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The source of the Nile

There is something magical about the Nile, the longest river in the world and the source of life for many great civilizations throughout the ages.

The source of the Nile, alluded to hazily in the ancient writings of Ptolemy, stood as one of the great geographical mysteries of the Victorian Age. Closer to home, the Nile downriver from Jinja, Uganda, offers some superb white water rafting and game fishing.

The source of all this tumult is marked by a modest sign that reads “The Source of River Nile - Jinja - World's Longest River” at Ripon Falls, a series of cataracts that are partially submerged due to dams constructed downriver. A small cafe and shops, as well as boat dock with tours for hire, are located adjacent to this monument.

The Nile River flows from Jinja- central Uganda Northwards through Sudan, Egypt and Finally the Mediterranean Sea. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria located in UgandaTanzania, and Kenya, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the north, making it the longest river in the world.

The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. Its three main tributaries are the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Atbara.

For millennia, much of Egypt's food has been cultivated in the Nile delta region. Ancient Egyptians developed irrigation methods to increase the amount of land they could use for crops and support a thriving population.

Beans, cotton, wheat, and flax were important and abundant crops that could be easily stored and traded. In Uganda, The Nile has been Helpful in generating hydroelectric power, and many tourism activities such as white water rafting and spot fishing.

How Many Niles?

Like many rivers of comparable length, the Nile has a number of major tributaries, or upper branches that feed into it. The main two, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, meet in Khartoum before continuing northwards through Sudan and into Egypt.

Scottish explorer James Bruce claimed to be the first European to see the source of the Blue Nile in 1770, reaching a marsh and the falls at Tis Abay in Ethiopia, though Spanish Jesuit Pedro Paez actually beat him by more than 150 years, arriving at Lake Tana in 1618, Ondaatje says.

Part of the Nile the flows from Lake Victoria northwards to Lake Albert delta is called Victoria Nile, while the part after Lake Albert is the Albert Nile and immediately after crossing the Uganda Boarder into southern Sudan, it becomes the White Nile. The Blue Nile is tributary of the Nile River flowing from Lake Tana in Ethiopia and meeting the White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan, to form the Nile River.

Other activities that attract visitors to the source of the nile

White-Water Rafting on the Nile

Despite the intensity of some of the rapids, most people who venture here are first-time rafters ask for an adrenaline rush as part of their tour in Uganda.

The stretch of rapids along the upper Nile near Jinja is considered one of the most spectacular places in Africa to go white-water rafting. Another option to this one is a family float trip.

Kayaking:

The solo kayak at the Nile will be yet another opportunity to experience the white water.

Boat Cruises:

Have a sunset boat cruise to the source of the Nile. This will surely lighten up your evening as you will be able to take photos during the cruise and you will have a close sight of the river.

Horseback Ride along the Nile:

While in Jinja make sure you participate on this activity which may take 2-3 hours on healthy horses and the people waving to you as you pass their local villages will surely bring a smile to your face. The horses are very well trained and maintained by their Australian owners.

Bungee Jumping:

This will be yet another scary but very interesting activity for you. This is done over the waters of the Nile River on the plat form perched 44m. Try this out because it will be a memorable experience.

Fishing on the Nile:

This is done both in the Nile River and Lake Victoria which the largest fresh waters in Uganda with many fish species, Nile perch inclusive. Get an opportunity to fish here if only you bring your equipment for the sport fishing activity and a permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

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2 Days Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Are you in Rwanda and would wish to compare gorilla trekking on this side of Uganda? Do not worry, It only costs you a few extra dollars and a short distance. The tour takes you through the Rwanda - Uganda chyanika board to kisoro town on the Uganda side. Short as it is but its very scenic and surely rewording.

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Per person sharing

Silverback face

3 Day Mount Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Mid-Range Tour

Our 3 Day Mgahinga gorillas will take you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south western Uganda. Arrival and departure will be through Kigali, Rwanda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only park in Uganda where mountain gorillas co-exist with golden monkeys. Hence the saying, that it's where “gold meets silver”.

Explore Idea $1355

Per person sharing

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4 Day Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Budget Tour

The 4 day Budget Gorilla Trekking and Charitable Cultural Tour takes you to Lake Bunyonyi and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park. This is the forest that houses the largest number of the world's remaining wild mountain gorillas.

Explore Idea $1298

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Uganda safaris

Other toursit destinations in Uganda

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Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda's most popular tourist destination. The park's diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid woodland forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees, mankeys, baboons and over 600 species of birds.

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Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda's borders with Sudan and Kenya, some 700kilometers from Kampala.

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Murchison falls

Murchison falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda's largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds.

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mountain elgon peaks

Mountain Elgon National Park

This extinct volcano is one of Uganda's oldest physical features, first erupting around 24 million years ago. Mt Elgon was once Africa's highest mountain, far exceeding Kilimanjaro's current 5,895meters.

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Rwenzori mountains

Rwenzori mountain national park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park protects the highest parts of the 120km long and 65km wide Rwenzori mountain range. The national park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world's rarest vegetation.

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Semliki national park

Semliki National Park

Semuliki Forest Reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park status in 1993. It is the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa, hosting 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals.

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Rhinos

Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area located in Nakasongola district, Uganda. It was established in 2005 with the primary objective of reintroducing and conserving the endangered southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) in Uganda.

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water buck

Pian Upe Game Reserve

Pian Upe Game Reserve is a highly desired tourist destination located in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda. This expansive reserve covers an area of approximately 2,788 square kilometers, making it the second-largest protected area in the country.

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Gorilla head

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants.

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Chimpanzee up close

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau.

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Giraffe head

Lake mburo national park

20% of the park's entrance fee is used to fund local community projects such as building clinics and schools. Lake Mburo National Park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda.

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Golden monkey

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a protected area located in southwestern Uganda, on the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the two national parks in Uganda that are home to the endangered mountain gorillas, the other being Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

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Hot springs

Sempaya Hot springs

Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park, Uganda, are a captivating natural attraction with cultural significance and therapeutic properties. The male and female springs, Bintente and Nyasimbi, offer visitors a chance to witness boiling geysers and bubbling pools while immersing themselves in mineral-rich waters.

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Sipi falls

Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls is a stunning waterfall located in eastern Uganda, near the town of Kapchorwa. It is considered one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the country and draws tourists from all over the world.

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kabale city

Kabale

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