the source of the Nile that the ashes of the late Mahatma Gandi were poured following his request before his death.  It was still at the source of the Nile that Nelson Mandela paid homage at the site where Mahatma Ghandi’s Monument seats at around 80 kilometers away from Kampala city, the monument seats a few meters away from the source of the Nile which may be accessed by boat.

Crossing the longest river in the whole world via a bridge of 525 meters long is all it takes to get to Jinja. Though Jinja is not an Island, when you cross the bridge, you welcomed by a breeze of the gentle waves of the Nile, ever waving to its visitors regardless of how many times you have been to this place. Seeing the Nile below you when getting to Jinja, is a silent whisper welcoming you to the home of  Uganda’s extreme adventure that is actually not limited to the following;

White Water Rafting on the Nile

Videography and photography have enhanced our knowledge of different activities that at times blinds us to from the reality of carrying a tangible experience of your own I know you have an idea of what white water rafting is, but if your experience of it wasn’t at the Nile! You might need to reconsider. The activity being possible throughout the year because of the Uganda’s equatorial environment, makes it an unavoidable adventure when you travel to eastern Uganda.

This sport grants you the opportunity to experience the Nile in its raw form! That is experiencing the water falls not via a camera lens but freaking yourself out by a few unavoidable ups and downs along the Nile with  your family and friends. Full day and half-day bookings are always at your disposal not forgetting the beautiful sceneries of the Nile that are inevitably visible during this activity.

The activity will automatically cost you time that is not less than 3 hours in this non-mimicable Nile experience. You can only regret leaving the eastern region without trying out on this activity, since it is like no other around the world.

Jet Boating

Jet boating is a worldwide known thrilling water venture that grants you the opportunity to hit the waves on an unmatchable speed which doesn’t only sparkle excitement in the person on the jet boat but also the viewers. You may dare yourself not to simply be a spectator but get on the boat and experience this yourself. For an activity like, recommendations are good but trying it out yourself will also be a better idea.

Kayaking

The Nile in Jinja is widely known for kayaking. If you need an individual experience of the Nile rapids, kayaking is the way to go, with a double blade paddle, there is no limit to what your Nile experience. 

Swimming

Swimming is one of the daring memories you can create while at the Nile, think about sharing a memory of swimming in the longest river in the world with your friends. The Nile is proven to be free from bilharzias and other infectious diseases. Unlike other parts of the Nile, you cannot find hippos and crocodiles in Jinja which makes it a haven for people who love to swim in natural waters.

However, you must be sure about your swimming skills to swim in these still waters, you may also request for a water tube to sit on while watching the sun rise at the Nile. As said earlier, a lot more can be done at the Nile in regard to swimming. It is a certificated with a clear distinction as oil from water,

Horse Riding

Horse riding is not a native Ugandan activity but whoever thought of riding along the shores of the Nile in the communities and paths through farmlands, thought of an activity that totally redefines the Nile experience.

Horse rides grant you the opportunity to get in direct contact with the communities, and because of the hospitality of the people of Jinja, you might even consider doing it for more than one day just to explore and engage with these communities.

Besides the communities, you can be sure not to miss out on the shore view of the beautiful Nile from different angles, like every part of Uganda, birds are permanent tenants in every part of you, and hence carrying binoculars will enhance your bird watching experience at the Nile.

Quad biking

Group activities always carry a sense of extra excitement compared to a one man experience. Like hiking, having company of a few colleagues will enhance your quad experience. It is on such an activity that you are assured of connecting with people from different walks of life with one uniting factor, trekking together the path of exploring the Nile from different parts with aid of quad rides.

It is a usual thing to have a few talkative people on the crew who will make fan of everything, the coward that screams at every turn of the quad, and the self proclaimed expert who aare always exposed when personal questions are asked.

Riding a few kilometers on brown paths will give you a sense of thrill more so a day when the road is neither wet nor dry. Quad riding is one activity that keeps a sounding reminder in your head of how much the city has robbed you of. It might become your routine kind of activity every time you come to Uganda.

You will be assured of watching different falls, doing some bird watching as well as spotting a few vervets and red-tailed monkeys.

Mini zoo

Besides the craft shops at the source of the Nile, there is an opportunity of doing a snake show, that is posing with a python, you will also get the opportunity to see other reptiles such as cobras, crocodiles among other animals