Manyatta refers to Karamojong homestead in a Karamojong setting and a Karamojong village is usually referred to as a Manyatta and is usually constructed and surrounded by a kraal. A trip to Kidepo is considered incomplete when tourists don’t get to visit a karamojong community and visit these manyattas hence playing a big role in the tourism industry. These are made out of sticks, mud, grass and cow dung, in a dome shaped structure and are built by women while boys and men go out to hunt game and food for their families.

These are usually built while arranged in a circular form with a fence around to shelter them from raids and attacks from wild animals. Women stay around in the manyattas making crafts, taking care of young children, making local brew as men travel long distances looking for water and pasture for their animals. The kraal/enclosure in the middle holds the cattle, goats, and sheep – livestock is wealth and security for the Karimojong.

There can be 10-30 huts housing an extended family which all live together. At visiting the karamojong community, you will be welcomed with traditional dances, demos and stories about the karamojong people. Before taking pictures of the locals, tourists are encouraged to carry a small gift to the community like salt, sugar among others. Karamojong used to be considered as primitive but in actual sense is one of the pure cultures remaining in Uganda