About ME and Sipi Falls Team

In the books, the name Sipi Falls was only associated with the last falls (main Sipi Falls) with a height of 100m being one of the highest waterfalls in the region.

The other two waterfalls are impressive too and became popular in 2005 but before that most people could only come for the main falls and Mount Elgon.

With years passing, many activities were discovered and added, that make this region much more interesting.

The hiking trails leading to all three Sipi Falls are maintained which makes it accessible all year round, the total distance of the whole hike to all three falls is around 7km loop with some beautiful steep ascents and descents, ladders, lots of farms and mud if it’s a wet season.

For people with difficulties when it comes to hiking for long hours or having just limited time, we have excellent options for you all. See all the activities we mention and feel free to contact us for any further questions.

Sipi Falls Uganda is a little paradise of its own, and our knowledge and years of experience in handling Family, Solo, and Group travelers, which has made visitors enjoy Sipi Falls Uganda even more.

We are driven by passion, and we offer or treat our clients, pay attention to their requests, and also keep an eye on the kids and everyone in the group.

Sipi is located at an Amphitheatre and this allows you to witness the famous Sipi Falls from numerous angles around the amphitheater.

Sipi Falls Lodge is at the edge of this amazing spot and it enables tourists to view the vigorous flow of the falls and the amount of mist they spewed!

Introducing Sipi Falls: – Sipi Falls comprises three spectacular waterfalls, positioned in Sipi village in the Kapchorwa district.

Sometimes called the glorious falls (Sipi Falls) were named after the Sipi river which in turn was named after a locally grown plant called sep.

Chill out at Sipi Falls a nature lovers’ place with breathtaking views and a splendid environment that feels like you are talking to the waterfall and greenery!

While at the falls, with the help of the guide, you will be able to get more information about Sipi and its surrounding neighborhood.

Sipi Falls is of course characterized by three falls but all have different features and landscapes.

The second falls which is about 65m and is the smallest among the three and you can feel the water as it splashes and forms cold steam. This falls also has a good area for a camping expedition.

The third fall with 100m offers some best views with photos that seem like you are drinking the whole Sipi falls or washing your hands in the air using the waterfalls.

The first Sipi Falls on top is famous for its rainbow and underground water as it plunges down at a height of 85m and is near the boundary of Mount Elgon National Park.

The Village Sipi

Sipi is located at the edge of Mount Elgon and is one of the best lucrative areas with beautiful scenery like the Sipi Falls, caves and so many others. It also has a very welcoming community that mainly consists of the Sabiny tribe.

Sipi is a village and a small trading post with several different tourist accommodations for guests willing to spend a night as they prepare to engage in some activities around the Sipi region.

In Sipi, Sipi Falls is considered a main tourist’s attraction by the locals, but it only accounts for around 10% of all the tourists’ numbers who visit Uganda the pearl of Africa every year.

If you look at the number of tourists who visit Sipi every year, it means that the Sipi region is still a raw hiker’s destination waiting to be discovered.

Sipi is the best place for visitors to unwind, relax and escape the bustles and hustles of the busy cities and towns in the country.

Uganda was named after Buganda kingdom, one of the largest kingdoms in the country. After colonising the country, the British adopted the name Uganda which is a Swahili term for Buganda. Uganda is now a republic but has some small monarchies.

Most of the information known about Uganda in pre-colonial times was got from oral tradition and archaeological studies. Human activity can be traced up to 50,000 years ago.  It is believed that central Sudanic and Kuliac speaking farmers inhabited the area after the early man. Around 3,000 years ago, Bantu speakers migrated from the south and settled in Uganda while Nilotic speakers came from the north east.

The first foreigners to arrive in Uganda were the Arab traders who came from the Indian Ocean, looking for places to trade. In 1867, Khedive Ismail Pasha of Egypt sent a British explorer called Sir Samuel Baker to annex some areas of the country.

When the explorer’s exploits reached Britain, the British gained interest in coming to Uganda. During the scramble for Africa (1885-1914), European nations competed for colonies in Africa. It was around this time that Britain cemented their colonialism of Uganda.

Following the explorers were the missionaries. The protestant missionaries arrived in 1877, while the Roman Catholics came in 1879. In the period that followed, there were a numerous religious wars between the Catholic, Anglican, and Moslem converts. These also conflicted with the believers of traditional gods.

In 1888, Britain granted the Imperial British East African Company (IBEACO) powers to administer Uganda on their behalf. Later in 1894, the British declared Uganda a protectorate/colony of Britain.

In 1904, cotton was introduced and became one of the country’s largest exports. By the 1920’s, coffee and tea were also being exported in large numbers.

Uganda gained its independence from the British on 9^th October, 1962 with Milton Obote becoming the first prime minister of the new country. He later suspended the constitution and assumed all government powers.

