Sipi Falls (Main Falls)
Sipi Falls
A waterfall with a drop of about 95 m on the northwest slope of Mount Elgon, plunging vertically from basalt cliffs into a deep gorge, and the best-known scenery in eastern Uganda.
Sipi Falls are formed by the Sipi River flowing down from Mount Elgon. The main falls are the lowest and most spectacular of the three tiers, with a column of water about 95–100 m tall dropping straight from the cliff into the gorge, often framed by rainbows. Many guesthouses in Sipi town face the falls, and you can watch from their terraces. A path opened by local guides descends to the valley floor in about 40 minutes, where you can get close and swim between January and May, when the water level is low. Abseiling (about 100 m) is available from the cliff beside the main falls. Community trails generally require a guide and a small trail fee. From Mbale, a minibus takes about 1–1.5 hours.
Opening hours
Open all day (daytime guided visits recommended)
Nearby sights
- Bugisu Coffee Farm Tour
- Sipi Escarpment Viewpoint
- Upper Sipi Falls (Simba & Ngasire)
- Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre & Chebonet Falls
- Wagagai Peak
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Mbale
- Wanale Ridge