Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls is a chain of three waterfalls on the western foothills of Mount Elgon, near the Kenyan border. The tallest drops roughly a hundred metres over a basalt cliff, and the cool highland air, panoramic views over the Karamoja plains and Arabica coffee farms make it one of the most rewarding stops in eastern Uganda.

Why visit Sipi Falls

Sipi rewards walkers. A guided loop links all three falls in four to six hours, passing caves behind the curtain, local homesteads and smallholder coffee plots where you can pick, roast and grind your own cup. Abseiling down the main fall and rock climbing on the cliffs are offered by local operators.

Best time to visit Sipi Falls

The falls run hardest in the two rainy seasons, April to May and August to November, when the paths are also at their muddiest. December to February is dry, sunny and good for hiking, with smaller but still graceful falls.

How to get to Sipi Falls

Sipi is about five to six hours by road from Kampala or Entebbe via Jinja and Mbale, so most itineraries pair it with the source of the Nile at Jinja. Spend two nights to hike all three falls without rushing.

The three falls of Sipi

The highest of the three, often called the main fall, drops about 100 metres over a basalt cliff and is the one seen from most lodges. The second fall is smaller and more hidden, with a cave you can walk into behind the water. The third, upper fall is about 85 metres high and reached through farms higher up the slope. A full guided loop takes four to six hours with steep, sometimes muddy sections; shorter walks to a single fall take one to two hours.

Coffee, abseiling and Mount Elgon

The slopes around Sipi grow Arabica coffee on small family farms, and coffee tours take you through picking, drying, roasting and brewing. Abseiling beside the main fall is offered by local operators. Sipi is also a starting point for hikes into Mount Elgon National Park, where multi-day treks climb to the caldera of one of Africa's oldest volcanoes.

Practical information

Allow at least one full day at Sipi, and two nights if you want both the falls walk and the coffee tour. Mornings are usually clearer, with cloud and rain more likely in the afternoon. Wear shoes with good grip and carry a rain jacket. Guides from the community charge a fee for the walk, and small payments may be asked to cross private land; agree prices before you set off.

Pair Sipi Falls with a safari

Add Sipi to a northern Uganda circuit with Kidepo Valley, or take our 10-day Uganda waterfalls and gorillas safari, which links Sipi, the Nile at Jinja and Murchison Falls.

Tips for visiting Sipi Falls

Hire a local guide for the three-falls walk and set off early, before the afternoon cloud and rain. Wear shoes with grip and carry a rain jacket. Buy coffee from the farmers you visit: it is some of the best in Uganda. For planning, see our Uganda guide and the month-by-month water levels, or compare it with Africa's two most visited falls, Victoria Falls and Murchison Falls.

Things to do at Sipi Falls

• Sipi Falls Hike & Coffee Tour: A day on foot linking the three waterfalls of Sipi on Mount Elgon, with a stop to roast your own coffee.

National parks and sights nearby

• Mount Elgon National Park
• Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
• Kidepo Valley National Park (onward)