The stark landscape, semi-nomadic cattle herders, acute poverty, and massive firearm caches in Karamoja may make it appear as if the region has no tourist attractions.
Although Karamoja may look as if it has little or no tourist attractions with its parched grasslands, semi-nomadic cattle herders, acute poverty, and massive gun caches, this is far from the case.
There are many tourist attractions in the Ugandan region of Karamoja. It is a place worth travelling to because of its untamed nature and several interesting locations to discover.
The Karamoja region is located in northern Uganda, close to the borders of Kenya and Sudan. Amudat, Naka-Pirpirit, Moroto, Abim, Kaabong, Napak, and Kotido are some of the seven regions that make up this district.
The top tourist attractions in Karamoja can be found here.
Mount Moroto
Mount Moroto is among the first tourist attractions to see as you approach the district of Karamoja. You can get to Moroto from Kampala in 8 hours by taking the eastern route, which passes through the cities of Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, and Soroti.
The highest mountain in the area is Mount Moroto, which rises 3080 meters above sea level. One day is sufficient to complete the mountain’s journey to the top. The mountain’s foothills are primarily covered by this climb. It’s a walk that families and novice hikers can do with ease.
While hiking, you come across the Tepeth, a small tribe that is even more indigenous than the Karamojong and resides on the mountain’s slopes.
You can also find respectable lodging in Moroto with dependable power, hot showers, flush toilets, and internet access.
Pian Upe Game Reserve
In northeastern Karamoja, you will find a conservation area called Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. The region is Uganda’s second-largest conservation protected area.
Undisturbed grassland and forested grassland make up the majority of the reserve. Additionally, kopjes—small wooded patches along rivers—exist. Some land is used for agriculture, and conversion is particularly threatening in the region along the Greek River.
Elephants, lions, black rhinos, and giraffes once had healthy numbers in the region, but these animals are no longer available in the reserve.
According to reports, the last and remaining giraffe was stolen in 1995. UWA then reintroduced 15 giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park to the reserve in October 2019.
Today you can visit the reserve to see animals such as vervet monkeys, olive baboons, jackals, antelopes, hedgehogs, buffaloes, giraffes, and more.
Kidepo Valley National Park
This is the best place to visit in Karamoja. Compared to other East African safari locations, Kidepo may not be as well-known or home to as many wildlife species.
However, the park offers a safari experience that is distinctive and endearing because of its isolation.
You may enjoy seeing wildlife at their pace while taking in the tranquility of nature that is frequently lacking in the bigger parks around the country, away from the large numbers of tourists and safari vehicles.
In the park, you may expect to encounter a stunning display of wildlife as you wander the savannah along the banks of the Narus river, including sizable herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, hartebeest, giraffes, and elands.
Karamojong Manyattas
The Manyatta’s, which are the closest Karamojong community, is about 30 minutes drive outside of town. The excursion combines participation and sightseeing. Everything about the Karamojong is intriguing, including their dress code, cuisine, manyatta design, elders, family structure, and traditions.
These all offer glimpses into their way of life. Dry twigs and branches are woven together to make a strong external wall that surrounds each town as a defense against raids from other tribes.
Karamojong Culture
Spend more time in the village especially during the evenings, with the Karamojong cattle herders. Karamojong culture places a great deal of importance on cattle keeping.
A Karamojong warrior’s duties in the past included guarding their herd and, if necessary, raiding nearby tribes for livestock.
You can also help the dedicated herders bring the cows to the Kraal as part of the tour, learn how to milk a cow, and see customs like spearing a cow for drinking blood.
Mount Kadam
The elevation of Mount Kadam, which is close to the east Karamoja border between Kenya and Uganda, is roughly 3,063 meters (10,049 ft). Nearby Mount Elgon is to the north.
The mountain’s namesake, Sailesh Kadam, made the first climb to the top. On the slopes of Mount Kadam, Soo language speakers are still present.
Matheniko Game Reserve
In the Karamoja region, the Matheniko reserve is a significant area for wildlife conservation. The 590 square mile Matheniko game reserve in Karamoja-Uganda has circumstances resembling those of Maasai country and Somalia.
The reserve is a part of the enormous Kidepo Valley National Park, Pian Upe, Bokora, and the larger Karamoja wildlife protection zone.
Red spike thorns, Red acacia, Harrisonia abyssinica, bushwillows, and shrubs like butterfly pea and woolly caper bush make up most of the vegetation. The majority of the animals and plants that can live in tough conditions can be found at the Matheniko Wildlife Reserve.
Serval cats, wild cats, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, civets, leopards, and jackals are some of the predatory animals found in the reserve.
Baboons, vervet monkeys, and patas monkeys are among the population of primates. Dik-dik, eland, mountain reedbuck, roan antelope, Uganda kob, Oribi, Bright’s gazelle, Topi, duikers, and waterbuck are among the antelopes that dominate this reserve.
The recent discovery of gold in the county of Matheniko has also drawn attention to the region and its animals.
Bokora Wildlife Reserve
In the northeastern region of Uganda, there is a place called Bokora Wildlife Reserve. The 794-square-mile reserve was designated as a wildlife reserve in 1964.
As part of the larger semi-arid Karamoja wildlife conservation region, which also contains the Pian Upe wildlife reserve and Matheniko game reserve, the Bokora Corridor game reserve is the second-largest wildlife reserve in Uganda.
The most notable features of Bokora Wildlife Reserve, Mount Kadam, and Mount Napak, are primarily dry plains. Savanna grasses, shrubs, small trees, and brush make up the majority of the plains’ vegetation.
Bright’s gazelles, Buffaloes, Elands, Hartebeests, Lions, Oribis, Oryx, Reedbucks, Roan antelopes, Rothschild’s Giraffes, Spotted and Striped hyenas, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Zebras are among the other animals that may be found in the reserve.
Bokora Wildlife Reserve boasts amazing landscapes and wildlife but accessing it is difficult during the rainy season due to the terrible road conditions within the reserve.
With proper road construction and combining the three reserves in Karamoja with Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda would have a national park that is comparable to the likes of parks in Tanzania and Kenya.
Narus River
The Narus River joins the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan and flows northwest through the southern part of Kidepo Valley National Park in northern Uganda before merging with the larger Kidepo River near Komoloich, about 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) away.
The word Narus means mud in the Karamajong language. Hence the name Narus River. It’s well known for having crocodiles that are part of the Kidepo Valley National Park.
Conclusion
Consider including Karamoja in your itinerary if you’re visiting Uganda for the first time. And if you’re a Ugandan local, we advise that you take advantage of a long weekend to take your loved ones on an exciting break from the inconveniences of Kampala.
