The Source of the Nile, the famed river of Egypt, is actually deep in Uganda.  Well. technically the source of the White Nile is in Uganda.  The Blue Nile starts in Ethiopia.  Yes, there are two Nile rivers, which combine in the Sudanese Capital Khartoum to create the Nile river we think of today.

The source of the White Nile is a small tourist destination in Jinja, Uganda.  At it’s beginning, the White Nile has a series of big water rapids, so Jinja has become somewhat of an adventure sports mecca for Uganda, that’s how we got there in the first place.  We body boarded the huge waves of the Nile, an experience now significantly reduced by a hydroelectric dam.  The upper part of the river, including Bujugali Falls is now closed.  Class V water is still available downstream, but the closure of the falls means no more “carnage” viewing from the riverfront- a popular activity for locals and tourists alike.

 IF YOU GO: The source of the Nile is a nice walk from Jinja’s city center.  Matatus go from downtown, but it’s better to walk and reward yourself with an iced cold local brew when you arrive.  Jinja is a very walkable and friendly city with a lot of outdoor activities- something not as common as you would think throughout Africa.  There’s a decent expat population of whitewater kayakers and raft guides, so expect some Western comforts as well!  There are a lot of rafting companies in town, we went with Nalubale Rafting- the only group at the time to over body boarding.