In 1967, a new constitution was drafted, turning Uganda into a republic and abolishing the traditional kingdoms. In January, 1971, there was a military coup which placed Idi Amin in power for eight years.

This period is referred to as the reign of terror since it was a time of mass killings, dictatorship, and other human rights violations. It’s estimated that over 100,000 Ugandans died in this period. However, some sources claim over 300,000 Ugandans died.

In 1972, Idi Amin sent away foreigners, who included over 40,000 Indians with British passports. Following this was a severe economic decline, human rights violations, political persecution, and societal fragmentation. Amin’s rule ended when Tanzanian forces and Ugandan exiles invaded Uganda. Amin tried to retaliate but failed. In 1979, Kampala was captured and Amin fled to Libya.

The period between 1979 and 1985 was characterised by political instability in Uganda. There were many military coups which resulted in multiple short term presidencies. Insurgency, economic devastation and violence plagued the country. The bush war by the NRA and other rebel groups created a period of suffering.

In 1986, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took over power and instituted several political and economic reforms which eventually brought more peace into the country. There were a number of civil wars between 1986 and 1994 but most of them were defeated. The longest running insurgency was led by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda. This civil war ended in 2006.

Currently, there is no civil war in Uganda and the country is relatively peaceful. The current President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ruled for over 36 years, making him one of the longest serving presidents in Africa.

The Republic of Uganda is located in eastern Africa. Bordering Uganda are Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. It covers an area of 241,038 sq km.

Winston Churchill, Britain’s former prime minister nicknamed Uganda the Pearl of Africa because of its astounding beauty.

Uganda is a landlocked country but lakes and rivers cover over 26% of its area.

Uganda has 10 official national parks. These are Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla, Semuliki, Mount Elgon, and Kibale National Parks.

The Rwenzori Mountain is the highest in Uganda. It has the third highest peak (Margherita, 5,109m asl) in Africa. This mountain is also referred to as the mountains of the moon.

70% of Ugandan land is used for agriculture. The main agricultural exports from Uganda are coffee, tobacco, tea, corn, beans, and flowers. Uganda also exports a lot of fish.

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world but its economy is starting to grow more steadily.

You can find all the big five animals in Uganda. Trophy hunters named them the Big Five because these dangerous and fierce animals were the most difficult to hunt. They include the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, named after an antelope species called the impala. These animals used to live and graze in that area before it was turned into a settlement. When Captain Fredrick Lugard named it the ‘hill of the impala’ after establishing a fort, the Baganda directly translated it to “kasozi ke’empala”. The name has since evolved to Kampala. It is also called the ‘city of the seven hills’.

English serves as the official language in Uganda. Swahili and Luganda are also widely used in the country.

Uganda does not have an official state religion but most people in the country are religious. 80% of the citizens identify as Christian while the remaining 20% consists of Muslims and other religious groups.

Part of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa is found in Uganda. Lake Victoria covers an area of 69,484 sq mi. Lake Victoria is also known as Nalubaale or Nyanza by the locals living around it.

Uganda is unofficially referred to as the Matooke Republic because of a popular meal called matooke. This dish is made from green bananas. They are peeled, cooked in green leaves, and mashed to create the popular dish which is eaten with various sauces.

A person with white skin is referred to as Muzungu. However, the term does not bear any negative meaning. It’s mainly used to refer to tourists.

Buzzfeed once ranked Uganda as the 13^th most beautiful country in the world.

Uganda is one of the top birding destinations in the world. It has over 1,040 species of birds.

The country has the highest concentration of chimpanzees and other primates in the whole of Africa.

Uganda’s population is around 45 million. 77 % of Uganda’s population is under 25, making it the youngest population in the world. The country is also known for a very high birth rate.

The official currency is UGX. Most transactions are carried out in Uganda shillings but USD are accepted in some places, especially in the tourism industry. There are foreign exchange bureaus and dealers in the country. Also, most banks provide foreign exchange services as well, and these are spread all over the country.

The crested crane is Uganda’s national emblem / official bird. It is represented in the country’s flag.

Buganda kingdom is one of the oldest kingdoms in Uganda. It was established in the 14^th century and is still the biggest kingdom in the country.

The Ugandan Kob is Uganda’s national animal.

Public transport is the most widely used transportation used in Uganda. The most popular means of public transportation are taxis, motorcycles (boda boda), and buses.

Uganda celebrates its Independence Day on 9^th October.

Major public holidays in Uganda include Heroes Day on the 9^th of June, Martyrs Day on the 3^rd of June, liberation day on the 26^th of January, Janan Luwum day on is 5^th of February, International Women’s Day on the 3^rd of March and Christmas holidays.

A Ugandan rolex is an omelette wrapped in chapatti. It’s the most popular local snack in the country.

The source of River Nile, the longest river in the world is in Uganda. River Nile flows for 6,650 km and passes through 10 countries.

Uganda has a tropical climate with two seasons; the wet and dry season.

