Blogs from Jinja, Eastern Region, Uganda, Africa - page 16

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja March 5th 2006

After chickening out on Saturday, I got the courage to take my sprained ankle with me for a half day of white water rafting. So this morning I was picked up at the Blue Mango, said goodbye to my new friend from the US and headed to the Source of the Nile with 7 strangers who I would later get to know very well. It's funny how a little fear or struggling can make a bond form quicker than time can sometimes. So one the way to Jinga, where the rafting begins, we stopped at a lovely bakery and had some really delicious crossaints. Not sure if they were so good because I wasn't sure if I'd make it back from rafting in one peice or because I hadn't had one in several months. I sound ... read more

Into The Nile Washing Machine

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja February 27th 2006

white water rafting

Markim Gadabouts

Jinja lays claim to the source of the Nile, the mightiest river in the world as they say. The town lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, and it's out of this lake that pours the water to create one of the most spectacular white water rafting destinations in the world. Seeing as it was very unlikely that we would ever get the chance to come back here again, we decided to take the plunge and see just what the rafting actually entailed. So it was with a great deal of ignorance and excitement that we found ourselves hopping on board a red inflatable dingy. I teamed up with Kim and 4 other girls, plus a female instructor, which on first reflection put a smile on my face. It didnt last long as an hour in ... read more

Jinja, Uganda - Source of the Nile

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja January 17th 2006

Sai

The moment we landed in Entebbe, the main airport in Uganda, we realized that we were in a tropical country. The landscape is so verdant, with plenty of banana and sugar plantations everywhere. The first morning, we took a matuta ride - a local shared minivan, into the city centre. We realized our ATM cards don't work here and our US 100 bills are not accepted ! Apparently, only $100 bills dated 2000 and above are accepted - to reduce conterfeit money. Bottom line: We had to scamper to get money using cash advances on our credit card... After a long day, we had some excellent Indian food at Haandi. As many of you know, there is a sizeable Indian community that has come back after Idi Amin had kicked them out in the 1970s. Most ... read more

Jinja (Uganda) to Lake Nakuru (Kenya) to Arusha (Tanzania)

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja October 12th 2005

Les fameux flamants roses

Julieji

12-13 octobre 2005 Jinja (Ouganda) to Nakuru (Kenya) Une journée complète sur la route. 16 heures! C’est brutal mais c’est la vie « d’overlander ». On visite le Lake Nakuru National Park. Une région dotée de plusieurs lacs peu profonds appelés les « soda lakes » qui par leur acidité attirent des flamants roses par milliers ainsi que des pélicans. On y trouve aussi des rhinocéros blancs et noirs. Nous avons vu seulement les blancs. Il y en avait plusieurs et on nous a dit qu’en fait Nakuru a été déclaré sanctuaire pour protéger les rhinos en 1987. Voilà pourquoi nous avons eu la chance d’en voir plusieurs. C’est impressionnant en tout cas. Nous avons aussi vu des antilopes, des girafes et de buffles d’eau pendant notre safari. Au retour il pleut averse mais malheureusement il ... read more

Kisoro to Lake Bunyoni to Jinja

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja October 11th 2005

Grade 5 coming up

Julieji

8 octobre De KISORO à LAKE BUNYONI Une autre longue journée de route en camion pour se rendre à Lake Bunyoni. On arrête à Kabale, un petit village avec des commerçants le long de la route. On reçoit une allocations de 2.25 US $ par personne pour notre lunch. On achète du pain, du fromage et du vin pour se faire un petit pique-nique. Pour une fois on oublie les sandwiches à la simili-viande froide. Le camion nous amène ensuite au centre du village car ils vont faire les provisions. Je m’installe au seul café internet en rang pour attendre mon tour. Je veux envoyer un message de bonne fête à Rachel. Le camion part mais c’est prévu. On doit marcher à sa rencontre dans 30 minutes. Il sera au marché de légumes. Facile à trouver ... read more

Source of the Nile

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja June 26th 2003

DMac

It was a long day of buses from Kabale to Jinja and the roads were dry and bumpy. It felt like the last long bus journey of ours in Africa and it wasn't easy. We sat on a bus in Kabale for about 3 hours since the very aggressive bus touts put us on the one that didn't go first. When we got to the minibus rank in Kampala we got onto a nearly full bus to Jinja which was smart since people were trying to get us into empty ones that would wait for a long time - once bitten and all that (If only it was only once). When we got to Jinja it was hard to get to the Backpackers - but we got a taxi there and then after waking up the ... read more

Aaaahhhh, Ugaaahhhhnda!

Africa » Uganda » Eastern Region » Jinja November 21st 2000

Rafting the Nile

Funksouldiva

The trip was long to Kakamega but we made it in one day and stayed in a hotel before the ride to the National Forest. It was a very solitary place, green and lush. Monkeys were everywhere! We did one night of camping before a rainforest tour with our guide, Solomon. This is one place I'd come back to, no question. It's actually the most appealing part of Kenya I've seen yet. Another full day of travel, hopping matatus and having the misfortune to encounter the most unpleasant immigration officer ever. Since I was compliant with the requirements he barked out, the only thing he had to gripe about was that I came to Uganda overland through Ethiopia. "Very unusual", he said suspiciously. As soon as the painful immigration process was over we were allowed to ... read more

Brief history of Uganda

Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,0...more history

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