Aruu Falls

Aruu Falls lies on the road between Gulu and Kitgum in Pader district of northern Uganda, 47 kilometres from Gulu - the Luo name means woken up, from a clan kept awake at night by the noise - where a stream drops down a broad face of granite in a series of steps and channels rather than a single fall, with pools between the tiers used for swimming. It is set among rock outcrops and woodland and is little visited, with a basic site and local guides. Flow varies a great deal with the season and the falls can be reduced to trickles late in the dry months.

The landscape

• The stepped falls - water descending a broad granite face in a series of tiers.
• The pools - swimming pools between the steps of the fall.
• The granite outcrops - the rock landscape the falls are cut into.
• The woodland - the surrounding trees and rock country of northern Uganda.

When to go

June to October has the strongest flow after the rains. The dry months from December to March reduce the falls considerably. Mornings are coolest.

Before you go

Flow drops a great deal in the dry season and the falls can be disappointing then. Facilities are minimal and the site is unstaffed at times. The rocks are slippery and unfenced.

Nearby

Gulu is southwest, and Kitgum is northeast.

Key facts