Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls is located in the northwestern region of Uganda in the district of Kapchorwa The falls are found at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park close to the border of Uganda with Kenya. Three waterfalls make up Sipi Falls and these are Simba Falls, Sipi Falls and Ngasire Falls. However, the third waterfall, Sipi Falls, is the main waterfall because it is the highest in times of altitude. It stands at an altitude of over 100 meters above sea level with Simba Falls and Ngasire Falls at 74 and 85 meters respectively.

Sipi Falls is Uganda’s treasure that got its name from the surrounding banana-like plants that grow close to the falls called ‘sep’. This is a special plant for the Sabiny and Bagisu people who stay close to the falls since they use it as medicine.

What are the attractions and activities in Sipi Falls?

Waterfalls

The waterfalls are the major attraction in the Sipi Falls region of Mount Elgon National Park. The waterfalls are divided into three namely Sipi Falls, Simba Falls, and Ngasire Falls. The Sipi Falls are the main attraction because they are the biggest of the three measuring at an altitude of over 100 meters above sea level.

Visitors from far and wide come to witness the beauty of the waterfalls, take pictures, and have organized picnics near the waterfall.

Bird species

Sipi Falls is home to over 250 bird species that live in different areas. The birds are scattered across the forests, gardens, and coffee plantations near the falls. There are many bird species in Sipi and some of the birds include the following: tacazze sunbird, black-shouldered Kite, Jackson’s francolin, black-collared Apalis, Lammergeyer, African blue flycatcher, bush shrikes, Baglafetcht weaver among others.

Coffee tours

Mountain Elgon is an extinct volcanic mountain rich with fertile volcanic soils. The people neighboring Mountain Elgon National Park grow Arabica coffee. This type of coffee is highly consumed and is the main cash crop of the people in this area. Arabica coffee grows in highland areas that are highly rich in volcanic soils and the Elgon area is the perfect match.

Taking on a coffee tour in the coffee plantations of the local people will introduce you to the local methods of planting and harvesting coffee and also the tools used in the process.

Hiking

Hiking is the major activity in Sipi. This involves walking up through the thick vegetation and slippery terrain to the top of the Sipi Falls. The hiking adventure begins on the hiking trail in Sipi passing the two waterfalls of Simba and Ngasire to the main 100-meter Sipi Falls.

The magnificent scenes of the falls will leave you with incredible memories. This is not only a challenging activity and fun but also healthy since you get to exercise and burn some extra calories from your body.

Cave Exploration

This is the perfect activity for visitors interested in adventure. There are many caves scattered around the waterfalls but the highlight of all is the cave underneath the Sipi Falls. Exploring this cave will give you amazing views of the water from the falls drop behind you.

Rock climbing and Abseiling

Just as cave exploration, this is also an adventurous activity highly anticipated by many visitors interested in adventure. Abseiling is the activity of moving down a steep rock wall while tied to a safety rope around the body. The activity of abseiling is usually done at the 100-meter Sipi Falls using rappels that are fixed at the top of the falls. Professional guides help you in this process to ensure your safety as you abseil down to the bottom of the waterfall.

Rock climbing on the other hand is climbing upwards the rock face to the top of the waterfall. These activities give you spectacular views of the scenery, the landscape around the falls, the coffee plantations, and villages spotted from a high altitude.

Cultural tours

Sipi Falls is surrounded by the Sabiny and Bagisu people. These are the early indigenous people of the area. Sipi Falls is located in the Kapchorwa region of the Sabiny and Bagisu people.

Their cultural ceremonies, traditional dances, and songs are some of the interesting things to view while on the cultural tour. The traditional ceremony of circumcision locally known as ‘embalu’ is a highly anticipated experience especially when you visit the Bugisu land during the embalu season which happens during the even years.

Embalu is an activity of circumcision of both males and females but female circumcision was made illegal due to the health risk associated with it. However male circumcision is still practiced during the season for circumcision.

Birding or bird watching

This is also another activity that is done in Sipi Falls. Sipi Falls harbors a lot of different bird species and birding along designated trails is the best way to spot them. Bird watching is the process of watching birds in their natural habitats.

Sipi Falls is a natural haven for over 250 bird species which include some of the following: Jackson’s francolin, bush shrikes, Baglafetcht weaver, black-collared Apalis, and Lammergeyer among others.

Where to stay while in Sipi?

The Sipi region possesses a lot of accommodation facilities such as campsites, hotels, lodges, and many others. The accommodation facilities range from luxury to midrange to budget. Some of the facilities include Lacam Lodge, Sipi Heritage Lodge, Sipi Falls Resort, Crowns Nest Camp, and Noah’s Ark Hotel among others.

What is the best time to visit Sipi Falls?

Sipi Falls is best visited during the dry months of the year that is June to August and December to March. This is because the area around Sipi Falls is cool and has steep terrain. It is always advisable to visit when the area is dry since the terrain is steep and during the wet season, it tends to be so slippery thus posing a challenge for most of the activities like hiking among others.

However, the wet season also has its advantages because it is the best time to visit, especially when you are traveling on a budget. This is because the accommodation facilities reduce their prices due to the low turn of visitors in the wet season. For visitors who do not like crowds and like traveling and doing things alone, this is the best time for you.