Table of Contents
- Murchison Falls
- Sipi Falls
- Kisiizi Falls
- Sisiyi Falls
- Karuma Falls
- Mpanga Falls
- Ssezibwa Falls
- Recap: 7 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda to visit
There are dozens of waterfalls in Uganda, thanks to the many waterways that flow throughout the country. Many of the falls are on the River Nile, the world’s longest river, adding extra incentive to visit them.
From Murchison to Mpanga, this article introduces you to seven of the best waterfalls in Uganda that you can visit during your upcoming vacation. I’ve also put together a handy map with the locations of each of these falls to help you plan your trip accordingly.
Murchison Falls
Undoubtedly the best waterfalls in Uganda to visit are located within Murchison Falls National Park. To be fair, the main reason to visit Murchison is not to look at the falls but to view the wildlife that lives around them.
Murchison Falls NP is home to a huge number of mammals and birds (I spotted the elusive and prehistoric shoebill during a recent Murchison Falls safari), and it’s certainly one of the best game-viewing spots in East Africa.
That being said, the falls are super impressive. The River Nile forces itself through a tight gorge to fall 43 meters to the river below, creating a cascading and powerful flow of water that you can see from different parts of the park.
The best way to see Murchison Falls is to arrange a safari and to take a boat trip organized by UWA. A boat trip up to the falls currently costs $30 per person, but you also need to factor in the cost of the park entrance and the cost of the safari itself.
Check out my comprehensive guide to planning an independent safari in Uganda to factor in the costs associated with visiting Murchison Falls NP.
You can also refer to the UWA website for more information about visiting the stunning Murchison Falls in the north of Uganda.
Sipi Falls
In the far east of Uganda and a stone’s throw away from the Kenyan border is Mount Elgon National Park, home to one of the highest peaks in Uganda. The park is also home to the impressive Sipi Falls, a truly stunning site that hosts three waterfalls.
The falls take their name from the close-by village of Sipi, and they are located in the eastern Ugandan district of Kapchorwa, which takes between 3-4 hours to reach from Kampala.
I visited Sipi Falls during the dry season in August last year, as the dry season is when the falls are at their most spectacular. The tallest fall cascades 100 meters from the top of the cliff and provides incredible views of Mount Elgon and the surrounding areas.
Just be mindful that it takes a fair amount of effort to make it to each of the three falls. I trekked for a couple of hours to reach the final site, and although it was worth it, I was pretty tired when we reached it!
You can also hire a tour guide when you reach Sipi Falls if you want to learn more about the local area as you make your way to the site of each of the three stunning waterfalls that cascade here.
Kisiizi Falls
Located in Rukungiri district in Uganda’s extreme southwest, Kisiizi Falls is an off-the-beaten-track tourist destination in the Pearl of Africa. It’s about a two-hour drive from the town of Kabale, which is a popular spot for tourists, given its proximity to Lake Bunyonyi and the Rwandan border.
You can also easily visit Kisiizi Falls from Bwindi National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, two of the most-visited parks in the whole of Uganda.
I actually visited Kisiizi Falls last week and absolutely loved it. To save me from repeating myself – check out my complete guide to visiting Kisiizi Falls to help you plan a trip here!
Sisiyi Falls
While most visitors to eastern Uganda are drawn to Sipi Falls, Sisiyi Falls is also another great spot to visit if you’re making your way to Mount Elgon National Park.
In fairness, Sisiyi and Sipi look remarkably similar, and they’re even located within the same mountain massif. One of the main reasons to visit Sisiyi is that you can actually stand under these falls, which is ideal if you want a more immersive experience.
Like Sipi Falls, Sisiyi cascades approximately 100 meters down one of the sides of Mount Elgon and provides truly breathtaking views of the surrounding lush green countryside.
You might not want to visit both Sisiyi and Sipi Falls, but be sure to incorporate one of these stunning destinations into your itinerary if you’re spending some time in and around Mount Elgon during your vacation.
Karuma Falls
Karuma is known to the local Luo people as “Great Spirit,” and it’s easy to see why when you visit this impressive waterfall, around 100km northeast of the town of Masindi.
At the site of Karuma Falls is a hydroelectric dam that supplies power throughout Uganda. The dam at Karuma is actually the largest power station in the whole of Uganda and is a crucial source of energy for the entire nation.
If you’re planning to visit Murchison Falls NP for safari, you can include a trip to Karuma Falls, as they are located in the eastern section of the park and can be easily visited while on safari.
Historically, the falls are significant because John Henning Speke famously crossed the Nile at this point on his way to the source of the world’s longest river.
While Murchison Falls is the most visited waterfall in this part of Uganda, you should undoubtedly add Karuma Falls to your itinerary if you’re visiting the park for a safari on your upcoming vacation.
Mpanga Falls
Located in western Uganda is Mpanga Falls, located near Kibale National Park, home to many of Uganda’s wild chimpanzees.
As reported by the New Vision, Mpanga Falls isn’t particularly easy to reach! In fact, it requires a journey across Lake George and some patient climbing to reach the top of the falls, which means that many people don’t bother with Mpanga.
In my opinion, this is all the more reason to make an effort to visit these cascading falls in western Uganda. After all, there is something magical about visiting sites off the beaten path, and that certainly applies to the waterfalls at Mpanga!
Ssezibwa Falls
The final waterfall in Uganda that I would like to introduce you to in this article is actually the site that is easiest to reach (at least from Kampala).
Ssezibwa Falls is in Mukono District, just 32km from Kampala on the Jinja Road. The falls race through a narrow gorge in the rocks and cascade 17 meters into the large pool below.
The falls eventually flow all the way to Lake Kyoga, and the falls are a special place for the local Baganda people, who believe them to have supernatural powers.
It costs $3 to enter the site at the falls, and although the visitor’s center could be better managed, it’s a decent gateway to the falls and the surrounding area.
If you’re planning to go white water rafting on the Nile at Jinja, you can schedule a stop at Ssezibwa Falls on your way to the source of the Nile.
Recap: 7 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda to visit
There are lots of waterfalls in Uganda located all around the country, but the seven sites I’ve introduced here are among the best and most popular.
If you’re keen to visit one or several waterfalls during your upcoming trip to Uganda, you can use my helpful map below: