Let’s Hike to Wanale Falls

Wanale Falls is situated on the Wanale Ridge also known as Wanale Hill. It is a tranquil fall about 5 kilometers from Mbale City. The Wanale Falls and Ridge are very visible from Mbale City.

Anyone coming into the city will see the wide ridge and the numerous falls on it. The ridge gets its name from Wanale, the son of Masaba, the legendary father of the Bamasaaba people.

Wanale Hill has a very rich and interesting history. It is said that the early Lumasaaba people lived in the multiple caves around the Wanale ridge. Wanale Falls has a moderate volume, but there are many interesting things around it.

One of the most popular activities is hiking up to the ridge. It takes about an hour from Mbale to reach it. On the route to Wanale Ridge, you’ll encounter streams, homes, plantations, limestone rocks, wild vegetation, and domestic animals. Elgon region is one of the top food baskets in Uganda, well known for great agricultural produce.

The hike to Wanale Ridge is quite simple but can get challenging at some point. Enjoy the exercise as you explore the beauty of nature in Wanale. Reaching the top of the falls will be a glorious reward, as you’ll be able to view a lot more than you can see from the city.

Attractions around Wanale Falls

Waterfalls

Wanale Falls is not the only waterfall on the ridge. There are many others, for example, Namatsyo waterfalls. The water from Namatsyo disappears into the ground after falling. It later merges from underground in the villages of Bumboi and Mooni. This is a very interesting phenomenon.

Stories

The Wanale Falls area has a rich history. As you hike towards the Ridge, you’ll hear the history of the Bamasaaba people and get to know the legends associated with the area. The Wanale Ridge has a rich cultural significance in the Bugisu region.

While the Lumasaba is called the hill Wanale, the Baganda brought to Mbale by the colonialists call it Nkokonjeru Ridge. Nkonkonjeru means ‘white chicken’. According to legends, Wanale, the son of Masaba who lived on top of Mount Elgon used to rear only white chicken.

Caves

There are numerous caves near Wanale Falls. Most people don’t know all of them. The most prominent one is Khauka Cave which is a stopover when heading to Wanale Ridge. The early Bamasaaba lived in the caves. On your hike to the ridge, the local guides will tell you the history of the caves.

Beautiful view

From the top of the Wanale ridge, you’ll get a vast view of Mbale town and the surrounding area. There are so many interesting things to see including the hills around. You can even view the plain lands around the Bugisu region.

Unsaturated salt

There is also rock salt in the area. This type of salt is unsaturated. They feed it to animals, but some people consume it as well. It is referred to as Magadi by the Lumasaaba people.

Who are the people of Wanale Falls?

The area around Wanale Falls is inhabited by the Bamasaaba/Bagisu people. They are very great agriculturalists who have adapted finely to life on the mountainous slopes of Mount Elgon. Mbale town, the nearest town has people of different tribes, ethnicities, and races. It’s a very diverse and homely town which welcomes everybody.

Other things to do in Mbale town

Mbale town is a quiet town that has a lot of interesting things to do other than hike up the Wanale ridge. You can camp, attend social gatherings, go shopping in local markets, engage in sports activities, and enjoy the nightlife.

Mbale town has many nearby tourist attractions like Sisiyi Falls, Sipi Falls, Gangama/Kakungulu Hill, Walwanyi Falls, Nyero Rock Paintings, and Tororo Rock. All these attractions will give you a great sense of adventure and will make your stay in eastern Uganda a fantastic one.