Welcome to the amazing 10 Days Secrets Of Karamoja And Kidepo National Park Safari - a gateway to an ultimate African cultural and wildlife experience. This tour or African safari adventure trip will give you an opportunity to explore Uganda's most isolated safari destination - Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is home to rare and endangered species such as ostriches and cheetahs. It is also a reliable African birding destination. The park is home to several Rift Valley endemic species as well as world's most illusive species. A visit to the Karimajong people will offer you a chance to dive into real African Cultural and community safari tour experience that is beyond measure. All can't be said here, let's dive into the detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Entebbe - Kampala
Day 2: River Nile – Ssezibwa Falls - Mbale
Day 3: Sipi Falls – Nyero - Soroti
Day 4: Karamoja – Napak - Moroto
Day 5: Karamoja – Matheniko - Tepeth
Day 6: Karamoja – Jie - Kotido
Day 7: Karamoja – Dodoth – Ik - Kidepo
Day 8: Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 9: The Acholi land to Gulu
Day 10: Transfer to Kampala
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our representative will transfer you to the hotel in Kampala for the overnight. Depending on the time of arrival, you may take on an optional visit to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. This was formerly known as Entebbe Zoo and is home to almost all the bird and animal species within the country.
Overnight at: Cassia Lodge/Metropole Hotel.
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Early morning leave Kampala to Jinja the capital town of the Basoga, where you find the legendary source of the Nile from Lake Victoria. Among other activities for the day: visit Busoga Kingdom palace in Bugembe and other historical sites. Stop over can be made at Ssezibwa Falls, where the legend narrates of the presence of the spirits of the traditional religion, including spirit of water (Mukasa), of hunting (Ddungu), of the rainbow (Musoke) and fertility. Lunch. In the evening arrive in Mbale and Sipi for dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge or Similar.
Meal Plan: Full Board
Early morning you go for the trekking through the Sipi Falls from Mount Elgon. The vegetation is superb with banana and coffee plantations and view of the Karamoja valley. The Sipi river creates about four sets of incredible waterfalls as it descends down the valley. Lunch. In the afternoon visit Nyero Rock Paintings and shelter near Kumi, the most ancient site of rock painting in Uganda. Overnight at: Dinner and overnight in Soroti at Soroti Hotel or similar.
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast drive through Katakwi to the region of the Upe and Bokora people (the Karimojong of South and Central Karamoja), where are found the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Bokora Wildlife Reserve as you enter Karamoja plateau. This is a semi-arid alberated savannah with euphorbia’s and acacias, where still exists a small population of wildlife like ostriches, dik dik, hyenas and buffaloes. Stopovers will be made at the Tepeth communities at Mount Napak, one of the highest peaks of Karamoja, an extinct volcano area of archaeological sites. You will have packed lunch then proceed to Moroto, the capital town of Karamoja, on the foothills of Mount Moroto. The drive might take about 7 hours according to road conditions. In the evening visit the Karamoja Museum and the local market.
Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Moroto Hotel/ Leslona Hotel.
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast, drive to the communities who inhabit the mountains surrounding Moroto, the Tepeth. These are the original inhabitants of Karamoja, who were raided by other Karamojong tribes and seek refuge on the slopes of the mountains, where are found their traditional manyattas. You will have a direct experience of the daily life in Karamoja and you will bring with you the appreciation gift for the community. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the communities of the Matheniko of the plains. These are semi-nomadic people and cattle keepers, also known in the past for their raiding the cattle of the neighboring tribes. Their lifestyle is slowly changing to residential agriculturalists. Visit the typical homestead or “manyatta” to view the style of life. The Matheniko also can perform their traditional dances or “edonja” as they dress on their traditional clothes. In the evening back to Moroto for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at: Moroto Hotel/ Hotel Leslona.
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast, leave Moroto to Kotido passing through the areas of herdsmen with their cattle. Near Kotido are found the Jie villages, a small Karamojong ethnic tribe. Very interesting are the traditional Jie dancers. The Jie are well recognized by the marks in their faces according to their culture. It is possible to take photographs of this unique experience. Lunch en route.
Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Kotido Resort Hotel / Kotido Guest House.
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast drive to the lowland plains near Loyoro to encounter the Dodoth communities. Pastoralists in the tradition, the Dodoth will explain about the cattle keeping and tell about their history. After lunch, we will ascend the mountains near Morungole to see the remaining communities of the IK. The IK live on sorghum and millet production and bee culture. Their elders are known for reaching a very old age of even 100 years. In the evening proceed to nearby Kidepo National Park, for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at: Kidepo Savanah Lodge /UWA Bandas (supplement for Apoka Safari Lodge).
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast go for photographic game drives along the trails of the national park. Especially, expect to explore the region of the river Narrus valley. Kidepo contains one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan parks, with over 80 species of mammals several of which restricted only to Kidepo, like cheetah, striped hyena and caracal. The bird list boasts over 465 species.
Overnight at: Kidepo Savannah Lodge /UWA Bandas (supplement for Apoka Safari Lodge)
Meal Plan: Full Board
Go for another game drive in Kidepo and proceed through the Acholi land to Gulu. Dinner and overnight in Gulu.
Overnight at: Bomah Hotel/The Comboni Good Samaritans of Gulu.
Meal Plan: Full Board
After a delicious morning breakfast at your lodge, check out and meet your driver-guide for a drive back to Kampala. Feel free to make a stopover in any of the many trading centers you pass by and feel the last bit of African soil. You will have an en-route lunch stopover. Later on, the driver-guide will drop you off at any hotel of your choice in Kampala. Alternatively, he or she will drop you off at the Entebbe International airport for your outbound flight. This marks the end of your amazing 10 Days Secrets Of Karamoja And Kidepo National Park Safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of the safari tour - Bon Voyage!!