Jinja

Overview

On the Indian Ocean this area has excellent sailing facilities. It's a nice fairly uncrowded coastal town (pop. 188 000) that we found relaxing because there's nothing to do but enjoy the beach. If you're in need of rest plan to stay three days. 115 mi/185 km north of Dar es Salaam. From Dar-es-Salaam travellers wishing to take a trip to Mombasa, Kenya - can make a stop-over in Tanga for serenity and peace. Tanga has old-time history involved and life is laid-back (relaxed). Shop around Ngamiani Street, or the Main Streets (Market Street or Independence Street) On Market Street, Don't forget to visit my dearest friend's Food Palace for best chicken & barbeque dishes. Scrumptuous Breakfast dishes and exotic juices makes a wonderful starting point. Fast FoodOctopus Exotica, despite the hokey name, serves some of the best Indian themed sea food in all of Tanzania. Healtho, the drink of today's generation. Never to be found anywhere else besides this town. Anjari Bottler's historical drink that is being appreciated world-wide. A must to drink...never miss it! Places to see around Tanga are Amboni Caves, Sulphar Baths, Raskazoni beach and the daily market in town centre. The city is located the at the source of the Nile, and in Uganda more famously the source of Nile Beer. This is a popular destination for backpackers for its white water rafting. Three main operators...more

History

Jinja is Uganda's second largest urban centre, lies 80km to the east of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria . Approaching the town from Kampala involves travelling across the Owens Falls Dam and over the world's longest river, the Nile, which starts its 6,500 km journey to the Mediterranean Sea on the west side of Jinja. A golf course and gardens are laid out along the banks and the river's starting point is marked with among other things, a bust of Ghandi and on the west bank is a monument marking where the English explorer, James Hanning Speke became the first European to see the much speculated Source of the River Nile.

The town centre overlooks the lake. Large houses with big yards are a part of the legacy that the original developers gave the town, with quiet, tree lined streets giving ambience to the laid-back and warm welcome that visitors generally experience on arrival. Rush hour in Jinja is very different from that in Kampala . With much less traffic it is very easy to get around. At least half of all vehicles are bicycles. Generally there's be a cool breeze blowing in from Lake Victoria , clean air rather then smog to breath. In places there are views out over the lake helping to sooth the soul. Parking is rarely a problem. The almost exclusive use of bicycle taxis around the town centre enhances the slow but steady feel to life here. A recent Town Council campaign to clean up the streets and shop fronts has made Jinja even more attractive.

Prior to the Owens Falls Dam being completed in 1954 a huge cascade called Rippon Falls formed a major natural feature beside the town and the roar of millions of litres of water dropping 5 meters provided a lullaby to everyone living in Jinja. The Nile has always been a major obstacle to human movement between eastern and central Africa and wasn't spanned until the railway bridge was completed in 1930. Jinja was known as the 'place of the flat rocks'. It provided a focal point in any east/west land journey and many of the people living in what was just a small settlement beside the mouth of the river, worked providing ferry services. The town began to grow towards the end of the 19th Century and with the building of a port, Jinja became better connected by...more