The source point
A blue sign on the water.
Wamutibi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wamutibi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wamutibi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christopher Liberty — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chapelle musa — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Source of the Nile is where the river leaves Lake Victoria, near the city of Jinja in eastern Uganda. From here the White Nile begins its long journey north, through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean. That gives it a special pull for Arab visitors, since this is the same river that passes Khartoum and Cairo. The Ripon Falls once stood at this outlet and were long regarded as the traditional source of the Nile, but they were submerged in the mid 20th century after the Owen Falls Dam, also called Nalubaale, was built. The Nile runs 7,088 km and is the world's longest river. More distant rivers feed the lake, so the source here means the outlet. Jinja was founded in 1901. You stand at a point where water moves from lake to river, marked by a small blue sign with the name of the place. Close by is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, part of whose ashes were scattered here. Small boats take you out to where the waters meet, where you see the swirls and find cormorants on the rocks. It is about 1.5 km from central Jinja in a straight line and about 69 km from Kampala. Jinja also draws white-water rafters, so look for a licensed company with proper safety gear. Gardens and small cafes sit near the water, and late in the day is the most pleasant time to visit.
A blue sign on the water.
Where the waters meet.
Near the riverbank.
West bank of the Nile, near Jinja, Uganda
It is where the Nile leaves the lake and the traditional source, while more distant rivers feed the lake.
No, the water is fast, so ask the company about minimum age and safety rules.