Tourist Attractions

Karamoja is endowed with alot of attractions namely the beautiful mountain scenery, savannah grasslands, national gameparks, game reserves that attract alot of tourists from within uganda and across the globe.

The beautiful scenic mountains and hills include Mt.Moroto at Moroto district, Mt. Kadam at Nakapiripirit district, the few hills are toror hills at kotido in the border between Kotido and Moroto districts, Nyangiya hills at Kidepo valley national game park at Karenga district.

The only national gamepark is Kidepo national game park, the game reserves include Pian-upe game reserve, Bokora game reserve, and Matheniko game reserve.

Mount Moroto.

Mt. Moroto is found in the north eastern part of Uganda, Moroto district in Karamoja. it's altitude is 3,083m or 10,115ft.

Mt. Moroto derives it's name from the native inhabitants who often called it "Moru to", meaning the mountain from the west. Since the ancient migrations started from Ethiopia, it was believed that some Karimojong entered Moroto in the east therefore they were seeing the mountain from the west hence calling it Mount Moroto.

The original inhabitants of this mountain are the "tepeth" who are believed to be the first karimojong to settle. This mountain is adjacent to Moroto district. The Matheniko are the karimojong living in Moroto district.

Mt Moroto has a beautiful mountain scenery which is home to many bird species. It also has water streams such as the proclaimed St. Lawrence waterfall which is an attraction to many people living in Moroto. The Tepeth living in Mt. Moroto offer a rich cultural heritage that is still strongly preserved despite external interference. Their ancient traditional ways of life are also interesting to know which include picking of wild fruits, grazing of animals, hunting and a bit of cultivation.

Mount Kadam.

Mount Kadam is found in the south eastern part of Karamoja region near the eastern border with Kenya. It is bordered by Mount Elgon from the south. It's peak is prominent. It's altitude is 3,063 metres or 10,043ft.

Mt. Kadam was named after the first explorer to climb it during colonial periods, Samuel beer Kadam. It was originally called debasien.

Mt. Kadam is inhabited by the pian and upe who speak the soo language.

This mountain is also surrounded by Pian-Upe game reserve.

Kidepo valley national game park.

Kidepo derives it's name from kidepo valley that is found within the vicinity of the park. The valley was known by it's original inhabitants as a place for picking wild fruits during the dry seasons. In "ngakarimojong", kidepo comes from the word "a'kidep" meaning picking hence the name kidepo Valley National Game Park. The game park has over 75 species of mammals and 470 rare bird species and is home to many wild animals namely lions,leopards, elephants, hyenas, buffaloes, Zebras, antelopes, kobs, impalas, giraffes, kudus, gazelles, oryx, jackals, reed bucks, water bucks, rhinos, elands, duikers and so much more . It is also home to many bird species.

Kidepo valley contains kidepo river which flows across the valley and joins Narus valley northwards into the white nile in south sudan.

Matheniko game reserve.

Matheniko wild life reserve is located in the south east of Kidepo valley national game park. It is found in the border between Kotido and Moroto districts. It is in the hem of the area bordering kenya in the east. Matheniko wild life reserve is around 1,520km2.

The climate and vegetation is semi-arid in nature like most parts of Karamoja. The dominant tree species are acacia and butterfly pea.

Matheniko wild life reserve is endowed with various game species such as cheetahs ,lions, buffaloes, leopards, roan antelopes, lesser kudus, serval cats, elands, mountain reed bucks, wild cats, velvet monkeys, striped hyenas, blue diukers, patas monkeys, water bucks, topi, jackals, spotted hyenas, bohor reed bucks, common duikers, olive baboons, oribi, ugandan kobs, bright's gazelle, civets and other mammals.

Various bird species can also be seen in this wild life reserve. Bird watching can be an intriguing hobby at Matheniko wild life reserve. These birds include Ostriches(Ngikaleetho), Black-headed plover, thick-billed honey guide, verreaux's eagle, Ethiopian swallow, Clapperton's francolin, pygmy falcon, Easter bronze-naped pigeon, Abyssinian ground hornbill, the mountain yellow warbler, the hartlaub's turaco, the red-billed ox-pecker and many others.