Authentic Africa can be found in the Untamed Karamoja Region of Uganda.
Karamoja’s Rugged Landscapes -Mountains- vast plains – inhabited by the Proud Karamojong People – home to the famed Kidepo Valley Park
Untamed Karamoja Region of Uganda: If you want to discover Authentic Africa in the 21st Century, then Untamed Karamoja should be on your to-do list. Region of Uganda, which is home to the Proud Pastoralist – Warrior Karamojong (Karimojong) People who resist the pressures of the outside world and continue to do what they are known best for – the keepers of cattle.
The Untamed Karamoja Region of Uganda is definitely off the beaten tourist path for most. The daily visitor entrance figures to what CNN calls the third-best park in all of Africa, receiving less than ten new visitors per day, prove just that.
The Karamoja region was a part of Uganda left to itself by the colonial powers and Ugandan presidents until President Museveni came to power. Idi Amin caused havoc in the area as in other parts of Uganda.
Karamoja is an off-the-beaten-Tourist Track, away from the Bustle Kampala, a part of Africa as you imagined it to be, only better.
The Karamoja region makes up a vast part of Eastern Uganda. It is set on a large plateau bordered by the Mountains of South Sudan to the north, to the East, and the incredible Eastern Rift Valley of Kenya, all framing the region that used to be called the Wild West of Uganda – Karamoja.
The Untamed Karamoja Region of Uganda:
Why call it untamed? When the British came and took over Uganda as a Colonial 
Protectorate, they soon gave up on the Karamoja; they failed in bringing their values and beliefs to the Karamojong. Even after Uganda became Independent, the Karamoja was left untouched, neglected by the Government in Kampala. Idi Amin’s soldiers caused havoc in the region; they could take the land but never the heart of its proud people. When his Army ran away in 1979, the Karamojong raided the military compounds in the region and took the weapons and ammunition.
The Karimojong believed that God (Akuj) had granted them all the cattle, cattle raids on other tribes were commonplace, and cattle and goats were herded by men and boys with AK- 47’s. The neighboring tribes also acquired weapons, cattle rustling abounded, and Karamoja remained the untamed lands of Uganda, the Land of Warriors – Nomads – Pastoralists.
Even fellow Ugandans viewed them as uncivilized, primitive, uneducated, and adhering to their Traditional Beliefs. The reality is and was that the Karamojong society operated on a much more democratic level than the repressive rule of law of Milton Obote or Idi Amin.
President Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986. Once again, the Karamoja region was out of sight and mind; in the last ten years, there have come many changes to Karamoja, the major one being an army presence and disarmament of the Karamoja region and guns, at times in not the most gentle of manners. This has caused problems since the Karamojong depended on cattle, and now they are back to spears while those raiding their cattle still have guns. The positive side is that the Karamoja region has become safe for travelers, including tourists.
Who are the Karamojong People (Karimojong)?
They are a people who are Proud of their traditional way of life as semi-nomadic herders; little is known about these proud people, and much of what is known is often misunderstood about Karamoja’s herders. Cattle raiding and the small arms trade have kept the region unstable (this has ended), which has long been the least developed in the country, just as most Karamojong have also resisted formal education and modernization.
Three hundred seventy thousand plus Karamojong are living in the area, their land since they migrated here from Ethiopia and settled around Moroto and beyond. Some local tribes were already here, such as Ik People, who now reside on Mount Morungole.
The Karamojong means “the tired old men who stayed behind.” The migration from Ethiopia 
had been a long and tiresome journey, and they had grown tired and weary along it.
The Karamojong migrated with what are now other people groups from Kenya, including the Masai, the Turkana, the Kalenjin of Kenya, and Toposa of South Sudan, all of them Nilotic groups, meaning “of the Nile,” the Karamojong speak a language that is Nilo-Saharan. Today 3 subgroups make up the Karamojong people, the Bokora, the Pian, and the Matheniko groups spread out over the Karamoja Plains.
Those of us who call uncivilized may not understand another culture, such as the Karamojong People and the tales that one hears about them.
They are most often Cultured people, but in their culture, with often have similar values that we might have – if things are important to us, to them, it is cattle and family (polygamy is still practiced.) Christianity has made some inroads, but the traditional ways of old stay for many Visiting the Remote Karamoja Region of Northeastern Uganda.
Visiting the untamed Karamoja Region on Safari:
Daring to go on an experiential Adventure Safari in the untamed Karamoja Region of Uganda will be one of the most extraordinary adventures of your life in an area that remains authentic Africa, unlike anywhere else on this vast continent.
A recent client wrote, “I have been traveling to various parts of Africa for 30 years, and I have never encountered anything such as the Karamoja region and Kidepo Valley Park. The rugged scenery landscapes, the wildlife, the Karamojong people and their culture, plus the amazing wildlife.”
Off the beaten Tourist Track – away from the crowds, experiential activities such as hiking, climbing extinct Volcanoes, Wildlife in remote parks such as Kidepo Valley Park, the Pian Upe Wildlife reserve, the 2nd largest wildlife reserve after Murchison Falls Park in Uganda. You will be amazed by what awaits you.
Contact us if you like to visit the Karamoja region.
