The Tour of Karamoja is Uganda’s official cycling event. Through it, the region sets out to show the positive side of north-eastern Uganda and to encourage sustainable tourism. On this ride you cross the raw, rugged landscapes of Uganda and contribute directly to local development.
You stay at small-scale local sites in the form of lazy camping. That means you do not sleep in a room but in a comfortable two-person tent with a proper mattress, already pitched for you on arrival. You also take part in activities alongside local people. In this way you support a number of communities and meet, in person, people who are glad to share their daily life, traditions and customs with you.
By taking part in the Tour of Karamoja you contribute USD 150.00 to a local charity. You pay this amount yourself as a participant and it is included in the trip price. Together with all the participants, this raises money for the Matany Girls’ Vocational School. USD 550.00 covers a full vocational training course for one girl, including a work placement and career guidance.
This year sees the 10th edition of the Tour of Karamoja, a milestone we are marking in a particular way. For this anniversary edition up to 50 participants can ride, and we are opening the tour up to a wider group.
You ride the Warrior Nomad Trail, which starts on the savannah plains of the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and takes you through the forests of West Pokot and over the rolling hills of the East African Rift to Kidepo Valley National Park. Six of the eight riding days are offered with two route options: a shorter one and the full distance. After lunch you decide for yourself which distance you ride that day. That keeps the Tour of Karamoja a challenge, but one that suits different levels and preferences. It is a trip that stays with you, and that makes a lasting difference to others as well.
Would you like a preview? Watch the video on this page for a first impression of the Tour of Karamoja.
Your trip through Karamoja begins in Kampala. From there you travel by vehicle to the start of the Tour of Karamoja in the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
From Pian Upe you get on the bike and ride through the heart of Karamoja. You cross desert-like country, pass small villages and cross the border with Kenya twice along the way. The route takes you through the East African Rift, with a series of short and longer climbs and wide views over the landscape.
Eventually you reach Kidepo Valley National Park. After the riding stages you return by vehicle to Kampala, and on day 12 you fly home.
The full route is around 765 kilometres with roughly 7,300 metres of ascent, covered in eight stages that vary in length and difficulty.
At CvA travel a trip is about more than adventure and cycling. You travel through remarkable country and meet local communities. Your trip brings you close to daily life in Karamoja, and through the Tour of Karamoja you also contribute in concrete terms to an initiative in the region.
The Matany Girls’ Vocational School is one such initiative. The school lies in the Karamoja region in the north-east of Uganda. Girls here often grow up in difficult circumstances, with limited access to education and healthcare. Early marriage, gender-based violence and the effects of long-running conflict make it hard for many girls to shape their own future, when they are exactly the ones who deserve that chance.
The school was founded by Naduk Florence Nora, who was born and raised in Karamoja herself. A scholarship gave her the chance to study, an experience that changed her life. That personal background led her to give something back to her community. Her mission is clear: to give girls the chance to learn a trade, become independent and look to the future with confidence.
By taking part in the Tour of Karamoja fundraising event you see this region, meet daily life in Karamoja and contribute directly to the future of young girls. Your contribution supports education, vocational training and the chance of work and independence. Together with the local community, this builds a better future for girls and women in Karamoja. Will you join us?
The backbone of this event is the Warrior Nomad Trail. This is not an ordinary cycling route but a ride through an area that was cut off from the outside world for years. It runs from south to north across the Karamoja plateau. You start on the open savannah of the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, the second largest protected area in Uganda. From there you ride towards the Kenyan border, through the forests of West Pokot and over the rolling hills of the East African Rift.
The landscape changes daily. One day you ride dusty gravel roads with views of volcanic mountains that seem to rise out of nowhere; the next you pick your way along narrow goat tracks, or single track, through dense vegetation. Over the event you cover around 765 kilometres and some 7,300 metres of ascent, spread over eight stages. The finish is in Kidepo Valley National Park, often described by those who know it as the finest and least spoilt wildlife park in Africa.
