How to get to Karamoja by car, taxi, airplane and bus.
Travel tips on how to get to Karamoja’s highlights like Kidepo Valley National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Mount Moroto Forest Reserve, Kotido, Kaabong and other attractions in northeast Uganda by car, taxi, airplane and bus.
Quick navigation
By car.
Good to know
The road conditions are rapidly improving throughout the Karamoja region that has greatly shortened the previous famously long travel time. Though we recommend to read below advisory carefully before planning your journey through Northeast Uganda.
Apps
Google Maps does not give reliable travel advice as it’s routes are outdated and the majority of routes are passing old colonial routes that have not been maintained for decades. Maps.me is the most reliable app following to our experience and always in combination with latest advice from your tour operator or accommodation provider within the region.
Travel advisory map
The Western route
When you prefer to take the western route to and from Kidepo Valley National Park, we recommend to drive via Gulu and Kitgum. Common stops on this route are Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
The Eastern Route
The Eastern route to Karamoja is the uncut Karamoja wilderness route entering the subregion from Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Whereafter the road advisable goes via Nakapiripirit at the slopes of Mt Kadam to Moroto and connecting with Kotido, Kaabong and Kidepo Valley National Park. (see below map or click here for the Google Maps link).
In rainy season the road conditions of the Southern part (From Muyembe to Namalu) formerly could change dramatically and block any car from passing (May-September). The other option is to drive via Soroti and Iriiri to Moroto and continue northwards up to Kidepo Valley. Inform before departure by contacting us by phone.
Route in dry season
Avoid the ‘shortcut’ with broken bridges via Nabilatuk by staying on the highway from Muyembe (Sipi Falls junction) to Moroto. This means that you navigate via Nakapiripirit and therefore keep right after Namalu (see below map and click here for the Google Maps link).
Route in rainy season
Drive from Mbale / Mt Elgon / Sipi Falls via Soroti and Iriiri to Moroto and continue northwards up to Kidepo Valley.
Sparse services
Petrol stations
The distance between petrol stations in the Karamoja subregion is on an average 90Km. Petrol stations are located in Sironko (Total), Namalu, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Matany, Moroto (Hass), Kotido (Total), Kaabong, Karenga and Kitgum.
Fresh foods and supermarkets
Fresh foods are not a commodity in Karamoja and are imported from outside the region. Fruits and vegetables are therefore only available with certainty in Moroto. Though fresh meat is available in any trading centre and is advisable to purchase in the morning hours before stock runs out. The majority of towns in Karamoja also have convenience stores and the bigger towns like Kotido and Moroto also have supermarkets with a wider variety of products. Though services like refilling small camping gas bottles is not available.
By taxi.
Private taxi’s can be arranged from any location within Uganda to your destination within the Karamoja region. Find standard taxi rates for an one way journey including: vehicle, driver and fuel below. Contact us for bookings or other inquieries.
1 June 2022: Due to recent unpredictable fuel price changes, the below prices can change on daily bases. Please inquire by contacting us for the most recent rates.
$435 Entebbe – Moroto, 12hrs
$410 Kampala – Moroto, 10hrs
$385 Jinja – Moroto, 8hrs
$360 Mbale – Moroto, 4hrs
$360 Sipi Falls – Moroto, 4hrs
$310 Gulu – Moroto, 5hrs
$310 Moroto – Kidepo, 5hrs
By airplane.
As tour operator we provide bookings service for scheduled and chartered flights from various destinations within Uganda. In addition to the flight, we also provide a pick-up service from any airport, hotel or other destination.
The most common entry point to Uganda is Entebbe International Airport (EBB) that’s located close to Entebbe city. Flights can also be organised from Kajjansi Airfield that’s located closer to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
Scheduled flight rates are starting from $420 per person for a one way ticket. Contact us for more information, departure time, capacity and prices.
By bus.
Karamoja has also different possibilities of public transport. Take the daily daytime busses or nighttime coaches driving from Kampala via Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Iriri to Moroto, Kotido and Kaabong. And mini taxi’s are available as well. .Contact us for accurate departure time and prices.
Our preferred bus company is Gateway bus services, departing from Namayiba bus park (Google Maps link) at the old bus park in Kampala.
Travel time
- Kampala – Moroto: 10-12 hrs
- Kampala – Kotido: 12-14 hrs
- Kampala – Kaabong: 13-15 hrs
- Mbale – Soroti – Moroto: 4-6hrs
- Mbale – Nakapiripirit – Moroto: 5-7hrs
Daily bus from Kampala to Karamoja
- 7PM/5AM Kampala – Jinja – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto 6AM/5PM
- 12AM/8AM Kampala – Jinja – Mbale – Soroti – Kotido – Kaabong 4PM/10PM
- 9AM Kampala – Jinja – Mbale – Soroti – Kotido 12PM
- 9AM Mbale – Nakapiripirit – Moroto 3-4PM (inquire at bus park)
- 9AM Mbale – Soroti – Moroto 3PM/4PM
Daily bus from Karamoja to Kampala
- 12PM Kotido – Soroti – Mbale – Jinja – Kampala 3PM
- 3AM Kaabong – Soroti – Mbale – Jinja – Kampala 4PM
- 3AM Moroto – Soroti – Mbale – Jinja – Kampala 3PM
Daily bus from Kampala to Kidepo Valley
There’s a daily bus called Robyn departing from Namayiba bus terminal in Kampala. This bus takes you to the closest town called Orom. From here there are taxi’s or Boda Boda motor taxi’s that can take you to the gate of Kidepo Valley National Park.
- 5AM Kampala – Gulu – Kitgum – Karenga 9PM
