Explore the unique biodiversity of Uganda’s undiscovered mountain ranges with our experienced local guides. Camping gear and food included.
Mount Kadam Hiking & Trekking
/ per person
Hiking and trekking Mount Kadam is an exciting alternative to the more strenuous climbs in East Africa with many of the same attractions, a milder climate, lower elevation and requires no special equipment or technical experience.
The Mount Kadam Hiking & Trekking expeditions are a mix of rich encounters with the Uganda’s highland people, breathtaking views and unique sights along the trails and unique campsites where you can enjoy the sunset, the stars and sunrise over the planes of Karamoja.
Hiking & Trekking
Mount Kadam is the second highest and volcanic mountain of the Karamoja region with the highest peak at 3,063 metres.
The night before the hike we sleep in a basic hotel at the foothills of Mount Kadam. The hike is guided by experienced local guides and porters are available on request ($15 per porter). Food, snacks, camping gear and water is included.
Alternative: 3 Day Summit Trek
People
Due the geographical location, the Mount Kadam is home to many surrounding tribes: Pokot, Karamojong, Gishu, Tepeth, Sebei and the Kadama. The inhabitants are majorly agriculturalist and live in small settlements. The camp will be set with front row seats of the sunset and sunrise. The afternoon will be spent exploring a high altitude rain forest and different view points.
Prices
Listed price excludes transportation.
| Prices per person. | 1 pax | 2 pax | 3 pax | 4+ pax |
| 3hrs Nature walk | $ 20 | $ 15 | $ 15 | $ 15 |
| 1/2 Day Hike | $ 25 | $ 20 | $ 20 | $ 20 |
| 1 Day Hike | $ 45 | $ 35 | $ 30 | $ 30 |
Overnight / Summit hikes |
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| 2 Day Trek & Camp (Campsite, No summit) | $ 150 | $ 140 | $ 1030 | $ 120 |
| 3 Day Trek & Camp (Summit possibility) | $ 250 | $ 240 | $ 230 | $ 220 |
The trail journal
The trek ‘out and back’ trail is a total of 14Km with starting point in Nakapiripirit town at 1,450m above sea-level untill 2,500m. The total elevation is 1,050m.
Day 0
Arrival day at budget hotel in Nakapiripirit town with briefing before dinner. Traditional dinner and breakfast is included in the package price. Accommodation is NOT included, but we can recommend places to stay based on your budget.
Day 1
We make the most vertical and horizontal Kilometres on the first day to reach the camp site at 2,450m altitude within the forest down the summit plateau at 11Km distance.
The trail starts from the gardens a the foot of the mountain and quickly enters a lush and green tropical forest for a steep climb under the shady leaves of the ancient forest. The trail is a mix of soft loam soil within the forest, gravel sandy parts close to the soft stone walls, granite hand-foot climbs for 1,000m of elevation.
With well deserved brakes, we will reach the 2,400+ level for a rewarding view down to the starting point. Hereafter we enter the higher altitude forest for a final trail through the shady forest up to the camp site for the day.
Day 2
The second day we take the steep descent back to Nakapiripirit town with an estimated arrival time of 10-11AM.
A traditional lunch and a room to take a shower and refresh is included in the price. Accommodation is not included for this day, we recommend to proceed towards Moroto/Kidepo Valley in the North or Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve/Sipi Falls in the South.
Included
- Experienced guides
- Porters (not for personal items)
- Community contribution
- Camping gear (tent, mat, sleeping bag)
- All (traditional) meals; local snacks and drinks (water, tea, coffee). Starting from day of arrival up to the last dinner at Kara-Tunga Safari Camp.
- Boda Boda transport from Nakapiripirit town to the start and from the finish
Excluded
- Personal expenditures and tips
- Porters for personal items (ability to book as extra)
- Accommodation before and after the trek: www.kara-tunga.com/accommodation
What to bring
- A backpack, 45L recommended
- 2 x Refillable water bottles 1.5L
- Reusable lunch box
- Trouser and foldable shirt for hiking
- Warm windproof jacket and Rainproof poncho during rainy season
- Hiking boots with good grip and ankle support for trail sections with loose stones and steep rock-faces.
- Suncream, cap and/or scarf
What to expect
- There will be no opportunity for bathing during the trek. Bush-toilets will be created sustainably.
- Guests carry their own snacks, 3L water and personal belongings for each day during the trek.
- Daytime temperature rises to 35C and evenings and mornings can be windy and as cold as 8C.
- Grass is tall in some sections of the trail so wear something that covers body parts.
| Highlights | • Cultural encounters |
|---|---|
| Included | • Community facilitation |
| Excluded | • Transport |
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Maya Natiang (Germany) –
(Read original review on Facebook) This March me and my friends made a hiking tour with the Karatunga – team. Because it was definitely the best experience of my wonderful stay in Uganda, I really want to recommend the Karatunga Tours. We were climbing Mount Kadam and were camping on top of the mountain. Watching the sun go down, sleeping under the stars, watching the amazing sunset the next morning and all this in the beautiful nature of Karamoja was just stunning. The tour was well organised and we really became friends with the Karatunga – team as they were so friendly, funny and always encouraged and helped us to go on when the path became more difficult. Additionaly I learned much from the team about the impressing and interesting culture of Karamoja.
