Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Jinja, Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Jinja, Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Jinja is a town situated in the Eastern region of Uganda, located between 0°25′28″ N latitude and 33°12′15″ E longitude. It is the second largest and busiest town in Uganda, following the national capital, Kampala and from Kampala, Jinja is located around 80 km away. Jinja is situated on the shore of the world’s largest tropical lake Lake Victoria. Jinja is a year round tourist destination with a vibrant nightlife with many nightclubs, casinos and bars.

The economy of Jinja is based on surrounding agricultural activities and other substantial economy sources include grain milling, metal processing and the production of coffee, organic fruits and sugar.

History of Jinja:

The name Jinja literally means ‘rock’ which may be derived from the language of Baganda people. The town of Jinja was founded in the year 1907 by the British. Jinja gained municipality status in 1956 and after 6 years of this, Uganda’s independence was declared from British in 1962.

How to get Jinja?

Jinja is served by Jinja Airport but the airport receives a less number of scheduled flights. So international tourists are needed to reach Entebbe International Airport (around 120 km) first and then take taxi or rental car to get Jinja.

The bus connection of Jinja extends to all the major cities in the country, including the national capital Kampala. Boda-bodas or minibuses and taxis are the useful options to move within Jinja.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Jinja:

Jinja is the site of Fairland University and a campus of Makerere University. Jinja Market is one of the best places to purchase African souvenirs that are colorful and affordable.

Here is the list of the tourist favor restaurants in Jinja:

2 Friends
The Source Cafe
Leoz
Ginger on the Nile

Things to do in Jinja:

Horseback riding
Rafting
Camping
Jumping
Water skiing

Places to see in Jinja:

Swaminarayan Temple:

The Swaminarayan Temple is one of the recommended places to visit in Jinja. It is a temple dedicated to the great Indians’, especially Guajarati’s god Swaminarayan.

Source of the Nile:

The Nile River flows near the town of Jinja, where some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were released. There is also a monument dedicated to the Father of the Nation (India) Mahatma Gandhi.

Golf Course in Jinja:

Jinja is home to a 9 hole golf course, where visitors can have the striking views of Nile River and Lake Victoria. Jinja’s golf course is also a great relaxation point. Worth a visit.

Jinja Market:

Situated in the heart of the town, the Jinja Market is a great shopping and hangout site, offering a wide range of local specialties at reasonable prices. Tourists should keep local currency as most shops in Jinja don’t accept cards.

Buweng:

Buweng is a town, situated around 30 km away from the heart of Jinja. The town is mainly noted for its animal sanctuary with both local and continental animals. It can be reached by rental car from Jinja.

List of other places of interest in and around Jinja include:

Lake Victoria
National Botanical Gardens in Entebbe
Uganda National Zoo
Uganda Reptile Village
Kigungu historical site
Entebbe Golf Club
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Forest Park Resort
Batwa Cultural Heritage
Uganda Museum
Namirembe Kathedrale
Gaddafi National Mosque

Best time to visit Jinja:

The best time to visit Jinja depends on visitors’ interest, though the most preferred time is from December to February.

Hotels in Jinja:

Being a prominent tourist destination, Jinja houses many top class hotels spread up all around the town with latest amenities to provide utmost comfort for visitors coming to the town from time to time. List of the famous hotels in Jinja include: