The Nakapelimoru Village, found in Kotido District in north eastern Uganda, is the biggest cultural village in East Africa. If you have not been there it is hard to imagine the magnitude of this place. Hundreds of Karimojong homesteads clustered together in the middle of the Karamoja wilderness. From atop an adjacent hill the view of the traditional huts called “Manyattas” surrounded by the plains and the backdrop of rugged mountain landscape, is quite impressive.

The Nakapelimoru cutlural village is in fact a huge settlement where a Karimojong community of the Jie clan came to live closer to each to protect against cattle rustling by other Karimojong communities, and also be able to live their traditional lifestyle away from the modernity. They allow outsiders to come and have a tour and experience the rawest Karimojong traditional society. The housing, dressing, relationships & marriages, family organization, cattle keeping, warrior culture, etc…

Nakapelimoru is located about 2 hours’ drive from Moroto town and 3 hours’ drive from Kidepo Valley National Park. If you are visiting Kidepo and want an authentic Karimojong experience, you must include Nakapelimoru village to your trip. Take a look at this 8 day Kidepo and Pian Upe wildlife tour

Visiting the Nakapelimoru village

Nakapelimoru is best visited as an additional tour to the safari trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. However note, because it is about 3 hours drive from Kidepo to the Nakapelimoru you will need to plan for a full day for this cultural trip.

The village tour will take up to 3 – 4 hours. There is no sleeping place in the area so you would need to travel back to Kidepo, or, continue to Moroto town which is closer than Kidepo, but that is if you are on a longer trip going through north eastern Uganda.

The tour

The local guide meets you on arrival at a spot just outside the village. A few other curious villagers, especially the kids and women will gather around and you get an up-close view of them, noting their traditional face and body scarifications and traditional wear by some.

After briefing by the local guide your tour will start with an easy hike up a rocky hill overlooking the village whose importance the guide narrates to you. At the top of the hill you access sweeping views of the village below, the karamoja plains and the rugged mountain landscape in the far distance. All this while the guide entertains you with interesting stories about the Karimojong people and their interesting warrior culture.

After enjoying the views and stories about Karimojong culture by the guide you will descend and enter the village for an immersive Karimojong community experience. Unlike many local cultural villages/centers that are set up and customized for tourism experience (hence not so authentic), this one is totally different. You are entering a raw authentic African village in one of the most remote places in Uganda and east Africa and even Africa.

You will be welcomed into a Karimojong traditional homestead that is enclosed within a thick fence woven by dry sticks. The Karimojong homestead is made up of a number of round hats called manyattas with each serving a different purpose or housing different individuals of the family. Observe several traditional items that make up a Karimojong homestead. Watch a meal of sorghum which is a staple for the Karimojong. Did you  know that Karimojongs have just one meal in a day and which is dinner?

At the end of the homestead tour you will be treated to a Karimojong traditional dance.

Make a donation

The remote location of Nakapelimoru means they don’t easily access certain needed supplies. Carry some of these supplies for donation, such as salt, sugar soap, maize

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