Sipi Falls Activities, How to get there & Accommodation

The Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls located in Uganda’s eastern district of Kapchorwa at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park. Of the three waterfalls at Sipi, the longest drop is 100m.

The falls are formed by the Sipi River as it cascades downhill from the upper slopes of Mount Elgon into the Kyoga Basin. With a cooler climate, this is a very nice place to unwind, relax and literally chill out away from the very busy towns and cities.

The Sipi waterfalls are formed from the Sipi River which is named after “sep” a plant indigenous to the banks of the River. Sep resembles a wild banana plant and is a medicinal plant with a translucent green frond and a bolt of crimson rib used for treating measles and fever.

Sipi Falls Activities

Community tours

For short tours, hiking around the Sipi waterfalls and visiting the local communities is a perfect way to enjoy the beauty of this very serene area.

The area around the falls is famous for locally grown Bugisu Arabica coffee which tourists can visit on a community tour and also have a local brewing experience.

Sipi is a very pretty spot that makes it an agreeable base for gentle day walks along the surrounding hills with spectacular views.

The most popular walking trail takes about 20 minutes each way starting from behind the post office in the Sipi trading center to the base of the main waterfall. To hike to the cluster of caves on the cliff above the river takes another 20 to 30 minutes.

The largest cave extends for about 125 meters into the rock face and contains rich mineral salt deposits that have clearly been worked extensively at some time in the past, as well as traces of petrified wood.

On the return hike, you pass the top of the main waterfall and the Sipi Mise Cave which is an important local shrine set within a small forest-fringed cavern.

Hiking

Hiking around Sipi falls offers very stunning views of the high Kapchorwa raised land and the Karamoja and Teso plains below. Most hiking routes start from the Sipi falls area.

The most popular hiking route starts in Budadiri and follows the Sasa trail to the summit and then descends down to the Sipi trail back into the Sipi Falls.

Abseiling

Abseiling along the side of the main 100 m Sipi waterfalls as well as climbing on 14 bolted sport routes with a range of difficulty is such an adventure for intrepid travelers.

How to get to Sipi Waterfalls

Getting to the Sipi waterfalls is mainly done by road transport from any of the major towns in Uganda. The closest city to the falls is Mbale which is about 45km away on a well-surfaced road. From Kampala-Uganda’s capital, Sipi is about 277 km away on a well-surfaced road drive past the source of the Nile River in Jinja.

Sipi Falls Accommodation

There are a number of lodges and campsites around the Sipi falls area that offers a range of accommodation for all kinds of budget travelers.

There are different accommodation facilities that accommodate travelers on luxury Uganda safaris, budget trips, or mid-range safaris. For backpackers, camping facilities are available

Sipi Falls with its location in the eastern region is greatly situated in a spot where tourists can have a break during their gorilla safaris in Uganda or Uganda Wildlife Safaris to Mount Elgon National Park or to Kidepo Valley National Park in the remote Karamoja plains.