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Wonder
Sipi Falls
In short
Well known natural wonder in the Eastern Uganda is Sipi Falls. This is a group of three impressive cascades on the Sipi River over a distance of some 2 kilometers.
42.8%
GPS coordinates
Height
Width
Stream
Map of the site
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In detail
Sipi Falls have formed on the north-western slope of Mount Elgon. It is a giant, 4,321 m high, and extinct stratovolcano. There are known approximately 1000 waterfalls on the slopes of this prominent mountain.
The three cascades have formed on the Sipi River and follow each other over a distance of some two kilometers.
The best known and the most impressive is the lower cascade (First Fall). It is a beautiful plunge of free-falling water over an overhanging cliff. This cascade is some 95 – 100 m tall – diverse authors give slightly different heights.
The middle cascade, also called Simba, is less tall – 69 – 74 m. In the upper part, it flows along a steep rock and then falls in a free fall over a rock overhang. Here the river is divided, forming two plunges. Nearby is a smaller cave.
The uppermost cascade – Ngasire – again is an impressive, vertical plunge, 87 m high. This is a less visited and beautiful sight. The stream with a small island is divided into two neighboring plunges.
Sipi Falls is a well-known touristic destination with guided tours that include agricultural experience as well – an introduction to the locally grown Bugisu Coffee and sep plant that, reportedly, gave its name to the falls. The hike to all three cascades is some 7 km long and highly rated due to its beauty. It is better to avoid the dry season of the year because there is little water in the falls.
References
- Peter Appel, Volker Schenk, Andreas Schumann. Sipi Falls, Uganda. Mission Africa Safaris. Accessed on 25th June 2022.
Linked articles
Wonders of Uganda
Uganda can be proud of its very rich natural heritage. The tropical forests here have some of the highest species diversity in Africa, the country has powerful waterfalls and interesting volcanic landforms.
Waterfalls
Some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.
Wonders of Africa
Africa has many outstanding wonders and some of the most surprising ones are the heritage of Egyptian civilization, the vernacular architecture of the Sahel region, tropical ecosystems, and others.
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