Sipi Falls, Mount Elgon – Uganda
Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls that lie on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park in the Ugandan district of Kapchorwa near the Kenyan border.
Sipi Falls location is in eastern Uganda, approximately 277 kilometers from Kampala. This is the starting point for those planning to hike up Mt. Elgon.
The most popular route starts in Budadiri and follows the Sasa trail to the summit and then descends the Sipi trail back into the Sipi Falls. Hikes around the falls offer stunning views of the Karamoja plains, Lake Kyoga, and the slopes of Mt. Elgon.
The Mountain Rivers plunge as beautiful waterfalls due to a series of massive basalt cliffs on the north & western sides of Mount Elgon. The Sipi River is named after the ‘Sep’, a plant Indigenous to the banks of the River.
Resembling a type of wild banana, Sep is a medicinal plant, the translucent green frond with a bolt of the crimson rib is used for treating measles and fever.
The highest fall drops from an altitude of 100m referred to as the main fall since it is the last fall in the series, this fall is a little bigger than the other two falls, but all give Uganda beautiful scenery. Most people say that Sipi Falls are the ‘most romantic falls’ in Uganda which is evidenced by the wonderful falls.
This area is majorly where most hikes to Mt. Elgon are started. Hiking up to these falls gives a beautiful scenic view, of Lake Kyoga, the Karamoja lowlands, coffee plantations, and other surrounding areas.
The climate around Sipi Falls is most of the time cool since it’s hilly and when it gets some rain, hiking is a bit hard.
The nearby communities have hospitable people mainly the Sabiny and Bagishu. They do farming such as growing Arabica coffee which is the major cash crop on this land. This coffee is grown at altitudes between 1600 meters and 1900 meters above sea level.
A visit to see the coffee plantations can be organized by local guides who know about coffee farming, processing, and roasting. Profits from this go towards community projects.
There is a wide range of accommodation near Mount Elgon National Park for all budgets with several lodges and campsites.
Things to do at Sipi Falls;
- Hiking
- Abseiling & Rock Climbing
- Cultural encounters
- Coffee plantation visit
- Mountain biking
- Bird watching
- Sipi river visit
A tour to visit the Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa can be arranged by our Tour consultant. Contact us now for more details