So if you have the chance to come to the beautiful country Uganda, you should definetely make a Karatunga Tour! It will be totally worth it and you’ll remember this adventure forever!
Alakara nooooi!
Seline Holder (Switzerland) –
(Read original review on Facebook) When my family came to visit me in Uganda, I wanted them to experience the pearl of Africa in its purest form – no typical touristic stuff, where you feel like sitting in a cinema, watching the life happening from a secure distance. A friend of mine recommended Kara-tunga to me and I was straight-away taken by its philosophy.
Looking back to our two weeks traveling in Uganda, the two-day trip with Kara-tunga was by far, for all of us, the most impressive and beautiful experience; it definitely exceeded all expectations. The scenery and landscape of the hike was just breath-taking. On the way up, we trudged through maize fields, crossed streams and weaved through thick forest, catching a glimpse of the tribe living in the hills and even got the chance to observe the spectacular black white colobus monkey. Arriving at the top, we were rewarded with a view that left us speechless. Together with the Kara-tunga crew we shared beautiful moments, watching the magical sunset, preparing dinner while having lots of laughs, looking stupid while imitating their traditional dance, telling each other riddles around the campfire, when the quiet and mysterious touch of the evening settled in.
What made the adventure so truly unique – besides the beauty of Karamoja, which is a must see, with its untouched nature and strong original cultural heritage – is that it felt like a trip with friends showing us the way they live, with a lot of passion and joy. If you’re looking for a authentic, real adventurous and memorable experience Kara-tunga is a must!! Thank you so much to the crew once again, keep up with your amazing work and inspiring spirit! Alakara Noooiiii
Martin Holder (Switzerland) –
(Read original review on Facebook) Perfect organization, attentive and competent guides, individual care and giving us the feeling to be at home in the guesthouse in Moroto. Many thanks for this one in a lifetime experience
Justus Ruhrmann –
(Read original review on Google) Together with a friend I went on a 3 day hike at Mount Kadam. Before the first day we spent our night at Paranao Hostel in Nakapiripirit at our own cost. Unfortunately we could only leave additional luggage of ours that we wanted to leave in town at some cost in the hostel. The hike was really nice and all guides and porters were friendly and helped us. The guides had lots of experience and knew the mountain very well. Of course the 3 days were very exhausting but it was a good experience and the nature was awesome. Payment was possible via mobile money. Kara tunga tours was always professional.
Conner –
(Read original review on TripAdvisor) I spent 3 days hiking in the Karamoja mountains with guides from Kara-Tunga. The guides were very knowledgeable about the area and helped me complete a great hike. Kara-Tunga guest house was also a great place to stay in Moroto – amazing staff, tasty food, affordable prices!
Frida H –
(Read the original review on TripAdvisor) My friend and i booked a 3-day hike to the summit of Mount Kadam in december and had a good experience. The guides were proffessional and knew alot about the flora and Karamojong-culture. The food was quite good (given the surcumstances that it was cooked on a mountain over a fire). My only complaint was the last part of the hike to the summit – it was almost not a trail. The guides said we were going in “the bush” and that was definetely true. That part was very unpleasant but luckily only lasted for an hour or two. The guides carried all our luggage including food, water, tent and sleeping bags and mats which we borrowed from them. The price was reasonable.
We started out from Nakapiripirit and took a boda to the food of the mountain. We reached the camp on the first day and slept in a tent on a windy mountainside. Next morning we took off for the summit, had a lunchbreak at the summit and came down to the same camp. On the last morning we went all the way back to our hotel in Nakapiripirit.
Damien K –
(Read the original review on TripAdvisor) We went to Mount Kadam with Kara-tunga for a two days experience into this beautiful mountain forest. The hike and sceneries were incredible and the Karatunga guide team made sure we had the best time possible in that environment. Great organisation. Thank you.
Batan Bruce –
(Read original review on Google) My partner and I used to live in Uganda, and returned for a trip through Karamoja. We travelled independently but climbed and camped on mount Kadam and visited a kraal in Kaabong with Kara-Tunga. The views from mount Kadam are spectacular and the visit to the kraal avoided many of the pitfalls of “cultural tourism” elsewhere. Both trips are well worth it!
We slept in a double room in their accommodation in Moroto, which was good value.
Lindy B –
(Read original review on TripAdvisor) A driver came to pick us up in Jinja, after that we drove to Nakapiripirit, we slept in a hotel and the day after we started early to hike (and camp) Mt. Kadam. Great guides, good materials (tents etc) and a lot of fun. The hike was difficult, but totally worth it! After that we had an overnight-experience in the ‘kraal’ near Moroto, we met local people in the village and sang together. The day after – with a lot of muscle pain – we went for a mountainbike tour in Moroto. We could use a room in the guesthouse of KaraTunga Moroto for showering after. We also had breakfast and lunch at the guesthouse, beautiful guesthouse and it’s a shame we didn’t had the chance to sleep here. After some rest we drove to Kidepo National Park, to celebrate New Years Eve. An amazing opportunity to celebrate this with a campfire, traditional dance and surrounded by wild animals. On the 1st day of 2018, we went for 2 game drives in Kidepo and spotted a lion! Overall, it was a well organised tour and very interestting to see how people live in the north of Uganda. RECOMMENDED!!