The Warrior Nomad Trail is a cross-border initiative of Kara-Tunga Tours to preserve cultural heritage, create job opportunities and foster peace among neighbouring tribes in Uganda, South-Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Land of Warrior Nomads
The Karimojong people live in the remote Northeastern wilderness of Uganda. They belong to the larger Ateker cluster of tribes who migrated from present-day Ethiopia and settled in the most remote corners of South-Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.
They are nomadic cattle keepers by tradition and have great similarities with the cow as common most highly valued asset. They all believe that they are sole owner of all cattle and have fought traditional battles to increase their wealth.
During the final days of Amin’s reign, the Karimojong and neighbouring tribes obtained a fast amount of guns that ignited decades of civil unrest and armed banditry. The government of Uganda fought a battle to disarm the warriors and succeeded so fifteen years ago.
Where the once isolated Karimojong, managed to protect their culture from the trappings of modern life, they are now on the verge of change.
The Warrior Nomad Trail aims at protecting the cultural heritage, creating opportunities for the local community at home and thereby reducing poverty and migration.
The project
Research & Development
Matching supply with demand
Scoping the demand of the travel market and match with available attractions and development programs into a marketable trail and training curriculum.
Pilot program
Final stage
Piloting of the trail with tour operators and journalists to collect feedback, fine-tune the trail and develop marketing material to launch.
Capacity building
Skilling for sustainability
Building capacity of stakeholders and guides on the trail and partners off the trail to ensure product knowledge and quality of service.
Trail management
Continuity
Continuous quality control by scheduled monitoring and evaluation of the performance, sustainability and growth with a dedicated team.
What to expect on the trail
Our inspiration
Karamoja, Uganda’s Land of Warrior Nomads (2007)
This publication was a major inspiration for the development of the Warrior Nomad Trail. The National Geographic Photographer ‘David Pluth’ and then journalist ‘Sylvester Onyang’ traveled through Karamoja over a span of 10 years and shared a pure and honest observation of that time. The book takes your on an intriguing journey through the wilds of Karmaojaland from 1996 to 2006. As interesting for the Karimojong community as for others.
Development partners
The Warrior Nomad Trail is an initiative of Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours Ltd and part of a national trail development project ‘Tourism Trails in the Pearl of Africa‘.
Photo credits: Marcus Westberg, Henk van Hoek, Gabriel Gersch, Wilchard Cuijpers and Dave Forney.