Jambo! Eastern Uganda and Jinja is home to the source of the Nile and is now a favourite destination of most travellers to this part of the world. There are many different activities to explore from white water rafting the mighty Nile to exploring the surrounding villages.
We have been here a few days now at this campsite near Jinja and I have enjoyed our stay here. We have tried the local chapatis’ and 
enjoyed true local cuisine cooked for us by a local Ugandan woman, Fatia.
On our last day here, Triona, Rob, Ali and I decide to walk to Bujagali Falls. Rob and Ali are a young couple on their way back to Australia from England. They are on a six month journey part of which is on the overland Kumuka truck in Eastern & Southern Africa. They are travelling as far as Cape Town and I’ve become friends with them over long truck trips, trivial pursuit and dinner conversations!
As we start on the trail to Bujagali Falls we are joined on our walk by a delightful little girl. She follows us along, pointing out the way when we look hesitant. She has limited English skills but is just wonderful and very obliging, posing for photos whenever we ask!
She isn’t more than 6 years old but has her little sister (or it could be her brother) on her back.
As it turns out her family live down by the Falls and her mother and the rest of her siblings come out to greet us when we get to our destination. Her mum speaks English and is happy to see us and poses for more pictures. 
Bujagali Falls is actually one of the rapids on this river, which my 3 friends were brave enough to tackle. This is just a Grade 3 rapid but the white water rafting trip includes Grade 5 rapids as well. When I see the rapids close up I am glad I had not signed up for that activity!
We had coffee in the little cafe up the hill and watched the happenings on the river. Triona walks down to the river and is accosted by a group of Japanese tourists who each request to pose with her individually for pictures. We watch in amusement and she happily obliges.
Rob and Ali leave early as they still had to pack up their tent - we are leaving at mid day. Triona and I relax with our drinks and walk down to the river to fully experience the ‘Mighty Nile’ and get a bit of sun. As we watched a couple of tourist pay one of the locals to tackle the rapid on a plastic bottle!
I am amazed at what some people will do for a buck and am thankful when he safely navigates the rapid and floats downstream.
It is time to say goodbye to this river for now. As I walk back to our campsite, I remember that part of Gandhi’s ashes are scattered along the banks of this river and I wonder what is experiences of Uganda were and where the great man lies!
The contemplative life is often miserable. One must act more, think less, and not watch oneself live. ~Nicolas Chamfort
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