Jinja day trip from Kampala: Source of the Nile & Mabira forest
The Nile flows from Lake Victoria, and you see both in one day.
A guided day trip from Kampala to Jinja covers five stops: Sezibwa Falls, Mabira tropical rainforest, Jinja city, Lake Victoria, and the source of the Nile River. A driver-guide picks you up at your hotel at 7:00 AM, handles all entrance fees and lunch, and leads a one-hour boat ride to the river's source. The tour runs about eight hours and suits all fitness levels.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup in Kampala at 7:00 AM and return transport.
- entrance fees to all five stops.
- lunch in Jinja.
- water and soda with the meal.
- one-hour boat ride to the source of the Nile.
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout the day.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Airpals Safaris Tour
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
The driver picks you up at your Kampala hotel at 7:00 AM and heads toward Jinja. The first stop is Sezibwa Falls, a sacred site for the Baganda people where you walk for about an hour through bamboo forest and tea plantations, pausing for photos at the top of the falls. From there the route passes through Mabira forest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in Uganda, covering 306 square kilometers. A 45-minute guided walk lets you spot different monkey species and tree types without leaving the vehicle for long stretches.
After lunch in Jinja (included), you move on to Lake Victoria and then to the source of the Nile River itself. The one-hour boat ride is the centerpiece: you float out to where the Nile begins its flow toward Egypt, with views of the landscape and the water meeting point. The route also passes through Lugazi to see sugarcane and tea plantations, and includes time in Jinja city itself to explore local craft markets and the new bridge if you want to walk around.
Your guide speaks English throughout and carries entrance fees for all five stops, so you step out of the vehicle ready to move through each one. Water and soda come with lunch. The full day wraps by mid-afternoon, and the driver returns you to your Kampala hotel.
Is this one for you?Book this shared tour if you want to visit all five Jinja highlights in one day with a guide handling the route and transport between sites.
Compare the 7 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 29 years); Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the source of the Nile River like when you get there?
The source of the Nile is where the river begins its flow out of Lake Victoria. You reach it by boat, taking a one-hour ride across the water to see the actual point where the Nile starts, with surrounding landscape visible from the water.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
Sezibwa Falls includes about an hour of guided walking on trails and at the top of the falls. Mabira forest has a 45-minute nature walk through the rainforest. The rest of the day is spent in the vehicle or on the boat, so the walking is concentrated in two stops.
Does the tour include lunch?
Yes, lunch is included in Jinja. You eat in the city before heading to Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile, and water or soda comes with the meal.
What is Mabira forest?
Mabira is the second-largest tropical rainforest in Uganda, covering 306 square kilometers. The tour includes a guided 45-minute walk where you see different monkey species and tree types native to the forest.
Does the price change if I'm the only person booked?
If only one traveler books the tour, there is an additional charge of 20 USD on top of the standard price.
Jinja day trip from Kampala: Source of the Nile & Mabira forest
8h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 179 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.