Getting to Uganda
Fly into Entebbe International Airport (EBB). Jinja is about 3.5 – 4 hours by road from Entebbe and roughly 2 hours from Kampala. We can arrange a private transfer if you would rather not use the free shuttle.
Traveller guide
Plan your trip
Everything first-time visitors ask us before they get to Jinja — how to get here, what to bring, what it costs and what else to do while you are in town.
Getting to the river
Pick-up points and times
Pick-ups in Kampala and Jinja are free of charge. Please be ready five minutes early. Large groups can request a bespoke pick-up from any location.
Jinja town
Free hotel pick-up · around 07:30 for full-day trips
Bujagali village
Free pick-up · around 08:00, five minutes from our base
Kampala
Free shuttle · departs early morning, roughly 2 – 2.5 hours
Entebbe
On request · allow 3.5 – 4 hours, best combined with a night in Jinja
What to bring
- Swimwear worn under quick-dry clothes
- A t-shirt or rash vest you don't mind soaking
- Secure footwear: river sandals with straps or old trainers
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat with a cord
- Sunglasses with a retainer strap
- A towel and a full change of dry clothes
- Cash for tips, drinks and souvenirs
- Any personal medication in a dry bag
Leave at the base
- Loose flip-flops — they disappear in the first rapid
- Phones, watches and jewellery (we store valuables at our base)
- Glasses without a strap
- Cotton hoodies and jeans — they stay wet all day
We photograph and film every trip, so you do not need to risk a camera on the water — your photos are free.
Travel essentials
Uganda, in practical terms
Visas and entry
Most visitors need an e-visa, applied for online before travel, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival. The East Africa Tourist Visa also covers Kenya and Rwanda. Always check the official Uganda immigration site for the current rules.
Money and payments
The currency is the Ugandan shilling (UGX). US dollars are widely accepted for tours; bring clean notes dated 2013 or later. ATMs and forex bureaus are easy to find in Jinja town. Mobile money (MTN and Airtel) is used everywhere. No deposit is needed to hold your place — pay on arrival.
Best time to raft
The Nile at Bujagali runs at a steady, dam-controlled level all year, so rafting is good in every season. Days are warm (25–30°C) and the water stays around 26°C. Short rain showers are more likely in March–May and September–November, and rarely stop a trip.
Health and safety
Take malaria precautions and bring repellent. Drink bottled or filtered water — we supply drinking water all day. Every trip runs with safety kayakers, rescue rafts and first-aid trained guides, and Jinja has clinics and a hospital within 20 minutes of the river.
Staying connected
Buy an MTN or Airtel SIM at the airport or in Jinja for cheap data; coverage along the river is good. Wi-Fi is available at our base and at most camps and hotels. WhatsApp is the normal way to reach businesses in Uganda — including us.
More to do in Jinja
Most guests stay two or three nights. We can book these alongside your rafting day.
Bungee jumping over the Nile
A 44m jump right beside the river, five minutes from our base.
Source of the Nile boat trip
A short, calm cruise to the point where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria.
Quad biking and mountain biking
Village trails and shoreline tracks — a great half-day pairing with tubing.
Horse riding and hiking
Riverside rides and walks through the villages around Bujagali.
Sunset cruise
Drinks on the water as the fishing boats come in.
Local craft markets
Jinja town's main street is the best place in Uganda for craft shopping.
Good to know
Booking and cancellation
- Book online and pay on arrival — no deposit required.
- Cancellations need at least 24 hours' notice.
- No-shows forfeit 100% of the booking fee.
- Keep your phone reachable: if we ever have to cancel, we send a text at least an hour before your start time.
- Dietary requirements are catered for with reasonable notice.
- Tipping guides is customary but never expected.
