Conservation Impact Tour

After decades of hardship, Karamoja’s people have embraced tourism as a pathway towards a brighter future. But poverty remains a persistent enemy, driving environmental degradation and trapping communities in a cycle of climate hardship. We are committed to breaking this cycle by working closely with local communities near the region’s natural wonders. Together, we strive to improve livelihoods and restore biodiversity, benefiting both the community and visitors.

What is Karamoja Conservation Zones?

We operate in five Biodiversity Hotspots in Uganda’s northeastern Karamoja sub-region. Each zone aimed at empowering indigenous custodians to protect their natural assets and improve livelihoods. We support communities in developing community conservation enterprises aimed at the protection of biodiversity through poverty alleviation like:

Bee-keeping
Agroforestry
Eco-tourism
Forest restoration

Video

The Impact Tour

Our “Impact Tour” offers travellers an exclusive glimpse into the work of the team conserving biodiversity in Karamoja. This specially designed half-day tour. This specially designed half-day tour will take you to meet the inspiring heroes behind the scenes in the conservation area at the foot of Mount Moroto. They will share the challenges faced in conserving biodiversity as well as the success stories from the field. You will learn about the process of tree growing, from picking seeds from the forest to raising the tree seedling, planting, managing, and protecting it until it becomes a resilient tree.

The conservation site: The trip will start at Kara-Tunga Safari Camp in Moroto town, where you can choose to cycle 7 km (one-way) to the site with a guide or use your own means of transport. The tour begins with a walk through the local community to learn about daily life. Afterward, you will walk through the conservation zone to learn about conservation efforts and the diversity of tree species until you reach the tree nursery hub.
Tree nursery hub: At the tree nursery, the conservation team will share knowledge on how indigenous trees are raised from seed to seedling. You can plant a tree during the rainy season or participate in other activities like seed collection and managing tree seedlings during the dry season.
The waterfall hike (6hrs tour): If you choose to take the hike to St Lawrence Falls, the tour will start at the Tree Nursery Hub and continue with the hike afterward. The hike to the natural spring pool on the mountain is 10 km in total and offers rewarding views of the conservation area and the town. It’s an interesting contrast between development and conservation. Due to the loose gravel trail and relatively steep ascent, we have graded it as medium-hard difficulty.

When can I book this tour?

The tour with the hike to the waterfall is organised from Mondays-Saturdays from 8am departure from Kara-Tunga and return at 2pm. The tour without the waterfall starts at the same time, but ends at 12pm.

Seasonality

The activities conducted at the conservation zone vary per season:

Dry season (October-March + July): Raising of Tree Seedlings in the nursery hub, Weeding of planted Trees, Management of natural regrowing trees, Community Sensitisation and collecting of indigenous seeds.
Rain season (April-September): Planting of trees, Weeding of planted Trees, Collection of indigenous seeds, Community Sensitisation.

What does it cost?

100% of your Impact Tour donation goes directly to the Kara-Tunga Foundation. Your contribution will primarily support vital forest protection and restoration efforts through the local community.

Option 1: Donation of $50 Per Person

Duration: 6hrs
Inclusions: Guide, Drinking water (bring your refillable bottle).
Transport: Free transport by local bicycle (one way: 7Km, 60m elevation).

Option 2: Donation of $25 Per Person

Duration: 3hrs
Inclusions: Guide, Drinking water (bring your refillable bottles) and Snacks.
Transport: By motorcycle to the starting point (7Km)

What happens with the donation?

Your donation helps to grow an average of 50 trees. By supporting this initiative, you’re not just planting a tree; you’re investing in a sustainable future. Your support ensures that these young trees thrive and contribute to a healthier community. 60% will go directly to conservation efforts listed below and 40% to guides, transport, water and snacks.

Indigenous Seed Collection: Gathering seeds from native tree species to restore biodiversity.
Community tree nurseries: Raising tree seedlings from seed to a resilient seedling for planting.
From planting to growing: Restoring deforested areas by replanting lost species and nurturing and protecting them until a tree.
Community engagement: Empowering local communities with the knowledge and skills to protect and maintain the new trees as well as the existing ones.