The Tour of Karamoja is described as life-changing. It is a ride that asks for perseverance. The roads are unsurfaced, it can be hot and the distances are serious. That is exactly what makes the satisfaction at the finish so great. It is an achievement to be proud of, in which you take on both the terrain and your own limits.
Wilderness Bike Challenge may sound daunting, but the organisation makes sure the tour is within reach of a wide range of riders. You do not need to be an elite athlete to take part, although a good level of base fitness and experience on a mountain bike are required. What makes this event distinctive is the flexibility of the routes.
The organisation works with different route options each day. There is often a choice between a longer, technically harder route (the A line) and a shorter, more manageable route (the B line). That way you can decide each day how you feel and how much of a challenge you want. It is also not a race. There is no timing and no podium; the emphasis is on riding together, taking it in and reaching the finish.
You are never on your own. The Tour of Karamoja is a fully supported event. Support vehicles travel with the group for technical assistance, luggage and emergencies. If you have a mechanical problem or run out of energy, backup is always at hand. Guides and medical support ride with the group as well.
Karamoja is the land of the Karamojong, a people of semi-nomadic cattle herders closely related to the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania. They are known for their colourful blankets, traditional jewellery and their cattle, which are central to their culture. Because the region was isolated for a long time, many traditions here are still very much alive.
On the ride you pass straight through the villages, known as manyattas. These are traditional settlements enclosed by thorn-branch fences. The people who live there are often as curious about you as you are about them. Children run alongside the riders, and there is a great deal of waving and laughter along the way. The Karamoja smile is well known. We stop regularly for a conversation or a cultural activity, so that you make real contact with the people who live here.
The finale of the trip takes place in Kidepo Valley National Park. This park lies in the far north against the border with South Sudan, and is often called the lost park because it is so remote. The landscape is striking: wide plains with the occasional borassus palm, ringed by rugged mountain ranges.
Here you ride among the wildlife. Kidepo is known for its large herds of buffalo, and for elephant, giraffe and zebra. Lion, leopard and cheetah live here too. In the park we are always accompanied by armed rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). They look after safety and know exactly where the animals are. Cycling through this setting is not comparable with any other safari.
The Tour of Karamoja is Uganda’s official cycling event. Because this is an event, there is room for a maximum of 50 participants worldwide. Does it appeal to you? See the date below.
| Departure date | Duration | Level | Availablility | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-10-2027 | 12 days | Fit | Available | € 3.195,00 | Book this trip |
Do you want to know what the “fit” level entails? Then read on under the “practical information” tab.
That is possible too. CvA travel also offers a 17-day group trip through north-eastern Uganda, which likewise passes through parts of the Karamoja region. Would you rather book an individual trip to Uganda? Have a look here. Do get in touch with us; we are glad to think along with you about a tailor-made individual trip.
Below you will find the full day-by-day itinerary for the Tour of Karamoja 2027. Because the event takes place in unspoilt country, changes to the route remain possible. It is one of the most striking trips through this authentic and rugged part of Uganda. The variety of the landscapes, the wildlife and the warm, good-humoured people will take you by surprise.
The moment you set foot on Ugandan soil you are met with the good humour of the country. Everything feels different, the rhythm, the colours, the sounds, and yet you feel welcome straight away. You are greeted with a smile at customs, and our Ugandan team is waiting for you. They take you to your hotel in Kampala.
Meals: not included
Accommodation: Banda Inn
Today you leave the Kampala area behind and travel towards the rugged and little-visited north-east of Uganda. It is a long but varied drive to the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, at the southern gateway to the Karamoja region.
Pian Upe is the largest protected area in Uganda and lies in a savannah basin: open, wide country enclosed by three extinct volcanoes, Mount Elgon, Mount Kadam and Mount Napak. This setting gives a varied backdrop of grassland, acacia trees and rocky hills.
The variety of habitat means Pian Upe supports a surprising range of wildlife. With luck you will see giraffe, zebra and ostrich here.
At the end of the day you arrive at the camp, where you are welcomed in the evening with a traditional ceremony.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
You wake in camp on the slopes of Mount Kadam. With your first cup of coffee in hand you look out over the reserve, a fine start to the day’s riding.
