Week 6: Soroti and Sipi Falls

Week 6, this marks the halfway point of my time in Uganda I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. This week was spent travelling with Edward as well as a few day of volunteering. Due to important meetings Edward needed to be around Monday and Thursday so we spent one day at ACHERU and one day at Mengo hospital doing the same things as normal. 

Tuesday and Wednesday we travelled to north eastern Uganda to visit a student in Soroti. The hospital there was in fair condition but suffered from similar problem to all the others we have visited, lack of resources! The student was very grateful that Edward had come to see her, so she gave him a live chicken to say thank you. Between the stench of chicken poop and the chicken not wanted to stay in its box, the car ride home was definitely a new experience. On the way back home, Edward kindly offered to take us to Sipi Falls a popular tourist attraction in the mountains very close to the Kenyan border and only a short detour from the route back to Mukono. When we arrived at Sipi Falls, Edward rather happily gave the chicken away to somebody else as it was becoming a nuisance. At Sipi Falls, Kash and I planned to be taken on a hike up to the two upper falls and then after lunch down to the lower main fall. It was a gorgeous hike, walking through some small villages and plantations getting great views of the plains below us. Sipi falls is located at Mt.Elgon which is the 4th highest mountain in East Africa so the views really were something special. Afters the upper falls hike we returned to the lodge, not more than 5 minutes after we returned it started absolutely pouring with rain. The Sipi Falls Lodge was living up to its name as water was streaming off the roof creating many mini falls. This rain meant that the trail for the lower fall would be a muddy mess and unsafe. Not wanting to become completely covering in mud, in the afternoon we only walked down to the viewpoint for the lower falls instead of doing the full hike. We were very glad we got the opportunity to see the falls as a few people had recommended going there but we weren't sure if we were actually going to be able to make it work.

 

Rock formations just outside of Soroti, the region is known for its many large rock formations

A thank you gift from the student we visited, which Edward happily gave away at our next stop

At the caves behind some of the falls where locals dwelled many years ago

The area around Sipi in known for growing lots of coffee, these beans will be ready for picking in a few weeks time

The upper most fall at Sipi Falls which flows from Mt.Elgon one of the larger mountains in Africa



Kash only had flip flops with her so decided to go for a true Ugandan experience and hike barefooted





 

During our lunch break it started pouring with rain, luckily we had arrived back to the lodge just in time not to get soaked

The main falls from the view point, unfortunately we couldn't do the whole lower hike because the rain storm made the path much to muddy and slippery

View of eastern Uganda from up in the mountains at Sipi Falls



One of the guides found a chameleon hiding at the lodge

 

On Friday, we did a day trip to visit two students a bit north of Kampala in Nakasese. One was at a health center and the other at a district hospital. The health center was typical of others we have visited but the district hospital was a whole different story. This hospital was probably the worst we have seen yet. The hospital is quite old and there has not been any maintenance done on it so the ceiling panels were stained and half missing, many of the window were broken or missing, there was no running water, and the paint and was worn and chipping away. It is no wonder they have trouble staffing the place, it is not a very motivating work environment. When leaving, Kash and I decided that if either of us get sick or injured we would rather suffer through the sickness/injury then get treatment in such a setting.

The ceiling, or whats left of it, at the district hospital in Nakaseke

Dental office at the hospital, note the broken window and ripped up chair. This makes a fear of going to the dentist acceptable.

The district hospital we visited reminded us of an abandoned building used for refuge during a zombie apocalypse

Today (Saturday) we are heading to Kampala where we will stay the night before starting a 3 day safari up to Murchison falls on Sunday, we are very excited to be tourists again!

Jess