Mount Moroto is the highest mountain in the Karamoja region. This beautiful mountain- Mount Moroto Uganda is right next to the town of Moroto in the Moroto District of Karamoja in the northern region of Uganda. It’s right on the border with Kenya’s Turkana area. The highland is about 3km by road in the east of Moroto’s central business district.

Locals call this mountain “Moru-To,” which means “western mountain.” They gave it that name because the natives used to move westward when they migrated.

Mountain Moroto features various types of environments for instance the dry thorn savanna as well as the dry montane forest. Within the montane forest of Mt Moroto, hikers can spot different amazing wildlife species such as Potos, Monkeys, the beautiful golden cats, plus around 220 bird species including the Doherty’s bushshrike.

Mount Moroto tours can be enjoyed even by travelers without a hiking experience. You’ll take a long scenic walk to get to the higher parts, but from the town at the base of the mountain, you can get to the arid thorn savanna and rocky slopes. This mountain holds two hills; Sogolomon and Sokodek, which rise 3,082m from the plains of Karamoja, which is where the Karamojong people live.

Mount Moroto’s highest peak is “Sokodek,” but most people think “Imagit” is higher because it’s the most popular peak to hike. You can hike up to the Imagit peak in one day, and it only takes half a day to go down.

In most cases, the Moroto hike is an additional adventure on wildlife safaris in Kidepo National Park. Apart from hiking, visitors exploring Mount Moroto in the Karamoja region can also do; cultural encounters, birding, biking, & quad biking.

Amazing Things to Do During Mount Moroto Tour

Looking for what to do during your Mount Moroto safari tour? The activities for travelers are many for example; Mountain Moroto hike, quad biking, bird watching, and scenery viewing, to mention but a few.

The following are the various tourist activities in the Mount Moroto Area;

1. Climbing Mount Moroto

Various climbing trails exist! Climbing Mount Moroto is the main adventure activity as to why travelers visit Mt Moroto in the Karamoja area. There are several trails (climbing trails) to the summit and you’ll find mountain climbing guides (mountain guides) to assist you during the hike. Most of them are local guides.

Regardless of the trail you use to hike this ancient volcano, you’ll go through the beautiful arid thorn savanna, and dry montane forest which is a habitat to numerous wildlife species. Along the existing trails, lucky hikers can spot wild cats, monkeys, plus various bird species. You will come across numerous small rivers as you climb Moroto peaks.

Mount Moroto hike is a day adventure! While on the Mt Moroto hike, be expectant to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Karamoja region and even the area blanketed in arid thorn savanna and the dry montane forest. This scenery is great for photography.

The nature reserve that surrounds Mount Moroto measures 483km2 with about 220 species of birds, wild cats, and monkeys is seen also.

2. Exploring the Farming and Irrigation Scheme

Springs and small rivers are formed when the natural springs that are located on the slopes of the Mountain coalesce with one another. Karimajong people are being instructed by the World Food Program on how to collect and store water, as well as how to use it to irrigate agricultural produce or crops. The goal is to ensure that there is enough household food. More still, some of the agricultural produce is for sale for income generation.

On booking your vacation with Prime Safaris and Tours Ltd, we can arrange to visit the Karimajong people who practice the Irrigation scheme. Ever since the introduction of this scheme in the region, different people have relatively enough household food and some are sold off for income generation.

3. Bird Watching

Birding in Mt Moroto takes place in Mount Moroto Central Forest Reserve. The nature reserve that surrounds Mount Moroto measures 483km2 with about 220 birds.  Some of the notable ones include; Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Green Woodhoopoe, Cabaniss’s buntiny, White-browned coucal, Dideric Cuckoo, Little rock-thrush, Crested francolin, and African pygmy-kingfisher, etc.

While bird watching, you can spot other animals in this forest reserve such as wild cats, monkeys & Potos. You’ll be with an expert local guide.

4. Quad Biking

In the Mt Moroto area, quad biking is possible. It’s done on the foothills of this highland and it as well gives you an opportunity to go through villages while enjoying the beautiful views of the arid thorn savanna, dry montane forest as well as the forest reserve protecting this land form.

Accommodation to Use During Mount Moroto Hike

You can’t fail to get where to stay during your Mount Moroto adventure. Various accommodation facilities await you and most of them are found in Moroto Town- the nearest township to Mt Moroto.

Some of the popular hotels in Moroto Town include;

1.      Mt Moroto Hotel

2.      City Friends Hotel Moroto

3.      Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Safari Camp

4.      Zebra Safari Lodge-Kidepo

How to Get to Mount Moroto?

There are two ways to go to Moroto from Mbale: either by way of Soroti (170km on the tarmac, or by way of the straight eastern route (230km). Both of these routes offer amazing scenery! Upon reaching the Seminary in Moroto Town, you will need to make a right turn at the first roundabout in the township and then continue to go around the base of the mountain for 7.5km.

Packing List for Mount Moroto Safari Adventure

·         Sturdy walking boots

·         A sunhat

·         Sunglasses and sunscreens

·         Comfortable safari pants

·         Water bottle & energy-giving snacks

·         A camera

·         Gloves

·         Pair of socks

·         Personal toiletries

·         Rain jacket

FAQs About Mount Moroto

1. Where Is Mountain Moroto Located?

Mountain Moroto is a chain of volcanoes along Uganda’s international border with Kenya. The chain of these mountains begins at Mount Elgon which is in the south and includes also Mount Morungole and Mount Kadam.

The area around Mt Moroto is a forest reserve protecting numerous types of habitats, from dry thorn grassland to dry montane forest.

2. In Which District Is Mt. Moroto Found?

Mt Moroto is found in the Moroto District within the Karamoja region- in the northern region of Uganda. This magnificent highland is about 3km by road in the east of Moroto’s central business district. The natural springs on slopes of Moroto Mountain coalesce to form springs plus small rivers, lovely to view.

3. Is Mount Moroto An Active Volcano? : Is Mt. Moroto a Dormant Volcano?

Just like Mount Elgon or Mount Kadam in the south, Mt Moroto is an extinct volcano! These are mountains that have not erupted in human history.

4. What Is the Highest Peak of Mount Moroto?

The highest peak of Moroto Mountain is called Sokodek rising about 3,083m above sea level in northeastern Uganda within Karamoja area.

5. How Was Mount Moroto Formed?

Mountain Moroto was formed as a result of volcanicity. This ancient volcano is found on Uganda’s international border with Kenya within the Moroto District. Within this mountain, there are numerous natural springs and streams which are sources of water for people around used to irrigate agricultural produce in the region.

Natural springs on slopes of Moroto mountain coalesce to form springs & small rivers, lovely to view.

Mt. Moroto is a great destination for mountain climbing tours. Therefore, all hikers on wildlife safaris in Kidepo National Park nearby should never miss on their bucket list. You can contact the Prime Safaris reservation team for any inquiry!