Tag: Kisizi Falls

A Guide to Visiting Kisiizi Falls

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I woke up early this morning to the sound of cascading water. I am, after all, staying no more than a few hundred meters from the impressive Kisiizi Falls, a hidden gem of a tourist spot in the southwest of Uganda.   

Given that I got up so early, I brewed myself a cup of tea and set up outside my little cottage to write this guide to visiting Kisiizi Falls.

I’ve included lots of helpful information to help you plan your visit here, as well as some answers to FAQs. If there’s anything I’ve missed, drop a comment below, and I’ll get back to you!  

A brief introduction to visiting Kisiizi Falls, Uganda

Kisiizi Falls is located in the southwest of Uganda. The waterfall is part of the Kyabamba River, which flows through Rukungiri district. It’s approximately 27 meters high, and an impressive volume of water cascades down the cliff face throughout the year.   

However, the beauty of Kisiizi Falls today belies the dark and morbid history that initially made this place a point of interest for Ugandans.   

Historically, local Bakiga (the name of the clan of people who live close to the falls) families would take pregnant, unmarried girls to the top of the falls, before tying them up and pushing them to their deaths.   

The fact that these girls fell pregnant out of wedlock brought such shame to their families that they believed the best way to deal with such incidents was to throw the girls to their deaths over the waterfall.   

Tragically, hundreds of young Bakiga girls lost their lives this way until the practice was stopped, relatively recently. There’s now a poignant memorial across from the falls commemorating the lives lost at the site and serving as a reminder to Ugandans that such practice has no place in their modern country.   

When you visit the falls, it’s difficult to process such unimaginable tragedy with the serene natural beauty of the area.   

Where is Kisiizi Falls located?

Kisiizi Falls is located in Rukungiri district, which is in Uganda’s southwest. It’s approximately 2-3 hours from several tourist sites in Uganda, including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Bunyonyi.   

As such, you can easily incorporate a visit to Kisiizi Falls into your travel itinerary if you’re visiting the southwest of Uganda for other tourist activities.  

How to get to Kisizi Falls?

If you’re visiting Kisiizi Falls from Entebbe or Kampala, it’s about a seven-hour drive. You take the Kampala-Mbarara highway from the city, and when you reach Mbarara, you continue west towards Kabale. You will then see signposts for Kisiizi Hospital when you’re approximately 30km away from Kabale town.   

You can also reach Kisiizi Falls easily from Kabale if you have recently entered Uganda from Rwanda or have spent the weekend relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi. Helpfully, the site of the falls is on Google Maps. You can simply search for the Kisiizi Falls Visitors Center or Kisiizi Hospital and follow the map all the way.  

Activities at Kisiizi Falls

There are several activities that you can plan during your visit to Kisiizi Falls, depending on how adventurous you are:   

  • Bird watching: You will see lots of stunning birds in and around the falls, including the Crested Crane and Ross’ Turaco. Refer to my birdwatching for beginners checklist if you want to see birdlife on your trips to the falls.   
  • Hiking: From the visitor’s center to the top of the falls, it’s a reasonable hike. Though trainers will suffice, walking up to and around the falls is good exercise and takes 1-2 hours of your time.   
  • Mountain biking: You can hire a mountain bike from the visitor’s center to explore some of the trails surrounding Kisiizi Falls. Rates are super reasonable; it costs less than $10 for bike hire for the day.   
  • Sky trail & mini zip line: For the slightly more adventurous visitors is the sky trail. You are suspended high above the falls for the ride of your life – not for the faint-hearted. For those under the age of sixteen, the mini zip line is a good option.   
  • Kayaking: You can also hire a kayak to explore the lagoon close to the falls. This is a great way to get on to the water, particularly on those scorching hot days!  

You don’t need to book any of these activities in advance. Simply turn up and enquire at the visitor’s center, and the friendly staff will be more than happy to make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.  

Staying & eating at Kisiizi Falls

Although Kisiizi Falls is relatively close to other tourist attractions and can be visited in just a few hours, you might want to spend the night at the falls to break up your journey.   

Next to the visitor’s center are two cottages that overlook the falls. In fact, I’m sitting outside one of the cottages with a cup of Ugandan tea, writing this article!   

The cost of the accommodation is 125,000 UGX per night (about $35), and it sleeps up to four people in two rooms. A simple breakfast of tea, bananas, and fresh bread is provided. The rooms are a little tired and are best described as no-frills, but they’re comfortable and offer great value at the price point.  

In terms of eating at Kisiizi Falls, the visitor’s center serves tasty food. For our evening meal last night, we enjoyed chicken, potatoes, and vegetables for just 16,000 UGX per person (about $4).   

It’s a good idea to order food ahead of time. We called in the morning to place our meal order, and it was ready at exactly 6 pm –the time that we requested it.  

Note that no alcohol is served in the restaurant, though you can ask one of the staff to send out for a local beer if you’re desperate!  

To book accommodation or to order food ahead of your visit to Kisiizi Falls, go here.

The verdict: Is Kisiizi Falls worth visiting?

The bottom line is yes, Kisiizi Falls is absolutely worth visiting. It’s a beautiful waterfall with a tragic yet interesting past. The visitor’s center is informative, and there are lots of activities you can do around the falls. You can also stay and eat at the guest house if you want to break up your journey.   

Overall, if you’re keen to visit a waterfall during your upcoming vacation in Uganda, Kisiizi Falls is a great option to consider, particularly if you’re visiting southwest Uganda for gorilla trekking or a safari in QENP.  

Visiting Kisiizi Falls FAQs

How much does it cost to visit Kisiizi Falls?   

Kisiizi Falls is completely free to visit! Park up in front of the visitor’s center and make your way to the falls via the track. There are several activities that you can pay to do if you want to make the most of your trip to Kisiizi.  

Is there accommodation at Kisiizi Falls?   

Yes, there is accommodation at Kisiizi Falls, provided by the guest house next to the visitor’s center. At the time of writing, the cost of a 4-person cottage is 125,000 UGX ($35), including a simple breakfast.  

Can you swim at Kisiizi Falls?   

Technically you can swim at Kisiizi Falls or at least in parts of the Kyabamba River. That being said, it’s not the best swimming spot in Uganda – check out our swimming in Uganda article to discover the best places for a dip in the Pearl of Africa.  

Is there wildlife at Kisiizi Falls?   

There are lots of beautiful birds in and around Kisiizi Falls. However, you won’t see any dangerous wild animals, like hippos or crocs, which populate waterways in some of the country’s national parks.