The beautiful area around Sipi in eastern Uganda is home to a good network of hiking trails that lead to some impressive waterfalls and a number of amazing viewpoints of the surrounding Karamoja Plains.

It quickly became one of our favourite places in the country, and I highly recommend stopping here on your travels through Uganda. Here’s everything you need to know about exploring this incredible part of the country.

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Guided Tours of the Sipi Falls Area

We explored the area on our own, but having a local guide around might sometimes make finding the way to the upper falls easier (we got lost occasionally). You’ll likely also learn a bit more about the local nature. This guided tour has fantastic ratings. You can have a look below for more options.

Hiking in the Sipi Falls Area

Of course, the main attractions here are the three impressive waterfalls and the hiking trails that lead through the beautiful landscape.

I’d say that the Lower Sipi Falls are the definite must-see in the area, but if you have the time, I highly recommend hiking to the harder-to-reach Middle and Upper Falls, as well.

Main Sipi Falls (aka. Lower Falls)

The most popular hiking trail in the Sipi Falls area is the one that leads to the main waterfall, which has a spectacular drop of about 100m (328ft). You can see the falls from different points along the road, but I highly recommend following the short trail to its base.

The trail starts opposite Chinoes Bar and Restaurant in the small Sipi Trading Centre, which has the largest concentration of shops, bars and restaurants in the area. From there, it took us about 15 minutes to reach the falls.

There’s no official entrance fee, but we were approached by a couple of locals who told us that we could only get there by guide (which is not true). Whether you want to take them up on their offer depends on you, but it’s pretty impossible to get lost on the way to the Lower Falls.

Once you’ve checked out the falls, you can either return the way you came or continue north past the falls through banana plantations and slowly climb to the top of the ridge. I recommend that option, as the views back to the falls are once again amazing.

You’ll have to be reasonably fit, though, as at one point you’ll have to climb a rickety wooden ladder. The cliff-face is also home to a series of small caves, which we found fun to explore.

A little further on, you’ll reach a road, which you can follow east to the main highway near the Sipi River Lodge.

Middle Sipi Falls

If you’re in the mood for a longer hike, there are some trails leading to several other falls in the area. They’re not quite as tall as the main falls, but they are more remote with super atmospheric surroundings. There are also some great views along the way and the trail leads through a pretty area of coffee plantations.

The Middle Sipi Falls are pretty close to the highway. You’ll have to pay a small fee at the Sipi River Lodge, and then continue east through their grounds, where you’ll cross the river, continue for a bit through some banana plantations and then turn south to cross the river again.

After following the small path for a bit, you’ll reach the Middle Falls or Simba Falls. What’s cool here is that you can enter a small cave behind the falls and get super close to the cascade that way. Afterwards, you’ll have to double back, cross the river again and turn right (east) to follow the path that climbs the cliff.

Upper Sipi Falls and the Top of the Falls

If you continue east through a pretty area of banana and coffee plantations you’ll eventually reach a road running through a small village. Follow it south for about 10 minutes before turning sharply left (East) at an intersection. You can follow this road east for another ten minutes, past some small houses and garden plots, until you reach the final set of falls.

The Upper Sipi Falls or Ngasire Falls were quite powerful, especially when we visited at the beginning of the rainy season. If you still have some energy left, you can also hike to the top of the cliff for some fantastic views over the rolling hills below and the Karamoja Plains beyond them.

To do that, return to the road that you followed south and continue south for another ten minutes, then turn left (east) at the end and left again when the road splits. Take the first small trail to the left (north), which winds its way past a tiny church and some houses to the top of the cliff.

Once you’ve had enough of the awesome views, return to the road and follow it to the west. Turn left (south) at the first opportunity (if you’re entering a school compound, you’ve gone too far) and follow this road back to the main highway.

The Sipi River Lodge, where you started your hike to the Middle Falls, is to the right, the Sipi Trading Centre and trailhead to the Lower Falls to the left.

Map of the Sipi Falls Hikes

This map of the Sipi area shows the location of the three falls and the route that we took to visit them.

Practicalities

How Long Is the Hike?

The route that I described is about 16km or 10mi long.

How Long Does It Take?

The entire hike to all three falls and the top of the cliff took us the better part of a day to complete, with lots of stops and some smaller detours in between.

How Hard Is It?

We didn’t find it too hard. The steepest part is the climb from the base to the top of the Lower Falls, where there’s also a short section that you have to climb using ladders. Apart from that, the slippery ground near the falls was the biggest challenge for us. You can have a look at the elevation profile below.

How to Get to Sipi Falls

The falls are located close to the city of Mbale in eastern Uganda. Without your own transport, you’ll have to head to the main matatu (shared taxi) stand near the big roundabout at the southern end of Mbale and board a matatu going to Sipi (or Kapchorwa).

Just ask around and people will show you the right one. The trip took us about an hour and cost 10,000 Shillings.

Where to Stay Near Sipi Falls

We stayed at Moses Campsite (Tel. +256 702 374607), where you can camp or sleep in small thatched-roofed bandas in a great location overlooking the Karamoja Plains. Sipi Guest House is another good budget place, and Sipi Traveller’s Lodge is the best-rated midrange option.

Rafiki Lodge Sipi is the most luxurious place around, with amazing views over the surrounding plains. You can have a look at the map below for more options.

Where to Go Next

Tororo, a great off-the-beaten-path hiking destination

Nyero, home to the oldest known rock art in Uganda

Jinja, Home to the Source of the Nile and Uganda’s Adventure Capital