Visiting Sipi Falls and Gorilla Trekking: At the base of Mount Elgon sits the three waterfalls in the village of Sipi in Kapchorwa district Eastern Uganda the Sipi Falls. The three falls include ‘Ngasire’ the first falls where you can praise the white water outpouring from the cliff standing at 85 meters high. With rapids at the top are the second waterfalls followed by a cycle of pools right before they gush over a 75-meter escarpment and here one can swim in the pool. The third longest and main waterfall is Sipi Falls 100 meters high and easiest to reach. Sipi has abundant vegetation, rugged hills, and valleys.
To hike Sipi Falls you follow a river through farmlands, and local communities making it easy to track. Far from the main travel plan, Sipi Falls is a beautiful landmark in Uganda’s rugged east. The best time to visit Sipi Falls is during the dry season. During this time, the land is dry and easy for hiking with chances of viewing mammals being high as they gather on the falls to smother their thirst.
Things to do at Sipi Falls
Hiking to the top of the falls
Hiking to the top of Sipi Falls and the three water falls is rewarding with the sights of lush vegetation, rugged hills, muddy slopes, bird species. This hike tests your abilities as it is done on the steep slopes of the Sipi Falls.
Nyero Rock climbing
Nyero Rock climbing in the surrounding caves of Sipi Falls where you will find the most important rock art in Uganda which are the Nyero Paintings which are believed to date back to 1,250 years. Here you will be guided to visit different caves with different paintings drawn by the people who lived there the Masaba. Some of the painting is on the One thousand Uganda shillings currency.
Abseiling
Put your abseiling gear on and get to the top of the cliff hanging your body slowly off the cliff descent downwards to the bottom of the waterfall. While descending down the cliff you will enjoy the amazing sights. Bring enough water if you to do hiking, swimming suit, hiking shoes, sun protection to the abseiling activity.
Visiting River Sipi
This is the most notable attraction in eastern Uganda with its name originating from the local word Sep an indigenous plant similar to a wild banana local herb used to treat fever and measles. The river flows from the upper slopes of Mount Elgon and drains into Lake Kyoga.
Nature walks
Wandering through farmlands and local communities down to the Sabiny people to learn more about their way of life, traditional dances, and dress codes. This is through interacting with them and building a bond with the elders as they narrate their ancient history.
Birding
There are over 450 bird species to look out for around Sipi Falls. From the smallest birds green tinker birds, and swallows to falcons, tacazze sunbirds, jackons francolin, the Sipi region is less densely populated with less human activity.
Coffee plantation tour
Here you get to learn how to plant coffee, weed, and harvest coffee but with local and traditional methods. You mix with the local communities around you as you learn their ways of life and cultures. You will also get a chance to taste the coffee.
What are the other attractions in Uganda?
The peaks and the caldera
The highest peaks are formed by high points around a jagged rim enclosing one of the world’s biggest craters which were formed as a result of magma being drained from the closet.
Vegetation
The vegetation is banded into wide regions whose characteristics are controlled by altitude and rainfall. Lower slopes are covered with dense and reviving forests, swing with vine-like lianas and lichens. The bamboo merges into open woodland influenced by Hagia Abyssinian and African rosewood. The moorland is characterized by giant ashen scattered with grassy swards of fair tussock grass dotted with pink and white flowers. The grasslands, and shrublands zone contains shrubs, vines, herbs, Erica trees, giant lobelias with hairy leaves, and plumes of tiny blue flowers.
Tewei Hill
Just outside the park overlooking Sipi Falls is the hill where the king of Sabiny would meet his subjects, easily accessed waterfalls are found at Bulago, Chebonet, and Wanale, Sisyi.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
In the plains of Karamoja to the north of Mount Elgon lies the Pian Upe wildlife reserve, the second largest protected area in Uganda. Wildlife here includes ostriches, antelope, and impalas. Bird species sighted include lemon dove, Alpine chat, black-throated wattle eye, and many more.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Bwindi is Uganda’s main gorilla trekking destination and with habituated families on different trailheads which are Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga. Led by the trained Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, you are introduced to the environment of the forest and changing landscape as you trek the gorillas. The guides communicate with the team of trackers who will have been looking for the gorillas since daybreak.
Gorilla trekking is limited to groups of eight people. The limit on group size is to keep the gorillas safe from any air bone diseases but increase the chances of sighting the gorillas.
From the onset, the imposing southwestern slopes hills, and terraces prove alarming opponents. This is gorilla territory and access requires hiking through the thick, tangles of vegetation, up muddy hills, and down into broken valleys.
Once contact is made there is silence within the dense flora as the gorillas come closer. The silence is soon broken by the swishing of leaves as the gorillas stroll and play, the calls, whistles, and yells of thousands of animal species from miles around provide the perfect soundtrack.
The gorillas can be visited all year round so the decision when to visit the gorillas should depend on one’s preference. The best clothing for gorilla trekking is a waterproof jacket, long-sleeve trekking shirt, trekking shoes, long socks, light waterproof trekking pants, and outdoor gloves to protect against thorns.