The ride begins close to the Kenyan border and takes you through a little-visited area where daily life still runs at a quiet, traditional pace. You ride through small villages and wooded stretches, past local Pokot communities, known among other things for keeping camels. People greet you along the way with curiosity and warmth.
You follow the course of the Turkwel River, which leads you further into the landscape until you reach the shores of the remote Lake Turkwel in Kenya.
There is time to relax at the lake. If you wish, you can take a swim or go out on the water by boat. You spend the night on the shore, close to a local community. As evening falls and the colours of the landscape shift, you take in the quiet and the sheer space of this place: a day that feels like exploring by bike.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 95 km
Ascent and descent: 560 m up, 650 m down
Today you leave the shores of Lake Turkwel and head inland. It is a demanding but fine day’s riding, in which the landscape becomes steadily wilder.
If you would like to take it more gently, you can shorten the stage after lunch.
The route is a mix of steep unsurfaced climbs and narrow single track winding through local communities. You ride past traditional villages where life largely takes place in and around simple huts. Camels cross your path regularly, a familiar sight in this area, and you cross a number of seasonal streams under thorny acacias.
Gradually you draw closer to the Ugandan border and gain height. The climb to the coffee stop asks for perseverance but is rewarded with wide views. One last steady climb follows, after which a long, technical descent brings you towards Kosike.
It is a day that asks something of you physically, but one rich in encounters, landscapes and the sense of really being on the move in a remote part of Uganda.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 84 km
Ascent and descent: 1,400 m up, 1,300 m down
Today’s stage feels like a crossing between two worlds. You ride unsurfaced roads through open country, with the views opening up ahead and to the side of you. You pass small local communities and slowly sense that you are approaching new territory. The climbing begins at the Kenyan border.
The route takes you up along the edge of the African Rift Valley, with wide views over the valley floor. A long descent then follows towards the dry north of Kenya: Turkana County. You notice the difference almost at once. The landscape becomes rougher and drier, the temperature rises and even the air feels different from the green country you have left behind.
The final section is a demanding stage of around thirty kilometres. The terrain is varied and hard work: gravel roads, dry riverbeds and soft sandy passages follow one another. Combined with the high temperatures, this asks for focus and perseverance. At the same time you are surrounded by unusual, almost otherworldly landscapes and wide views, which makes you forget the heat for a while.
It is an intense day’s riding, in which adventure, physical effort and the raw character of Turkana come together.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 80 km
Ascent and descent: 720 m up, 1,100 m down
You wake in camp in a dry riverbed in the middle of the Turkana Desert. The evening before you were welcomed here with singing and dancing by the local community, an introduction that makes the setting felt straight away. After breakfast you say your goodbyes and begin a stage through one of the rawest and most open landscapes of the event.
The route takes you straight across the Turkana desert. It is a hard ride. The landscape is open and rugged, with long lines and an almost endless horizon. There is little in the way of height gain here, so you ride through this extreme country at a steady pace, surrounded by space and quiet.
After the desert the climbing starts again as you cross back into Uganda. A steep and demanding climb takes you up and is rewarded with wide views over the border country and the plains below.
Today too you can choose a shorter or a longer version of the route, according to your energy and preference.
A well-earned lunch is waiting at the top. If you take the long route, you follow fine single track through remote country, passing a gold and marble mine among other things. If you take the shorter option, a fast, flowing descent brings you towards Moroto, riding past villages and crossing the occasional river.
In Moroto you see another side of Karamoja: more modern and busier, but still closely tied to the local community, a fitting contrast after a day through rugged border country.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 98 km
Ascent and descent: 1,080 m up, 540 m down
At around 400 metres of ascent this is one of the flatter days of the trip, but at 109 kilometres it is a stage that makes an impression through its length and its sheer scale. The morning starts quietly, with a short descent from the mountain camp towards the Ride4GirlChild project. Here we meet young people who, despite difficult circumstances, face life with ambition and resilience. Their stories give energy for the long ride ahead.
