Camping checklist:-
Tent camping can be a lot of fun and memorable too, but if you don’t have the right equipment with you, it can be a nightmare. Always ensure that you draw up a camping checklist and as you pack, tick off all the items on your checklist so that you know you have not left anything behind (this camping checklist is based on camping at a facility that provides campers with cooked meals, therefore the list is not as extensive as it would be if the campers were cooking their own food).

Many companies in Uganda go on retreats with their staff, but more often than not they are taken to a 5 star hotel where they sit inside an air conditioned conference room the entire day  (or in some cases two days). Our team decided that we would go on a retreat with a difference, so we headed off to Jinja (Uganda’s adventure capital) for three nights of Team building that involved camping and adventure sports – and what a difference it made to the way we interacted with each other – we had such a lot of fun. There are a number of good quality camping spots in Jinja and Bujagali Falls and more often than not these places can offer more than just camping, they can provide you with an opportunity to do some sort of adventure activity that you will thoroughly enjoy, whether you do it as a family, individual or as an out of the office Team Building event.
OUTDOOR CAMPING & ADVENTURE SPORTS COMPANIES:-
ADRIFT                                             Tent camping, backpackers, dormitories, bandas (A banda is a cheaper basic bungalow type accommodation)
                                                            White water rafting, Jet Boating, Bungee Jumping

All Terrain Adventures                  Quad Biking

Nalubale Rafting                             Tent camping & dormitories at The River Camp
White water rafting, River boarding

Nile Horseback Safaris                 Horse Riding

Nile River Explorers                      Tent camping, safari tents, backpackers, dormitories, bandas
                                                            White water rafting, Boat Cruise, Mountain biking.

The Haven                                       Tent camping & luxury accommodation
                                                            Sunset cruises, Boating, Fishing, Bird watching                      

The Nile Camp                                Tent camping, backpackers
                                                            Fishing & boating   
                                                           
The River Camp                             Tent camping & dormitories
                                                            Mountain biking                  

Kayak the Nile                                 Kayak cruises, Canoe trips

Zen Tubing                                      Tubing
                                                                                   
OUR TRIP:-
We planned our itinerary for a three night stay at different camping spots in Jinja and Bujagali Falls and had the pleasure of being able to combine our camping with four adventure activities, namely Horse riding, Quad biking, Tubing, River boarding and a sunset boat cruise down the river.
Our first night was spent at The Haven River Lodge campsite. In our opinion we were thoroughly spoilt and we regarded our night at The Haven as luxury camping. We were all provided with our own tents which were equipped with a single bed with a mattress, a sheet, a duvet, a blanket, pillow and a towel for showering as well as a plastic chair to sit on. Everything about The Haven is just lovely – the food is divine and tasty, the view is out of this world and the hospitality superb. There are clean ablutions (camping facilities) that campers have access to. Hot water is available for showering at night, although a cold shower in the morning is not altogether that unpleasant. It is very peaceful and quiet at The Haven and so you won’t find any overland trucks there. Costs vary from USD 40 per night per person all inclusive of meals to USD 12 per person per night without meals and your own tent.

