{{Infobox waterfall | name = Sipi Falls | photo = Sipi Falls2.jpg | photo_caption = Main falls at Sipi | location = Sipi, Uganda | coords = {{coord|1.33439|N|34.38998|E|type:landmark_scale:60000}} | type = | height_longest = 100m | number_drops = | average_flow = | world_rank = }}{{Short description|Waterfalls in Uganda}} thumb|The close-up front view of Sipi Falls.|246x246px '''Sipi Falls''' is a series of three waterfalls located on the north-western slopes of the eponymous extinct volcano, Mount Elgon, in Uganda,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Briggs |first=Philip |title=Uganda |last2=Roberts |first2=Andrew |date=2010 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides Ltd |isbn=978-1-84162-309-2 |edition=6 |series=Bradt Travel Guides |location=Chalfont St. Peter}}</ref> with views over the Karamoja plains.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ham |first=Anthony |title=Lonely Planet Africa |last2=Atkinson |first2=Brett |last3=Bainbridge |first3=James |last4=Butler |first4=Stuart |last5=Carillet |first5=Jean-Bernard |last6=Clammer |first6=Paul |last7=Corne |first7=Lucy |last8=Filou |first8=Emilie |last9=Fitzpatrick |first9=Mary |collaboration=Lonely Planet, Michael Grosberg, Trent Holden, Jessica Lee, Nana Luckham, Vesna Maric, Tom Masters, Stephen Lioy, Virginia Maxwell, Helen Ranger, Brendan Sainsbury, Lorna Parkes, Caroline Sieg, Helena Smith, Regis St Louis, Paul Stiles |publisher=Lonely Planet Global Limited |year=2017 |isbn=9781787011472}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Barlas |first=Robert |title=Uganda |last2=Griffin |first2=Brett |last3=Yong |first3=Jui Lin |publisher=Cavendish Square |year=2019 |isbn=9781502647412 |pages=136}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schumann |first=A. |last2=Muwanga |first2=A. |last3=Lehto |first3=T. |last4=Staudt |first4=M. |last5=Schlüter |first5=T. |last6=Kato |first6=V. |last7=Namboyera |first7=A. |date=March 2015 |title=Ugandan geosites |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gto.12089 |journal=Geology Today |language=en |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=59–67 |doi=10.1111/gto.12089 |issn=0266-6979|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The falls are situated to the northeast of Sironko and Mbale,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Lizzie |title=Uganda Handbook |publisher=Footprint Handbooks |year=2014 |isbn=9781910120002}}</ref> adjacent to Mount Elgon National Park, which is located 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) away from the Kenyan border.<ref name="thisisuganda.org">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-19 |title=Sipi Falls in Eastern Uganda - Landmarks - This is Uganda |url=https://www.thisisuganda.org/landmarks/sipi-falls/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> The falls account for 10% to 20% of all tourist visits to Uganda every year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Kilama Luwa |first1=Justine |last2=Majaliwa |first2=Jackson-Gilbert Mwanjalolo |last3=Bamutaze |first3=Yazidhi |last4=Kabenge |first4=Isa |last5=Pilesjo |first5=Petter |last6=Oriangi |first6=George |last7=Bagula Mukengere |first7=Espoir |date=January 2021 |title=Variabilities and Trends of Rainfall, Temperature, and River Flow in Sipi Sub-Catchment on the Slopes of Mt. Elgon, Uganda |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=13 |pages=1834 |doi=10.3390/w13131834 |issn=2073-4441|doi-access=free }}</ref>
At its highest point, the largest of the three waterfalls, known as Sipi Falls, stands at 95 meters (312 feet) high. The middle waterfall – known as Simba Falls, lies further upstream to the east. This waterfall has a drop of 74 m (243 ft). Further uphill is the third waterfall, known as Ngasire Falls, with a drop of approximately 85 m (262 ft).<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-01-05 |title=Sipi Falls Uganda - Hiking, Abseiling, Touring & Entrance fee |url=https://www.silverbackgorillatours.com/uganda/sipi-falls |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Silverback Gorilla Tours |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Location == The falls are located two miles northeast of the town of Sipi, 273.6 km (170 mi) northeast of the Ugandan capital of Kampala. The falls were formed by the Sipi River flowing from the upper slopes of Mount Elgon, and terminate in the Lake Kyoga basin.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Briggs|first=Philip|title=Uganda: The Bradt Travel Guide|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=2020|isbn=9781784776428|location=England|pages=285–286|language=English}}</ref>
== Name origin == The term "Sipi" is thought to have its origins in the local word ''sep'', which denotes an indigenous plant resembling a wild banana after the Sipi River. This plant is commonly found along the Sipi riverbank and is characterized by its translucent, green fronds featuring a crimson rib, giving it an appearance reminiscent of a wild banana.<ref name="thisisuganda.org"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Sipi Falls Uganda, Hiking, Tours, Abseiling, Costs & Travel Tips |url=https://www.sipifalls.com/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=My Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> The plant is also used as a medicine for treating fevers and measles by the local people in the area.<ref name=":2" /> thumb|The sep plant, an indigenous species resembling a wild banana, thrives along the Sipi riverbank.
== Economy == The Sipi Falls area grows Bugisu Arabica coffee, which is profitable for the local people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=manyaafrica |date=2022-09-27 |title=Sipi falls Uganda. |url=https://manyaafricatours.com/sipi-falls-uganda/ |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=Manya Africa Tours |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jemba |date=2025-11-10 |title=What’s the best coffee to buy in Uganda? |url=https://experiyatourcompany.com/whats-the-best-coffee-to-buy-in-uganda/ |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=Experiya Tour Company |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== * List of waterfalls
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Hydrography of Uganda}}{{Commons category|Sipi falls}} Category:Waterfalls of Uganda Category:Kapchorwa District