Ateker Caravan 2024 – South Sudan

Ateker Caravan 2024 – South Sudan

The Ateker Caravan is an annual cross-border trip among the Ateker cluster of tribes (Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia) aimed at preserving cultural heritage, and fostering peace and prosperity through tourism and cross-border events.

The first Ateker Caravan was organised by Kara-Tunga Tours and partners from Uganda visiting South Sudan in December 2021. The second edition will take place in December 2022 whereby Turkana (Kenya) and Nyangatom (Ethiopia) will be visited.

Pre-registration for the trip has started officially and more details will be announced during the coming months of preparation.

Background

The similarity in language, culture and livelihoods among the Karamojong, Turkana, Toposa, Jiye, Teso and Nyangatom has become a strong element for the Ateker communities to reunite.

With the increasing need to build strong sustainable unity among the peoples of the four countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda language and culture have formed a bond among the people. In common, all these pastoralist communities remain outside mainstream social networks and discourse. They have thus rarely benefited from government infrastructure and development policies but have their own customary norms that govern their society, policies and economics. Due to insufficient attention to their current situation, few attempts have been made to guarantee their rights within the current development interventions which unfortunately have tended to disrupt their livelihoods consequently contributing to poverty and environmental degradation.

It is against this background that Ateker civil society organisations, individuals and the private sector are caravan move to raise awareness on cross-border cultural tourism and benefits for peace and development in the region.

Highlights

• Sleep in traditional homesteads aimed at sharing stories of history, peace and culture with elders.
• Play youth games, and traditional dances and participate in dialogues
• Visit natural, archaeological, cultural and historical sites
• Hike the highest peak of the greater Sudan and the Ateker

Dates

The Ateker Caravan is planned to take place in December 2024

• Day 1 – Travel from Kampala to Karenga (Uganda)
• Day 2 – Travel to Kapoeta (South Sudan)
• Day 3 – Visit Toposa Community
• Day 4 – Drive to jié Community
• Day 6 – Visit jié Community
• Day 7 – Drive to Larim Community
• Day 8 – Visit Larim Community
• Day 9 – Drive to Torit
• Day 10,11,12 – Hike Mount Kinyeti
• Day 13 – Drive from Torit to Gulu (Uganda)
• Day 14 – Drive from Torit to Kampala (Uganda)

Tentative program

The caravan will start and end in Moroto town in Uganda and the detailed itinerary will be shared within the coming months. Pre-register yourself now to receive updates on the developments around the Ateker Caravan on your email.

Destinations

• Kapoeta (South Sudan)
• Torit (South Sudan)
• Imatong Mountain Range, Mount Kenyeti (South Sudan)

Communities

• Jie
• Toposa
• Larim

Visit more cultural festivals and events

• The Karamoja Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is aimed at celebrating Karimojong culture together with the so-called Ateker cluster tribes from Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia. The group tour combines a visit to the festival with an authentic Karimojong cultural experience and wildlife viewing in Uganda’s most applauded Kidepo Valley National Park.
• The Lodwar Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is aimed at celebrating Karimojong culture together with the so-called Ateker cluster tribes from Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia. The group tour combines a visit to the festival with an authentic Karimojong cultural experience and wildlife viewing in Uganda’s most applauded Kidepo Valley National Park.
• The Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is Its sister festival and takes place in Loiyangalani on the Western shores of the Lake Turkana. This is the legendary annual Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival which brings together the 14 communities of Marsabit county.