A paradise-like backpackers

The Nile Explorers Backpackers is a real oasis located by the Bujagali waterfalls on the outskirts of Jinja, Uganda. The campsite on the top of a hill direct by the White Nile river and with a awesome view of the river valley have something of paradise-like.

A piece of rain forest embraces the whole campsite and stretches all the way down to the valley along the river sides. Some exemplars of its inhabiting fauna come out every now and then to show their exuberance and salute the most curious guests.

To spot a small colorful monkey jumping from one tree to the other or a majestic fish eagle flying across the valley is not a rare event. With a good camera and bit of luck one can take exciting pictures from the breakfast table. No joke!

I was so happy to have found such an breathtaking place. My friend Roman and I had a two-nights layover in the Nile Explorers Backpackers while on our way to Southern Africa. We quite enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere specially the few beers with the view to the valley and the walking down to the river.

The Nile Explorers Backpackers is definitely a place to recommend: one can book great outdoor activities, ideal for budget travelers, has a nice personnel, it is safe and awesomely located. By planing a trip to Uganda it is a must.

Cheers peeps!

On the rapids of the Nile River

I really have a good curriculum when the talk is about unexpected environments and crazy adventures but this one has been so far the greatest traveling experience I've ever had: a day on a dingy boat on the Nile river paddling trough a few level 5 rapids. Fun is guaranteed!

To reach the location where the whole adventure starts we drove up north almost one hour starting from Jinja. Reaching the river side some security training took place, groups were formed_four to six people plus guide on a dingy_and the fun could begin.

Already in the first rapid, one of the highests, one can expect the boat will flip. Said an done! BAAAM!

Everyone flies into the water, is dragged down for a few seconds, gets on the surface, the groups gets together, unflip the boat and the fun goes on. Scream and shout is also allowed.

On the very beginning you'll get that bad feeling in your stomach, be a bit scared or even ask yourself: "What the heck I'm down here?. Immediately before the first rapid you also may think: "Fuck! There it comes!" But after the third one the adrenaline goes up, you get the feeling for the whole thing and just wanna have more.

The flipping of the boats is actually all what it's about. The excitement before, the physical effort while in the rapid and the victory after it. Whether the whole crew landed in the water or not the outcome is always pure adrenaline.

Besides the yelling an shouting and people pulling each other back on the dingy we had our paddling sessions on the quiet segments of the river. Then we had enough time to enjoy the fantastic scenery.

The rapids are also a place to get to know people. Oh yes! Imagine you sharing a boat on the Nile with people you never met before, in a wonderful sunny day and all that fun. Definitely people get to talk to each other, tell their stories, tell about what brought them to Africa and at the end of the day you will have, in worst case, an additional Facebook friend.

Those were almost 30 km, around 6 hours on the Nile and, if I remember well, we went through 8 rapids and landed in the water in at least half of them. In one of the last rapids, a "weaker"one, we were allowed by the crew to jumping in "in the case we wanted.". Guess what I did? Fuuuuuun!

If you're planing to travel to Africa any time soon, include a stop in Jinja, Uganda, and book a one day rafting adventure. A whole package, including some free camping, can be booked at the Nile River Explorers (http://raftafrica.com) either in Jinja town or in the campsite on the Bujagali Falls.

Well I don't think I have to say I recommend, do I?  It's an experience for life.

Lovely peeps don't forget: "The world is small and we are free."

Cheers everyon!

Victoria lake and the Nile River, giants in size and beauty

The Nile river and the Victoria lake are two giants in the African continent. Giants not only for their sizes_both are the largest river and lake, respectively, in the continent_ but also for their economical significance and for their natural beauty.

The Nile river and the Victoria lake are two giants in the African continent. Giants not only for their sizes_both are the largest river and lake, respectively, in the continent_ but also for their economical significance and for their natural beauty. A number of birds, reptiles, mammals, plants, etc. have found the perfect environment to survive close to their waters, on their islands and along their shores.

The waters of the Victoria lake, which are shared by three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, start flowing into the Nile River at the Ugandan city Jinja. A few kilometers outside Jinja, on "The Source of the Nile" one can have an idea of what I'm talking about. This is probably the best place to observe what the Nile River/Victoria lake have to offer on matter of natural attractions.

It's been my second time to come to Uganda and to come here. The last time I come I introduced the place to my Austrian friend Roman.

Once there we booked a guided boat ride, which took us up to the lake and down to the river for about one hour and provided a couple of unexpected encounters with monitor lizards, pelicans and white king fishers.

An stop at the fish farms in the and a look at one of the fishmonger's villages is also on the plan.

Most of the villagers have their subsistence guaranteed by reduces offered by the lake, whether it's the fishery or the tourism. Also the Chinese are very much present with their fish farms around here.

Weaponed from with my brand new camera I didn't lost any time and tried to get as many good shots as possible. The environment offered more than enough motives to photograph for my happiness.

According to the history the Victoria lake was first sighted by a European in 1858 when the British explorer John Hanning Speke reached its southern shore while on his journey wither hard Francis Burton to explore central Africa and locate the Great Lakes. 

Believing he had found the source of the Nile on seeing this "vast expanse of open water" for the first time, Speke named the lake after Queen Victoria [source Wikipedia].

The entrance fee to the park costs 10.000 Ugandan shillings [ush], around 3€. For the one hour guided boat ride with two people one may count with 150.000 ush (approx. 50€). Definitely worthy visiting it.

Loads of fun peeps!

Cheers everyone.