After having had a superb breakfast and coffee at The Haven we headed back onto Kayunga road to Nile Horseback Safaris for a one hour horse riding session. You do not need to know how to ride a horse to go horse riding as one of the first things you will be told, will be the basics on how to ride a horse. Each person gets given a horse to suit them and there are a number of people on hand to guide you along the way. The one hour horse ride takes you out through the villages and into the communities and along the banks of the river Nile. The one hour ride is very scenic and peaceful, as you literally just walk. If you are comfortable on a horse and you feel you would like to trot, canter or gallop then that can be arranged with the guides. Horse riding in Jinja also gives you an opportunity to see the river from a different angle. Nile Horseback Safaris can offer 1hr, 2hr, 3hr, kids safaris and overnight safaris and are also able to offer their clients riding and accommodation packages at Holland Park who provide their guests with affordable, luxurious self catering accommodation in Jinja. There is a 90kg maximum weight limit when horse riding.
We headed off to Speke Camp for lunch which is situated at Bujagali Falls. In its heyday it must have been a beautiful place to go and sit and relax by the river, however it is very run down and you can see that nothing has been done to fix it up. We ate there regardless as we had wanted to try their infamous whole fried tilapia. Sadly, the food wasn’t all that great either and we left and headed up the road to do our one hour quad biking session with All Terrain Adventures.
After we were all geared up in our overalls, helmets, goggles and boots we were given a brief on the quads we were about to ride; an abilities test on the ATA track followed and then off we went. We headed out onto the dirt roads that would take us from Bujagali Falls through Kyabirwa Village with a stop-over at Kyabirwa Falls and then onto Namizi Village where we would stop-over to view the newly constructed dam. We had an instructor that rode in the front and one at the back. We rode for about 30 minutes and then reached our refreshment point, Kyabirwa Falls. This is where we all got off the bikes, had something to drink and took in the sights and sounds of the river Nile. On our way back some of our team members decided to crank things up a notch and they sped off like rockets, leaving the rest of us in their dust. Quad biking is a brilliant adventure activity and it’s suited to anyone, young or old. You don’t have to know how to ride a bike to participate. The instructions are easy to understand – once you know how to accelerate, engage the gears and break, you are good to go!                   
We drove a few metres down the road from All Terrain Adventures to get to our next stop, the Nile River Explorers River Camp – this is where we would be spending our next evening of camping. Before we get to that though, our trip coincided with the launch of the new Nile Explorer - this is a double deck pontoon boat that is moored at The Nile Camp. The boat cruise is a Source of the Nile cruise that leaves from The Nile Camp and takes you around the river to the source of the Nile and back again. At present the Nile Explorer operates two types of cruises; the sunset cruise which takes 2 hours and the corporate lunch cruise – the boat can be hired for corporate functions after workshops. The Nile explorer is equipped with chairs and tables and a portable toilet. The boat’s maximum capacity is 50 people while the minimum is 10 people. The Nile Explorer is a fun, relaxing way of enjoying Jinja while you sip on a cold beer as you watch the sun go down. 
By the time we got off the boat, night had fallen and we were pleased to hear that the guys at the NRE River Camp had already arranged to get our tents put up for us. We arrived at the campsite, packed our bags into our tents and then headed off for a well deserved hot shower. We all met up at the campsite restaurant, the Fork n Paddle where we all had dinner. The restaurant serves food that is homemade, tasty and affordable but above all else, they cater for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Tired and weary from the day’s activities some of us headed back to our tents for a fairly early night whilst the others partied up a storm with other campers and backpackers at the NRE bar.          
Sunday morning saw us having a hearty breakfast, coffee and freshly made fruit juice at the Fork n Paddle before we met up with Hendri from Zen Tubing. This is a new adventure sport in Uganda and none of us had ever been tubing before, so we were all a little nervous. We needn’t have been worried at all because we found ourselves in the capable and experienced hands of our host, Hendri who gave us the low down of what we could expect to experience while tubing on the river. Tubing is another great team building activity which you will discover when you go. Tubing involves sitting on actual tyre tubes that you float down on the river while battling the rapids. It can be a little nerve wracking at times, but like all adventure activities that’s part of the fun!
Bye the end of an awesome Tubing trip our team was burnt out. We headed back to the NRE river camp, packed our bags, loaded them into the car and then headed off for a one night stay at The River Camp. This is a new development on the banks of the Nile River overlooking Bujagali Falls with a spectacular view. The emphasis is on privacy so the facilities offered are reserved for overnight guests only, but day visitors are welcome to check the location out. The River Camp has 8 spacious dorms of which our team spent bunked up in one of them for the night. There are 3 double bunks in each dorm which come with bedding and a verandah area that overlooks the swimming pool (at the time of going to print, The River Camp was the only campsite in the area which offers a swimming pool). The camping area is large with designated leveled off sites for those who wish to pitch a tent and have their own space.  The toilets and showers are very clean with hot running water.
We were spoilt rotten by Pam, a professional Chef at The River Camp who invited us to join them for a tasty South African braai (barbeque) for dinner. The meal was superb and you could see that a lot of effort had gone into preparing each dish. After dinner we all headed off to the dormitory where we had a sound sleep until we woke up the next morning, gearing ourselves up for the drive back to Kampala.
Our camping and adventure trip was made possible by The Haven River Lodge, Nile Horseback Safaris, All Terrain Adventures Ltd, The Nile Explorer, ADRIFT Jet Boating, Nile River Explorers Campsite, Zen Tubing, Nalubale Rafting and The River Camp. Thank you all for this awesome Team Building experience.
                                                                                   
