River Nile which is considered to be the longest river in the world, has its source in Uganda’s Lake Victoria. It has a length of about 6,650 kilometres, which is about 4,132 miles.
The Nile passes through 11 countries in Africa: Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.
However, some scientists claim that the Amazon River is longer than the Nile, saying that the exact measurement of a river’s length can be complex due to factors such as the location of its source and mouth as well as the presence of multiple channels. Therefore, while the Nile is widely recognised as the longest river, there is some disagreement around this statement.
Located in Jinja City in the eastern part of Uganda on the north shores of Lake Victoria, the River Nile is a popular starting point for adventures and offers a variety of tourist attractions and activities.
According to Travel Stride, a U.S. marketplace for multiday trips, apart from viewing the source of the Nile, which attracts more than one million tourists each year, adrenaline seekers enjoy bungee jumping over the Nile.
The Nile offers white-water rafting experiences with rapids ranging from grade three to grade five. Visitors also enjoy kayaking and canoeing on the river for a more relaxed and scenic experience.
Other activities that tourists enjoy include jet boating and river boarding, where tourists explore the river while enjoying its beautiful surroundings; fishing; Nile River cruises; and horseback riding.
The best time to visit the Nile River, according to Lawrence Mayanja, a Ugandan travel expert, depends on the activities one wants to enjoy and the weather conditions preferred. However, Mayanja says that there is relatively little temperature variation in Uganda throughout the year, making it a suitable destination to visit at most times of the year.
The Nyege Nyege festival, which is very famous and attracts people from different parts of the world to enjoy traditional and contemporary culture, also takes place on three conjoined sites along the Nile River: the Jinja Golf Course, the Source of the Nile, and the Jinja Showground.
On June 30, 2023, Doreen Katusiime, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, reported about the government’s strategic plan that will turn the source of the Nile in Jinja into an international tourism site.
The development plan involves infrastructure enhancements, the construction of a modern docking area, and other modern artefacts to enhance the tourism experience along the Nile.