Uganda was ranked by CNN (2012) and Lonely Planet (2016) as one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

The Uganda flag has three colours: black, yellow and red. Black stands represents the people of Africa, red stands for brotherhood and yellow for sunshine.

Electricity can go off at any time in Uganda.

Several ethnic groups in Uganda differ in languages, initiation rites, traditional dances, naming, norms, and other cultures. They include the Bantu, Nilotes/Nilotic people and the Nilo Hamites.

Uganda has 56 tribes, all speaking different languages and having different cultures. These include the Acholi, Sebei, Atesot, Banyankole, Bagisu, and many others.

In Uganda, there are usually two marriage ceremonies, traditional and church marriages. The traditional marriage is called an introduction and sometimes a giveaway. This is when a woman introduces the groom and his family to her family and friends.

There are many traditional dances in Uganda for example, The Lakakaraka dance, Imbale dance, and Ekitaguriro dance.

The Baganda are the biggest tribe in Uganda. They live in central and southern parts of Uganda.

Uganda has various types of local beer from different regions. These include malwa, ajon, kwete, and tonto/mwenge bigere. They all have different flavors.

Several tribes in Uganda teach women to kneel when greeting or serving men and other elders.

The most popular snack in Uganda is Rolex which is made of chapatti wrapped around an omelette.

Popular local foods in Uganda include matooke, luwoombo, cassava, and posho (corn meal). Millet and sorghum are quite popular in the drier areas of the north and north east.

The most popular religious sects are catholic, Anglican and Islam. There are also other denominations. Generally, all of them live in harmony with each other.

The most common economic activity is farming. However, industry and services are also widespread.

Most common music instruments in Uganda are the drum, xylophone, lyre, and thumb piano.

Sports is a popular relaxation activity in Uganda. Soccer, cricket, and rugby are some of the most popular ones. Many Ugandan male youth follow and support major European leagues especially The Premier League. The most popular teams are Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

The handshake is the most widely used form of greeting in Uganda. The covid19 pandemic reduced it but it’s still practiced all over the country. In some parts of the country, women and girls must kneel when greeting elders.

PDA (Public display of affection) is not welcomed in Uganda due to the highly religious and conservative nature of Ugandans. Only light forms of PDA are accepted for example, hand holding and hugging. Kissing, touching private parts and having sexual relations in public are frowned upon.

Uganda has strict rules against same sex relationships.

Bride price is paid by a man’s family upon marriage. The amount of wealth required varies in different ethnicities.

Marriages in Uganda have a blend of traditional and modern aspects. A woman moves to her husband upon marriage. There are very few fully traditional marriages in Uganda. In most cases, both husband and wife do some sort of work to earn an income.

Skimpy clothes are frowned upon, especially in rural parts of Uganda.

Uganda has many beautiful natural features. There are tall mountains, rolling hills, magnificent waterfalls, lush forests, interesting rock formations, lakes, rivers spread out all over the country. Uganda also has numerous species of plants, animals and birds.

Ugandans under 35 years have lived under only one president.

Muzungu / mzungu is a term used to refer to people of foreign descent in Uganda, mainly white people. The term comes from a mixture of Swahili and Bantu words meaning “someone who roams around aimlessly.” Most Ugandans call tourists muzungu. The term carries no negative connotations.

Uganda has over 900 mountain gorillas. These are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

There are so many tribes in Uganda with their own languages, customs and values. Therefore, Uganda is a very diverse country.

Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee host with over 1.5 million refugees from countries like Sudan, DRC, Somalia and Eritrea.

Joshua Cheptegei, a Ugandan is one of the world’s fasted long distance runners. He holds the world record for the men’s 10,000m and 5,000m.

Ugandans are happy people who love partying and having fun together. A CNN study once ranked Uganda as the 1^st in Africa and the 8^th in the world when it came to liquor intake.

Uganda has some of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. There are many foreigners living happily amongst the welcoming Ugandans.

Uganda has three UNESCO world heritage centres i.e. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mount Rwenzori and the Kasubi Tombs.

Uganda has a very diverse population when it comes to ethnicity, language and culture. Some would expect this to cause a lot of friction. Interestingly, they generally live in harmony with each other. There are squabbles every now and then but nothing major.

Kidandali is the most popular genre of music produced in Uganda. This style of music uses local African sounds, mainly kadongo kamu and soukous/Lingala. It mixes them together indirectly and directly. Jazz, dancehall and ragga have also been infused to it. Kidandali means ‘local party’ in Ganda so it’s an upbeat genre. Ugandans also love afropop and bongo music.

There are so many other interesting facts about Uganda. The best things about Uganda are its natural beauty and lovely people. There are numerous attractions in Uganda for those who love to travel. Do you want to go on a thrilling adventure in Uganda? Or a relaxing one to calm your mind?

Check out some of the fun activities on our activities page and contact us to plan your journey.