Cultural Safaris in Kidepo Vally National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is a harbor for wildlife and flora. So, it is right that the main purpose for its visit is to explore the wilderness, but what is an authentic safari without an interaction with the local folklore? This tour is unpredictable and exciting as you explore into the indigenous communities that have lived with wildlife from time immemorial and which species were hunted down to extinction.
African forefathers though, preached the sustainable use of wildlife resources and some wildlife species needed permission to be accessed, as well as certain hunting spots. Harming some wildlife species was a taboo and culprits were punished severely and cleansed. At Kidepo Valley National, a visitor will visit the homesteads of the Karamojong people and first-hand experience of the people that is often misunderstood and not given the attention it deserves, as explained below.
The Karamojong people are nomadic pastoralists that rear cattle for pride and prestigious purposes other than for income and food. The Karamojong elders believe that Akuj, their supreme God gave their ancestors the birthright to own and protect all the cattle in the world. Since they as deeply rooted in their culture, it therefore is a taboo to disobey the gods and they then formed warrior bands specifically for this task. A visitor here, will enjoy interacting with these people, explore their worrisome customs, and marvel at their fashion sense, jewelry, tools of use, extinguishing the Karamojong from the rest. Fortunately, they were sensitized, educated and exposed to the trends of the world beyond their culture and empowered to carry out other economic activities and they are now abandoning some of the customs that will not be of socio-economic use to them.
You will meet the cultural bands providing entertainment, showcasing traditional songs, music, dance and drama at the hotels within the park. Entertainment is a means of passing on a message to the audience and it is easier to grasp content while being entertained. The bands are multi-racial to give the visitor a blend of various communities.
The Ik group of the Karamojong people of North Eastern Uganda do not have any wealth. They wandered into the wilderness in search for game to hunt, edible fruits, colonies of bees to harvest and leaves. They indulge in early marriages and practice polygamy for prestige. A visit here is rewarding and an opportunity to share experiences with an exotic yet very natural beautiful community. Carry out the visit with a ranger that understands the language so as not to interfere with the daily activities of the Ik. In the African Tradition, gifts are a sign of friendship so carry them along for better reception and entertainment. Charges for cultural tour are not fixed.
