{UAH} Kapchorwa: Offering more than Kiprotich - Special Reports - monitor.co.ug

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Sipi Falls is a house name for most tourists. There are several campsites around here where tourists can get accommodation. PHOTOs BY ALLAN CHEKWECH. 

In Summary

Taking advantage of Mt Elgon, Kapchorwa District offers the beauty of the steep slopes, escarpments and natural vegetation. It is endowed with waterfalls, forests, rocks hills and caves.

Kapchorwa, whose English equivalent is a 'friend's place' is located on the slopes of Mt Elgon, east of Uganda. The location of Kapchorwa gives it the sparkling and breathe-taking scenery and a natural charm to tourists. The warm welcome the Sabiny will give you contradicts the ever cold environment.

Perhaps, this gives a more appealing feeling that the steadily-growing beautiful country has plenty to offer for those who are prepared to see beyond their air-conditioned safari trucks and satellite-TV hotel rooms.

The district, prominent for producing Olympic and world gold medallist Stephen Kiprotich, and also known for once harbouring female genital mutilation, has more on its face to show the world than the world knows. Located 62km from Mbale Town, Kapchorwa, the mother district of Bukwo and Kween districts, is home to several attractive features.

The district takes advantage of Mt Elgon to present the beauty of the steep slopes, escarpments and natural vegetation. From the water falls that empty to the base in the flat Bulambuli and Nakapiripirit districts, the forest, rocks and hills, caves and the culture, Kapchorwa presents a unique world in its own. The area is also home to the Arabica coffee and is friendly to matooke, maize, millet, beans and many more cereals. You just will have most of the crops growing in Kapchorwa.

So, then, the myth about the mountainous place should come to an end. The next time you may want go to Kapchorwa, you will either board directly or use buses or taxis that go to Mbale. For the direct route, Time Keeper taxis will deliver you in Kapchorwa for Shs20,000 from Kampala. For those stopping in Mbale, you will have to part with Shs15,000 to Mbale, then another Shs10,000 on a taxi to Kapchorwa.

Journey
The journey to Kapchorwa is an interesting, exciting and worthwhile experience. When you leave Mbale, all other things pass. The next time you want to pay attention is after driving through a rough road from Mbale Town when a signpost, indicating Kapchorwa 62, Moroto 98, strikes your eyes.

It is here that your journey starts. In the distance, you see blue, disappearing hills. You will also see signs of mist and rain, even during the dry season. That is your destination -Kapchorwa. When Mbale says goodbye, Sironko District welcomes you, but soon, a crowd of signposts, prominent among them, that directing you to Moroto and that indicating to Kapchorwa, pointing on the right hand, hilly side, will welcome you.

The road from here is first class. It will snake all the way through the hills and valleys to Kapchorwa Town. But at the entrance of Kapchorwa District, a wonder opens up to you. A huge rock stands on either side of the road, standing more than 15 metres high.

This welcomes you to Kaserem Sub-county. It is here that cement material is being excavated to be taken to the industry in Tororo for processing. The next hill will be Towey, which houses Sipi Sub-county. While here, you can stand and look back at the plains, the escarpments of the green hills that meander up to Sironko, and you will also see dots of mabati (Iron sheets) houses shining in the distant Teso region. The view is magnificent and the cool, piercing breeze reminds you that you are in the cold Sebei.

Then a host of campsites will be willing to accommodate you at Sipi Falls. Sipi River Lodge, Lagam Lodge and Crown's Nest, among others, offer guided tourism of Sipi. It is from here that you will do camp sailing, rock climbing and swings.

Victor Braim, the manager of Crown's Nest, says accommodation goes for between Shs15,000 to Shs35,000. Camping (with one's own tent, is at Shs7,500), while meals range from Shs6,000 to Shs12,000. But if you do not end in Sipi, a lot awaits you ahead. After 10km, in Chema Sub-county, you get a view point. The tens of miles of Bulambuli, Teso and the savannah grassland that extends to Karamoja, vanishing in the misty plains, brings the whole world next to you.

The crops, plantations and the cool weather make a perfect combination of an area waiting to harvest crops in a few months' time. Donkeys, cattle, goats and other animals are a common sight on the roads. Cheptuy River welcomes you to Tegeres, which also hosts the missionary established Sebei College. But by this time, you could be yearning to reach the town.

Hidden treasures
However, there are tourist sites that the world has never known. In Kapchorwa Town, Kaptokwoy Falls, in the heart of the town, when the river has not burst, is a beautiful sight. With London Bridge village on its left and Siron Sub-county to the right bank, the falls await exploitation. Kapchorwa Town is also a host to many caves. Kurangut, with water in it, and Mweka in Barawa Parish are some of the spots you may consider while in the area.

This is in addition to those in Sipi, Kaptokwoy and in Mt Elgon. While still in town, Shauriyako hill gives you the best opportunity for rock climbing. And at the top of the hill, you have a full view of Kapchorwa Town, with the beautiful plains in the background, and to the right, is the vast beautiful landscape that stretches to Kamunerkut in Kween District.

Kapchorwa: Offering more than Kiprotich - Special Reports - monitor.co.ug
http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Kapchorwa++Offering+more+than+Kiprotich/-/688342/1965734/-/14v7tvw/-