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN JINJA:-
One of the really great things about camping in Jinja & Bujagali Falls is that there is so much to do in the area. You will always find something that takes your fancy whether it be an adventure activity, bird watching, fishing, relaxing, reading a good novel or visiting the local craft shops and markets.  

Horse Riding
Equestrianism (From Latin equester, equestr-, horseman, horse) refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. This broad description includes both use of horses for practical, working purposes as well as recreational activities and competitive sports.

Nile Horseback Safaris run horse riding safaris in Jinja. They offer a variety of rides along the beautiful White Nile and any riding ability can be catered for. They keep several beautiful Thoroughbred horses, all well schooled and trained. Popular safaris are the two hour river and village rides although there are other safaris available, like the 1hr, 3hr and overnight safari. Monkeys, birds, otters, huge rapids and plenty of Ugandan people smiling and waving make this horse riding experience distinctive and fascinating.  Arrangements can be made for everything from transport, accommodation and fishing trips, as well as safaris by vehicle to all of Uganda’s wonderful variety of game parks, lakes, mountains and jungles.
Family owned Nile Horseback Safaris welcomes children to learn to ride and there are dedicated Kids Safaris available in addition to the 1hr, 2hr, 3hr, and overnight safaris they offer.

Jet Boating
Invented in New Zealand in the 1950’s the jet boat brings new dynamics to the traditional water sports in the country of canoeing or rafting. The jet boat works on a water propulsion system of drawing water from beneath the boat, sending it through a massive propulsion system, and sending it back out the rear of the boat to move it forward. Powered by a 7400 CC Chevrolet petrol engine, the system generates 450 horsepower and pumps 22000 litres of water per minute through the back of the boat. This gives the JET boat a top speed of 90 kms per hour – a formidable speed on water.
The Jet boat is sensational across the water and is as exciting as a roller coaster. Gav, our pilot took us through some twists and turns to get the feel of the Jet Boat and gave us specific signals on when to hang back and when to lift our bums off our seats – when Gav felt we were ready – he took us through the real process (there are hand signals from the pilot to let you know when he will spin the boat and when the ride is going to get bumpy). If you have ever done a hand brake turn on a murram road, the process of spinning the boat is similar, but faster and way better. Jet boating is heaps of fun and a must for anyone who is looking for an adrenalin rush. 

The Jet Boat is run by ADRIFT from their base camp in Jinja on the Nile River. The cost to go on the Jet Boat is 75USD per person for a 30 minute ride. Corporate and tailored packages are available on request.

Kayaking
The kayak was invented and first used by the native Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo hunters in sub-Arctic regions of northeastern Asia, North America and Greenland. A kayak (sometimes generalized as a canoe) is a small human-powered boat that traditionally has a covered deck, and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler who strokes a double-bladed paddle. The cockpit is covered by a spray deck (skirt) that keeps the inside of the boat (and the paddler's lower body) dry. The spray deck or similar waterproof covering attaches securely to the edges of the cockpit, preventing the entry of water from waves or spray, and making it possible, in some boats, to roll the kayak, capsizing and righting the boat without it filling with water or ejecting the passenger.

