Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls in Eastern Uganda and located on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park near the Kenyan border. The area has a cooler climate than most of the country and Sipi Falls is a nice place to unwind, relax and literally chill out away from the hustle and bustle of the towns and cities. Located on the foothills of Mt. Elgon, Sipi offers a number of alternative activities to the mainstream river activities in and around Jinja.
Activities in the area include abseiling, and especially hiking to the different falls offering stunning views of the Karamoja plains, Lake Kyoga, and the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Most trekking expeditions up Mt. Elgon are based in the Sipi Falls area. 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.
The Sipi Falls area is particularly famous for Bugisu Arabica Coffee produced and grown locally by farmers. Bugisu Arabica only grows at an altitude of between 1,600 and 1,900 metres, it is the main cash crop in the area and genuinely one of the finest coffee’s in the world. Coffee tours can be arranged.