After this visit the riding begins in earnest: more than 100 kilometres through the open, rugged landscape of Karamoja.
We ride first through small, remote villages where daily life still largely takes place outdoors. Children wave, herders pass with their cattle and the pace of the countryside sets the rhythm of the morning. We then cross the wide Bokora Wildlife Reserve.
This semi-arid reserve is known for rare species such as cheetah, ostrich and the lesser kudu. Because the area is so large, the bigger animals are not always visible, but there is a great deal here for birdwatchers. In the early hours in particular it is a lively backdrop of colour and sound: a large part of Uganda’s eastern bird species lives in this area.
The terrain today is varied but not technically difficult: a mix of jeep tracks, single track and hard gravel roads. That makes this a relatively fast stage, well suited to covering ground and taking in the landscape.
Late in the afternoon we ride through villages again, this time in the area of the Jie community, and finish the day in Kotido. There is no shorter alternative route on this day.
Before the bikes are parked for the day, we visit the Shanita Project. This organisation works for quality education for children from vulnerable families and for orphans in the region. Its mission is to give young people the chance to grow into confident leaders of the future.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 109 km
Ascent and descent: 400 m up, 590 m down
We wake in the village and start the day as local people have done for generations: with a bowl of warm traditional porridge. Simple, nourishing and exactly what we need for the ride ahead.
The long route:
The first kilometres run along a gently rolling, hard gravel road through a landscape that feels entirely different from the days before. Rough rock formations rise out of open woodland, jagged shapes that give the setting an almost prehistoric feel. It is quiet, wide open and striking.
At around kilometre 54 we reach the high point of the day. Just before it we cross an age-old migration route used by elephant and buffalo. There is a short section in this area where tsetse flies live. In this region they do not carry sleeping sickness, but their bite can be unpleasant and some people react allergically to it. If you would rather not take the risk, you can cover this section by vehicle. If you ride it, it is wise to keep your arms and legs well covered.
After this section we have lunch, and then perhaps the most striking part of the day begins, a stretch known within the Tour of Karamoja as one of the finest. We ride past huge rock formations and take a long, gradual descent that simply keeps going. These forty or so kilometres wind through a vast and empty landscape, before we climb again to the busy town of Kaabong.
In Kaabong we visit the local market and a small bar, where we sit among the residents, strike up conversations and see daily life at first hand, before continuing to our accommodation.
The short route:
After a warm farewell from the community we first take the vehicle, so that we ride only the last and finest part of the stage: around 40 kilometres through hilly terrain with striking rock formations and scattered villages. This ride also ends in Kaabong, where we visit the market and a local bar for a relaxed meeting with the residents.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 100 km
Ascent and descent: 1,040 m up, 720 m down
In the morning you ride past immense, solid rock formations that give the landscape an imposing character. You cover the first twenty kilometres in and around Kaabong on hard gravel roads, before heading for the Morungole range.
That is where the real climbing begins. Over some twenty kilometres you gain almost 900 metres on a series of single tracks, until you reach the East African Rift escarpment at around 2,000 metres. As you climb steadily, the views become progressively wider. If you would like to take it more gently, you can shorten the stage today.
On the plateau you visit the Ik community, one of the smallest traditional peoples in Uganda. It gives you an unusual insight into their daily life.
The camp is at the high point of the day. From here you look out over the surrounding landscape and finish this demanding day’s riding with a view that stays with you.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping
Distance: 82 km
Ascent and descent: 1,170 m up, 760 m down
When you wake you notice the altitude at once, a relief after the warmer days earlier in the trip. After a good breakfast you set off for Kidepo Valley National Park.
Today’s route is particularly varied and shows how much experience you have built up over the past few days. You ride a range of roads and tracks while the landscape keeps changing. The route rises and falls gradually and asks for some extra effort here and there. In the final part you take on one more substantial climb, followed by a long descent with wide views over the Kidepo valley.
There are two route options today as well.
