The Karamojong people – who are they? - Gracious Tours and Travel

The Karamojong people – who are they?

The Karamojong people also pronounced or written as Karimojong are agro-pastoral herders popularly known for their transhumance practices and cattle raiding habits that belong to the Ateker tribal group living in the North Eastern part of Uganda that forms the Karamoja region.

They were originally known as the Jie who got their name (Karamojong) from a traditional phrase “ekar ngijong” which means that “the old men can walk no further”. They are believed to have migrated from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) during the 1600AD as a large group which split into two groups with one moving to Kenya forming the Masai and Kalenjeni people. While the other group (the Ateker) moved westwards and later separated forming the Teso and Karamojong categories with groups like the Karamojong, Iteso, Dodoth, Jie and Kumam migrating to Uganda, the Turkana moving to Kenya whereas the Toposa and Jiye settled in South Sudan. These groups speak Eastern Nilotic language that belongs to the Nilo-Saharan category with other groups of people living south Western Ethiopia and Northern Tanzania. The Karamojong people speak Karamojong language which belongs to the Eastern Nilotic language category.

There are different tribes that live in Karamoja region and they include the Tepeth, Jie, Dodoth, Pokot, Labwor, Sebei, Nyakwai, Kumam and IK. The Karamojong are the largest group who mostly live in the south of karamoja. The Karamojong are further divided into the Pian of Nakapirpirit district, the Bokora of Napak and the Matheniko of Moroto district.

The minority mountain communities include the Tepeth who live in the southern mountains, the Nyangea in the North West and the IK or Teuso inhabiting the North Eastern Mountains of Karamoja. These mountain dwellers, own small quantities of cattle, practice small scale farming, clay works, hunting bee keeping, iron smelting as well as gathering fruits.

The Pokot or Suk tribe is a pastoral community that is not related to the Karamojong but settled in Karamoja region after they were given land in Upe County by the British colonial government.

Karamoja region is situated near the rift valley of East Africa and is bordered by Kenya in the East as well as Sudan in the North after Kidepo Valley National Park. The Karamojong communities are mostly found in plateau areas surrounded by steep hills and high mountains. The climate in Karamoja is semi arid thus receiving about 500 to 700 millimeters of rainfall per annum and long drought seasons at times which results into the movement of pastoralists to areas where they can get water and pastures for their cattle as they also do not have a definite source of water. The vegetation too is semi arid and is comprised of grasslands in a few areas, thorny bushes, woodlands with small spiny trees.

The Karamoja region is a beautiful place because of its spectacular nature and terrain not forgetting the Kidepo and Narus valleys that are filled with delightful wildlife; rich cultural heritage as most of the communities live traditionally as though they are still in the 18^th century. Game reserves like Pian Upe where you can visit the Pian community, Matheniko will give an opportunity to interact with the Matheniko communities and a visit to Bokora corridor Game reserve will give a chance to learn about the Bokora community. Hiking the mountains to meet the short statured IK people with strange traditions is really captivating and will give you lifetime memories about your Uganda safari to Karamoja.

A cultural safari to Karamoja is worth trying since the region is still fresh, unexploited and safe for travel. The safari to meet the Karamojongs will give you a chance to visit different enroute attractions like the source of the Nile, Sipi falls, Nyero Rock paintings as well as interesting villages.

Coming soon on our blog page is more information about the Karamojong lifestyle.

Below are some of our packages to Murchison Falls National Park to take on a Uganda safari tour;

3 Days Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari tours, 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Bwindi, 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Bwindi, 6 Days Chimpanzee safari tours & Wildlife Tour, 10 DAYS JINJA – SIPI- KIDEPO-MURCHISON SAFARI, 9 DAYS HOT SPRINGS SAFARI AND WILDLIFE SAFARI, 7 DAYS IN MURCHISON FALLS, KIBALE, AND BWINDI , 13 DAYS JINJA – QUEEN ELIZABETH AND BWINDI SAFARI , 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi, 7 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari in uganda, 17 Days Kidepo-All Uganda Safari, 10 Days Best of Uganda Safari Tour,