Sipi falls is a series of three incredible water falls on the eastern part of Uganda in the district of kapchorwa, northeast of sironko and mbale town. After a 5kms drive from mbale town, the waterfalls lie on the edge of mount Elgon National Park near the Kenyan boarder. With a cooler climate than most of the country Sipi Falls is a nice place to unwind, relax and literally chill out away from the hustle and bustle of the towns and cities.
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 crimson rib is used for treating measles and fever.
Being on the foothills of Mt. Elgon, Sipi offers a number of alternative activities to the mainstream river activities in and around Jinja. Rob’s Rolling Rock, a local outfit trained by Italian climbers offers abseiling along the side of the main 100m Sipi waterfall as well as climbing on 14 bolted sport routes with a range of difficulty. Other activities include hiking around the local area and visiting the local waterfalls.
The Sipi Falls area is particularly famous for locally grown Bugisu Arabic coffee. Bugisu Arabica only grows at an altitude of between 1,600 and 1,900 meters. Coffee tours are organized through guides with knowledge of coffee farming, processing and roasting. Profits from this go towards community projects.
A visit to the sipi can be combined with a cultural encounter of the public male circumcision, in the even years and in the months of August till December, as you hike and enjoy the sipi falls, the great scenery, you will time- to- time encounter the youthful boys running in a big crowd smeared in dirt in preparation to face the Knife in being transformed into adulthood. You will want to tell something special about Uganda, and here you will find that unique African behavior to tell.
Come explore the ever sought waterfall with breathtaking scenery in the pearl of Africa. Oh yes, not forgetting a toast to the incredible sunset ever .