Kayak the Nile runs the kayaking cruises and canoeing trips in Bujagali Falls and there are a number of trips that you could take: The Two Hour Sunset Canoe Trip on Lake Victoria includes all equipment, guiding training, complimentary G&T’s or soft drinks and a pick up from Jinja Accommodation. The minimum age is 4 and the cost is USD 30 per person (minimum of 3 people). Booking is essential and there are departures every evening.  There is also a 2 Day Scenic Trip on the Nile that takes you paddling as far as Lake Kyoga. This Option includes transport, guiding equipment, all meals and drinks (minimum of 6 people) - you will need to bring along a tent and sleeping bag, although you can rent these items. Here you will experience stunning bush camps, great food, fine wines, secluded river swims, cold beer and breathtaking scenery. You can even bring along your fishing rods!  There is also a Full day Kayak School, USD 115 per person (if you’ve been rafting then the cost per person is USD 95). This includes return transport from Kampala, all equipment, huge packed lunch, all river shuttles, guiding and instruction - the kayak school is designed for people with no kayaking experience.  

Quad Biking
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a quad, quad bike, three-wheeler, or four- wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control. As the name implies, it is designed to handle a wider variety of terrain than most other vehicles.
All Terrain Adventures runs the quad biking in Bujagali Falls and they will take you on a guided ATV / Quad bike safari along the banks of the River Nile, through farms, forest and villages and into the warm heart of rural Uganda. No previous experience driving a vehicle is necessary. A free training session is conducted before each safari. ATA have a selection of quad bikes; fully automatic and semi-auto, to fit everyone. Trips are tailored to suit you and to give you the best possible adventure safari. On the longer trips ATA are able to introduce more difficult sections, as your confidence and skills develop. There are 1hr, 2hr, 3hr or 4hr guided quad biking safaris. Training, protective clothing and refreshments are all inclusive and you can go on a quad biking safari each day of the week. ATA maintain good quality, well maintained vehicles with professional Ugandan Guides and the support of the local communities.
River Boarding
River boarding is one of the more extreme white water activities available in Jinja. River boarding is as close as you can get to the water without swimming in it. Basically it involves navigating rapids, with the aim to surf them, while lying on a high buoyancy board made of plastic and foam. Typically river boarders wear short fins on their feet, to help propel them. Helmets and life jackets are mandatory. With its warm water, deep rapids and big pools between the rapids The Nile is ideal for river boarding. It is an easy sport to learn and it is ideal for those who are looking for a rush beyond that of white water rafting. The sensation of lying on a 2 inch thick river board surfing on a standing wave, with thousands and thousands of liters of water rushing beneath you every second, is truly awesome!

Nalubale Rafting has just invested in brand new river boarding gear. Nalubale always brings along river boards on its 2 day rafting trips for those who are keen to try it out. Dedicated river boarding trips are also available, where rapids up to grade 5 are navigated (water levels and abilities permitting).

Tubing
Tubing (also known as inner tubing or even toobing) is a recreational activity of riding an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes, themselves, are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape. Tubing is great fun.
Zen Tubing is the company that runs the tubing in Bujagali Falls (bookings are done through NRE) and they can take groups of between 2- 9 people. All tubing sessions leave from the NRE River Camp.  Kids can join in the fun too as Zen Tubing can take kids up to 10 years old on the 2 hour trip (USD 30 per person) and kids 16 years and older can do the full day trip (USD 65 per person).

Whitewater Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid-1970s.
If there was ever a time to go white water rafting, it would be now. There are four companies in Bujagali Falls that can offer white water rafting trips and these trips range from half day trips to full day trips. Each rafting company is different in that they have different packages available. It would be best to choose a rafting company that you feel offers you the best package that suits your needs and your budget.
White water rafting companies in Jinja are: ADRIFT, Equator Rafts, Nalubale Rafting and Nile River Explorers.  

White water rafting can be a dangerous sport, especially if basic safety precautions are not observed. Both commercial and private trips have seen their share of injuries and fatalities, though private travel has typically been associated with greater risk. It is generally advisable to discuss safety measures with a rafting operator before signing on for a trip. The equipment used and the qualifications of the company and raft guides are essential information to be considered.

Ed’s Note: Please refer to the Jinja section of the magazine for all the contact numbers and email addresses for the establishments mentioned in the article).