The final section runs straight through Kidepo Valley National Park. From here you are accompanied by rangers, who see to a safe passage through the park. This is a notable part of the day: riding through open savannah, there is a good chance of seeing wildlife along the way, such as buffalo, giraffe and various species of antelope.
At the end of the day you reach the camp in the middle of the national park. The camp is guarded by rangers, which is reassuring in this wilderness.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping in Kidepo (guarded camp)
Distance: 112 km
Ascent and descent: 950 m up, 1,760 m down
Do not be surprised if you wake in the morning face to face with a group of buffalo passing the camp: it is a particular way to start the day. Today you explore Kidepo National Park by bike, one of the high points of the event.
By bike? Yes, by bike. As you ride quietly through the park, the adrenaline can run when you see giraffe, elephant, buffalo, or perhaps even lion or cheetah, at close range. It is an intense experience: you are part of the landscape, with no engine noise around you.
All of this is done safely, of course. You ride accompanied by several rangers and support vehicles, who keep an overview and look after safety throughout the safari. If you would rather not get on the bike, you can travel in one of the vehicles.
In the evening you close this trip with a farewell dinner together, looking back on days of riding, encounters and lasting impressions.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Lazy camping in Kidepo (guarded camp)
Distance: 35 km
Ascent: 100 m up
And then the end of the trip comes into view. The Tour of Karamoja, which has taken you through the heart of this region, finishes today. With a great many impressions, encounters and experiences behind you, you get into the vehicle early in the morning for the long transfer back to Entebbe. Our team makes sure you are dropped at the airport in good time. For this trip it is best to book a return flight leaving Entebbe around midnight or later.
Meals: breakfast
Are you as enthusiastic about this event in Uganda as we are? Below you will find what is included in the price.
Each night of the event is spent in a different place, supporting and promoting local businesses along the route. What makes this event distinctive is that you stay in lazy camping throughout.
Through where we stay, we support the local community over the longer term. Sustainable tourism is something CvA travel is glad to contribute to. It also supports employment in the areas we visit, where tourism businesses play an increasingly important role.
During this event you stay close to nature. We use community camps and other locations in the wilderness. Because you are unlikely to feel like pitching your own tent after a long day’s riding, there is the concept of lazy camping.
This means that everything is ready for you when you arrive in camp. You sleep in a spacious two-person tent with a proper mattress and bedding. All you need to do is put your bag in the tent, and you can shower or eat. It is camping with the comfort you need to recover properly for the next stage. The locations are often remarkable: picture unzipping your tent in the morning and looking out over a valley as the sun comes up over the mountains.
This means you are camping, but you do not have to pitch your own tent or cook. You sleep on a proper mattress in a spacious canvas dome tent with large windows. These fully equipped camps, including toilets and showers, are looked after down to the last detail, so that everything is taken care of and you can concentrate on the event.
What you do need to bring yourself: a pillow, sleeping bag, towel and toiletries.
This place is run by young people from the community, and gives them training and employment. Do you like football? Then this will probably be your favourite place to stay, as you can join a local game organised by the young people who run it. With luck, the team even plays against neighbouring countries.
Lazy camping in the grounds of Kalya Peace Village.
This camp offers an authentic African experience (lazy camping). At sunset, under the acacias and around the fire, you share stories with the other participants. It is far from anywhere, so expect a clear night sky, at this project.
Lazy camping in the middle of Kidepo Valley National Park. From the campsite you have a wide view over the Narus valley, the prominent Mount Morungole and even the mountain ranges of South Sudan.
We indicate the level with four dots and as “fit”. The Tour is a sporting challenge with a fair number of kilometres. The terrain is demanding, as is the heat on some parts of the Tour.
In other words: run through the list below so that you set off well prepared on your cycling group trip through Uganda. These are the items that should not be missing from your luggage, along with information about the clothing you will need.
Itching to set off on an extraordinary ride? Can’t wait to hop on the saddle and explore your dream destination at your own pace? Take a look at all our cycling journeys below – or get in touch to request a tailor-made adventure designed just for you.
We hope to see you soon.
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