Itanda falls in Jinja Activities Entrance Fees and Location

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Discover the hidden wonders of Uganda at Itanda Falls, the country’s second most powerful waterfalls. Just 27 kilometres from Jinja, Itanda offers a serene escape, cultural richness, and thrilling adventures for the intrepid traveller.

Itanda Falls in Jinja is the second most powerful waterfall in Uganda after the Murchison Falls. They are located 27 km from Jinja town and are a few meters away from the Source of the River Nile. Itanda is one of the first major waterfalls formed by the Nile as it leaves Lake Victoria for its 3-months journey to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. It is one of Uganda’s best-kept secrets and an ideal escape for anyone looking for quiet and less crowded places. Before Itanda Falls and on the same river, the Bujagali Falls got submerged to give way to a hydroelectric power dam project. To the Basoga, a dominant tribe in the area, Itanda Falls are considered to be a sacred place for their gods and you shall occasionally find people who may have come to pray for healing against different ailments and seeking solutions to hardships. It is just another place for an authentic cultural experience in Uganda!

Key Takeaways for Itanda Falls

– Itanda Falls, the second most powerful in Uganda, provides a quiet alternative to Murchison and Bujagali Falls.
– Lack of facilities requires visitors to come prepared.
– The falls are culturally significant to the Basoga tribe.
– Itanda offers challenging rapids, making it a hotspot for kayaking and white-water rafting.
– Wildlife sightings and small islands add to the falls’ natural charm.
– The area remains relatively undiscovered by tourists.

What is Itanda Falls?

Itanda Falls, located 27 kilometres from Jinja, is Uganda’s second most powerful waterfall, offering a serene and less crowded alternative to Murchison Falls. Visitors must come prepared due to the lack of facilities. Culturally significant to the Basoga tribe, Itanda Falls boasts breathtaking views and poses a challenge for adrenaline enthusiasts with its six grades of rapids. Despite its undiscovered beauty, limited awareness among tour companies has kept the falls off the beaten path. Whether seeking cultural richness, thrilling adventures, or untouched beauty, Itanda Falls beckons as a hidden gem in Uganda.

Viewing Itanda Falls

The views and sounds of the gushing waters of Itanda Falls are so breathtaking, majestic and spellbinding, to say the least! On a tour to Jinja, therefore, Itanda Falls should on no account be missed! While at these falls, it is like you are viewing the Nile with all its waters and might. The sheer strength and power of the moving waters leave one in great awe especially when you imagine the serenity and calmness with which the Nile waters appear at its source. One can hardly believe that at some point along the way it can emerge into such thunderous and powerful falls. when you take some time marvelling at these falls, you deeply feel them (the falls) and the might of the Nile river. The clear blue skies and the picturesque scenery adjacent to these falls are not only breathtaking but give excellent optical therapy. The sights of the rafters, when one happens to get there in the morning hours, are especially a strong add-on to the experience of these amazing falls. Book our 1 day Jinja city and Itanda Falls tour for such and more experiences.

Accessing Itanda Falls, however, poses a challenge due to the lack of facilities in the vicinity. Visitors are advised to come prepared, bringing essential supplies and being mindful of the absence of amenities at the falls. Despite these challenges, the breathtaking views and the thunderous sounds of the falls make it a must-visit destination in Jinja.

Whitewater rafting at Itanda Falls

Itanda Falls is a heavenly site for those who find pleasure in testing their adrenaline through white water rafting and kayaking. Whereas there are numerous other falls formed on the Nile within Jinja, Itanda is the only spot with all 6 grades of rapids in Jinja/Uganda and it is where the highest level of difficulty during rafting or kayaking is felt. The rapids that make up Itanda Falls are in grades 1 up to 6. Of course, the different rafting companies know very well the spots of the most dangerous rapids and can hardly encourage visitors to raft through some parts of the falls. You shall see rafters and kayakers getting off their boats and walking along the river banks up to the weaker areas of the falls where they get back onto the boats and continue with their fun. It is in the same regard that anyone visiting for viewing is cautioned not to step in water or the stones near the falls. The falls are as beautiful and powerful as they are dangerous.

Islands and caves near Itanda Falls

There are small islands amidst Itanda Falls which can hardly be accessed because of the strength of the rapids. Among these is the contested island between the Baganda and the Basoga, both tribes found in Uganda. The Baganda call it Kalagala Island, and Itanda Island by the Basoga. On this island are the beautiful Kalagala caves which are accessible by a boat from only the Buganda side.

Wildlife at Itanda Falls

Wildlife such as birds and especially the giant cormorants are a common sight at this spot. Other aquatic bird species are also in plenty and the reptiles are occasionally spotted busking on the stones near the river banks. Hippos and crocodiles are unheard of for quite a long time now.

Other waterfalls on the River Nile

The Nile River also forms into other falls, among which are the Busowoko Falls, Kalagala Falls within Jinja, Karuma Falls, Uhuru Falls and Murchison Falls in the northern parts of the country. Murchison Falls, located in Murchison Falls National Park and after which the park is named, is rumoured to be the world’s most powerful waterfall. With our 3 days Murchison Falls National Park Safari, you can see the Murchison Falls and the abundant wildlife in the park. Also not far from Jinja are the Sezibwa Falls in Mukono, Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa and Griffin Falls in Mabira Forest which can be added on to your Itanda falls and Jinja tour experience.

Itanda Falls site is a place of untouched beauty and is rarely visited by tourists because not so many tour companies in Uganda know about it or have endeavoured to visit it. Discovering/identifying such places and including them in our tour packages are what keep/putting Jungle Escape Africa above the rest. A visit to Itanda falls can be combined with many other exciting adventures that Jinja has to offer among which are; White water rafting, Quad biking, tubing on the Nile River, Sun set cruises, Source of the Nile tour, Kalagala falls tour, horseback riding, sport fishing, Bungee jumping and community visits.