I walked around the taxi park and chose a matatu with an uplifting message for the journey to Jinja. I had heard a lot about the place – a favourite weekend getaway for Kampala expats so I was excited.
Of course the matatu was stuffed to the roof with people sharing 2 seats between 3 people. Just when you think there is definitely no room for more passengers, another one wedges themselves in and perches on the edge of a seat.
The man behind me had a bag from which I could hear a chicken. There were huge bundles of produce to accommodate too and so when, after 2:30hrs, I was beckoned to leave the taxi, I was glad to spill out onto the roadside.
It didn’t look like a town centre and in fact it wasn’t – I had to then get another matatu into Jinja. Clearly they had told a little lie when I asked whether they were going to Jinja. Eventually I arrived at a very nasty little place (Jinja town, I’ve learnt is not very pretty) and hopped on a boda boda to Nile River Lodge.
There is a variety of accommodation available but I chose the cheapest – the dorm room and it was sufficient for my needs, especially when you take into consideration the fantastic showers.
I decided I needed to do something on the Saturday so I went to Kayak the Nile and a 2 hour paddle up the Nile. My minder and I came across a man who had just caught a perch and I bought it off him for about £12. It was huge and took it back to be cooked by the chef at my lodgings.
It was so big I had to persuade an Austrian family to share it with me.
Jinja town itself is very disappointing and I suspect the only thing to do in Jinja (source of the Nile) is to go stay on the river, watch the sunset, drink beer and play on the water.
There were lots of water-based activities such as white water rafting, kayaking and swimming on offer. However, when the sun goes down, there is really nothing to do but drink and stare out into the dark.
There were lots of water-based activities such as white water rafting, kayaking and swimming on offer. However, when the sun goes down, there is really nothing to do but drink and stare out into the dark.
I treated myself to a slightly bigger bus on the way back but it was the same price – 7000 shillings which is less than £2. For a bargain weekend, Nile River Lodge dorms are fine. The food and beer served there are good and inexpensive. The bar manager is a little over-familiar but then maybe that’s just me!