Mount Elgon is home to numerous waterfalls. Interestingly enough, most streams are underground (90%). The waterfalls in Sipi are best known. Kapchorwa Town and the more remote districts of Kween and Bukwo, are home to other stunning waterfalls.
A top-7:
1. Tawut WATERFALL
This spectacular waterfall is located on the lower flanks from Mount Elgon (1700m ASL), a seven kilometers drive from Kapchorwa Town. Tawut waterfall is surrounded by colorful wild flowers and a cute, traditional Sebei village. On top of the waterfall you can swim, or enjoy the amazing views over the Karamoja lowlands. This waterfall is accessible by 4-wheel drive car or boda boda, via a steep and rocky road.
Our visitor Roos @ Tawut waterfall in June 2018
2. Mengia waterfall
It is the stunning endpoint of two of most off-the-beaten track adventures in Uganda: the Kapchorwa-Benet Trail and the Mosopisiek Trail. The local Mosopisiek people are former hunter-gatherers and live a unique and healthy lifestyle. The Mengia waterfall is seen from many angles along the trail, so enough chance to take some incredible photos.
NB: In the sunny season (December - March) the waterfall can dry up, so don’t get disappointed:)
Mengia waterfall. Photo credit: Juma Chebet
3. Kapchorwa’s ‘Kaptokwoi’ waterfall
At a 25 minutes walk from our Guesthouse, in a hidden corner of Kapchorwa Town, two stunning waterfalls are awaiting you. Their names in the local Kupsapiiny language: ‘Chepchebai’ and ‘Kaptokwoi’. Kaptokwoi means ‘the stream that never stops flowing’. And true, in our six years in Kapchorwa we have always seen a rather powerful waterfall. Chepchebai and Kaptokwoi waterfall are part of our Kapchorwa Nature Walk and the Run Kapchorwa waterfall loop.
Kaptokwoi waterfall in July 2022. Photo credit: Poul Chemutai
4. Sipi Falls
The main waterfall, just down the road near Noah’s Ark Hotel, is a 100 meters tall. Abseiling can be done from here. The second Sipi waterfall is located on the other side of the Mbale - Kapchorwa highway. On top of this second waterfall there is a small natural swimming pool. The third waterfall, called Ngasire, has a 87 meters high ridge. Other falls on this north-western side of the mountain can be found in Sisye, Bulago, Chebonet and Wanale.
Two guests @ Sipi main waterfall, December 2021. Photo credit: Juma Chebet
5. Kere waterfall
The most remote waterfall on our list! We discovered this waterfall back in August 2020, when we were mapping the Mosopisiek Trail with a team of Elgon tour operators. The waterfall can be viewed from Tuikat ancestral hill.
Kere waterfall in Kween District. Photo taken from Tuikat viewpoint in August 2020
6. Atar-Siron Waterfall
Not far from Kapchorwa Town, along one of our favorite mountain bike routes, Atar-Siron waterfall provides a cool and refreshing spot for a lunch break!
Atar-Siron waterfall, June 2018
7. Atar-Kshek WATERFALL
This waterfall is located just off the Kapchorwa - Kween highway, hidden in a small forest. You can walk along this waterfall and enjoy the cool ambiance of the place. Atar-Kshek is easily accessible by foot or bike!
Eliza, our operations manager @ Atar-Kshek waterfall in May 2018
Can’t you get enough of it?
Check out this Elgon waterfall video from our affiliate Run Kapchorwa or share other hidden waterfalls through a comment below so we can determine the answer to the question of this blog. More to explore, that’s for sure!
Eliza & Daan @ Sipi Ngasire waterfall in January 2023
This blog is written by Daan Oxener, a Dutch social entrepreneur who is based in Kapchorwa since 2016. Daan manages Home of Friends Guesthouse, together with his fiancé Eliza. He is passionate about exploring Mount Elgon’s stunning nature and authentic culture. Through Run Kapchorwa he empowers youth with skilling & employment opportunities.