Things to do in Jinja
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Source Café
Hit the Source for a fair selection of light bites, salads, brownies and pastries. This is the place for a coffee fix, as it has several speciality varieties.
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Black Lantern
Bujagali's premier dining destination, this is the restaurant at the Nile Porch. Set under a traditional thatched roof, the extensive menu includes several stops around the world, including Western, Indian, Chinese and Italian. Spare ribs are a speciality and the portions are enormous. Vegetarians, quiver not at the mention of ribs; there are several non-meat options as well.
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Ling Ling
Formerly Fang Fang, this place has one of the weirdest locations for any Chinese restaurant - in the forecourt of a petrol station - but don't let that distract from the food. The best Chinese beyond Kampala, tuck into a good spread with drinks for around USh15,000.
reviewed
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Source of the Nile
The Source of the Nile is promoted as one of Jinja's premier drawcards and tourists are bussed in from Kampala to marvel at the start of this mighty river. In reality there is not a whole lot to see. Before the building of the Owen Falls Dam, this was the site of the Ripon Falls, where the Nile, known locally as Omugga Kiyara, thundered out of Lake Victoria on its long journey to the Mediterranean.
The falls were blown away to ensure a steady flow of water for the dam, but it's just about possible to make out where they were from the turbulence in the river.
Bell Breweries now sponsors the area, so everything has been painted yellow and red in keeping with the corporate…
reviewed
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Nalubale Rafting
The source of the Nile is one of the most spectacular white-water rafting destinations in the world and for many visitors to Uganda a rafting trip is the highlight of their visit. There are now four companies offering exhilaration without compromise. One of these operators is the relative newcomer Nalubale Rafting.
All the companies take on the Big Four, all monster Grade Five rapids, including Itanda (The Bad Place), but there is always a safety boat on hand if you decide the rapids are just too big for you. All of them also include a host of incentives to lure you over, including meals and beers. They also offer DVDs and videos of your big day out if you think that…
reviewed
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Gandhi's Shrine
Near the source of the Nile plaque is a small memorial garden commemorating Mahatma Gandhi, the centrepiece of which is a bronze bust donated by the Indian Government. This area is becoming quite a pilgrimage site for Ugandan Indians, as this is one of the places where Gandhi's ashes were scattered. (It seems that on Gandhi's death in 1948, his ashes were divided up and sent to many locations around the world to be scattered - and some ended up in the Nile River in Uganda.)
So Gandhi was rafting the Nile long before the Adrift team came to town.
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Ozzies
A deservedly popular hole-in-the-wall type of place that turns out an impressive range of Western favourites, like full English breakfasts and burgers, pizza and pasta dishes, all at reasonable prices.
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Bujagali Falls
More a series of large rapids than a conventional waterfall, Bujagali Falls remains one of Uganda's outstanding natural beauty spots, and is very popular with locals on weekends. This is one of East Africa's more laid-back locations and it is well worth setting some time aside to chill for a few days. A lot of travellers end up staying out here before or after a rafting trip, as there are two popular camping grounds here.
During our last visit, a deal was signed for a multi-million dollar resort to be built here, so things may change very fast and don't be too disappointed if there is some serious construction going on in the area. There is also the chance that the…
reviewed
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Equator Rafts
The source of the Nile is one of the most spectacular white-water rafting destinations in the world and for many visitors to Uganda a rafting trip is the highlight of their visit. There are now four companies offering exhilaration without compromise. One of these operators is Equator Rafts.
All the companies take on the Big Four, all monster Grade Five rapids, including Itanda (The Bad Place), but there is always a safety boat on hand if you decide the rapids are just too big for you. All of them also include a host of incentives to lure you over, including meals and beers. They also offer DVDs and videos of your big day out if you think that no-one will believe you were…
reviewed
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All Terrain Adventures
Quad biking along the beautiful banks of the Victoria Nile is a real blast thanks to All Terrain Adventures. It now has more than a dozen quads and after a little spin on the practice circuit, it is time to explore the paths and trails that criss-cross the nearby countryside. This is huge fun if you've never tried this sort of thing before, and those with experience will love some of the longer trips.
There are several spins available, starting with a one-hour short-haul safari at, right up to a trailblazer that takes half a day. Another popular option includes the twilight cruiser with a meal in a local home, and plans are afoot to develop quad-biking safaris through…
reviewed
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Rumours
A popular local spot for a beer, but a little out the way for most tourists. It has perhaps the best location of any bar in Jinja and is prime sunset territory. It is built entirely from wood and has a series of walkways running along the edge of the river. To get here take a boda-boda to the source of the Nile plaque and head upriver a short way. It is quite a descent to the riverbank from the side of the road, so watch out on a dark, wet night after a few ales.
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Nile Brewery
For those consuming copious amounts of Nile Special in Kampala, this alternative 'source of the Nile' makes a lively day out, and includes the obligatory complimentary beer. Free guided tours can sometimes be arranged in advance by calling. There is a small souvenir shop where you can buy T-shirts, bottle openers and the like. It is certainly a more original brewery visit than the one to the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam.
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Bungee Jumping
Nile High Bungee is Uganda's only bungee jump, a 44m plunge into the Nile River. Set close to the riverbank, it looks scary from above but is very safe. Look at the arrow on the roof and pull out your finest swan dive. Contact the Adventure Centre, ( www.surfthesource.com; Kira Rd, Kampala)for bookings and information, or drop in on the Nile High Camp, Adrift's base near the Jinja Nile Resort.
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Jinja Club
Part of Jinja Golf Club, the club offers the only public swimming pool in Jinja, tennis and squash, and a nine-hole golf course. There is also a bar and a small restaurant with reasonably priced meals. Golfers need to pay an extra for the clubs, unless you are crazy enough to be lugging your own around Uganda!
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Two Friends
Tucked away on the quiet crescent between Explorers Backpackers and the Crested Crane, this is the number one name for Italian food in Jinja. Higher prices than Kampala don't deter the regulars, and the menu also includes some steaks and Indian dishes. A great garden setting rounds things off.
reviewed
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Owen Falls Dam
Coming from Kampala, the Owen Falls Dam forms a spectacular gateway to the town: as you coast across the top, look down on the raging river below. The dam supplies Uganda with the bulk of its electricity, or doesn't supply it with much electricity, depending on which way you look at it.
reviewed
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Sombrero's
If you are already tanked up and feeling cheesy, head to the leading club in town, although if you have seen the places it is leading, that isn't quite the commendation it sounds. Local expats hit it once in a while and it's a more Ugandan experience than life at the camping grounds.
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Rangoli Restaurant
Still probably the most popular Indian restaurant in town, although there's not a whole lot of competition. There is a pretty good selection of subcontinental standards, including large thalis, with meat or vegetarian. Guaranteed to keep the hunger at bay.
reviewed
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ATA Café
Drop in on this friendly little café, part of the quad-biking set up, for good company and cheap eats. The menu is small, but includes plenty of Western favourites and the best-value all-day breakfast in Uganda.
reviewed
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Two Friends
Tucked away on the quiet crescent between Explorers Backpackers and the Crested Crane, this is the number one name for Italian food in Jinja. Higher prices than Kampala don't deter the regulars, and the menu also includes some steaks and Indian dishes. A great garden setting rounds things off.
reviewed
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