Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls located approximately 277 kilometers east of Kampala city near Kapchorwa town.The falls are located on the slopes of Mount Elgon at an altitude of about 1,775 meters (5,823 feet) above sea level.
Sipi Falls comprises three main waterfalls, with the highest cascading from approximately 100 meters. Each of the falls offers a unique perspective of the area’s natural beauty.
The falls are surrounded by lush greenery, coffee plantations, and panoramic views of the Karamoja plains and Mount Elgon.
Activities in Sipi Falls
Abseiling
This activity is majorly done by the adrenaline seekers and it starts with briefing at the top of the highest Sipi falls. You will put on your abseiling gears and then you will head to the edge of drop off. Abseiling is done by descending the slopes and rocks with a friction device that is attached to one’s harness. Visitors hang their body off the cliff and start with the slow descent to the bottom of the waterfalls while enjoying the view and having a mind blowing experience. The activity is not for the weak hearted. At Sipi Falls, abseiling is organised at the Chebonet with the climbing routes ranging from 15 to 35 meters. All this is done with the help of the instructors.
Coffee Tours in Sipi Falls
The Sipi Falls area is known for hosting large coffee plantations with high quality Arabica coffee. The coffee tours offer guided walks through the plantation which gives insights into traditional and modern coffee farming practices. The tourists get the opportunity to go through the process of planting coffee from nursery beds to coffee trees and harvest. Tourists get chances to see how coffee beans are harvested and dried by removing the shells in the hulling process and roasting them on fire. Later these coffee beans are grinded and brewed in different traditional ways. In case tourists want to support these local farmers, they can purchase some coffee and take it back with them at home.
Cultural Experiences
The nearby communities are for the Bagisu also known as Bamasaba and the Sabiny who are hospitable people and practice coffee farming. The Bagisu are famously known for their culture of initiating young men into adulthood. They involve a number of ceremonies which end with circumcision (Imbalu). In the Bamasaba tradition men are not allowed to marry before completing the ritual of circumcision. Whereas the Sabinyi people are known for practicing female genital mutilation also known as female circumcision. However the practice has been prohibited by the government due to pressure from female human rights groups. Despite the ban, some individuals still secretly circumcise their daughters. Sabiny women participate in handcraft which include; baskets and tourists get souvenirs from their shops which contribute to the coffee tree maintaining and raising awareness about the dangers of female circumcision. It also supports education of orphans through paying for them school fees.
