Planning for South Sudan tours and safaris? This comprehensive South Sudan travel guide explores the history, culture, and attractions of South Sudan, the world's newest nation. It delves into the country's formation through tribal migrations, colonization by Egypt and Britain, and the struggle for independence.
The adventure guide highlights South Sudan's unique natural beauty, from the vast Sudd wetlands to the Imatong Mountains and Boma National Park, known for the world's largest mammal migration. It also provides insight into South Sudan's economy, cuisine, and health considerations. Travelers are advised to exercise some caution due to past conflicts, with particular attention to health care and currency usage limitations. See some of our South Sudan safari & vacation tour packages below or read our detailed travel guide.
The vast tribe migrations are responsible for the current ethnic makeup and shape of South Sudan. The pastoralist Dinka and the Azande from the Congo basin arrived along the White Nile two centuries after the Shilluk did in the fifteenth century.
Egypt entered South Sudan from the south at the middle of the 19th century, at the same time that other foreigners were entering the country.
The explorers John Hanning Speke, James Grant, Samuel Baker, and Florence Baker all embarked on trips in the 1860s in an effort to identify the source of the Nile.
Sudan was administered as an Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, formally overseen by both countries but in reality a British colony, after the British put an end to the Mahdist insurrection in 1898.
Many believed that the south would become a part of British East Africa when the British passed the Closed Districts Ordinance, which essentially cut all communication between the region and Khartoum.
The division from the north started to become irreversible even prior to Sudan’s 1956 independence.
In 1955, a southern army rebellion erupted into a full-fledged civil war over independence. The conflict continued until 1972, when the south was awarded a sizable amount of political autonomy.
Up until 1983, when the north renounced this deal and imposed Islamic sharia law, there was peace.
The drought that was worsened by ongoing hostilities left the civilian population in a state of extreme suffering and starvation.
Internationally supported negotiations resulted in a rolling ceasefire in 2002. An official stop to hostilities was declared for the following year.
John Garang, the commander of the rebel army in the South, was appointed vice president of Sudan as part of the discussions.
A few months later Garang was killed in a helicopter crash. Kiir, his successor, was tasked with carrying out the peace agreement.
Massive reconstruction was required, and events were dominated by border disputes over the oil-rich Abyei region, which was divided between the north and south.
A fairly peaceful referendum on Southern independence was held in February 2011, and over 98% of Southerners voted in favor of leaving Sudan. On July 9, six months later, Africa’s newest country came into being.
There’s South Sudan and there’s off-piste. Although it is officially the newest country in the world, most people won’t travel there due to its subpar infrastructure and unstable political environment.
But some of the most dramatic and little-known natural phenomena on Earth will be shown to the brave few who make the trip.
The South Sudanese people are immensely proud of their hard-won independence and are both shocked and happy when someone chooses to visit after a tumultuous 2011 divorce from Sudan.
The capital city of Juba, which is expanding quickly and is a little chaotic, is well situated on the banks of the White Nile.
Established in the 1920s, it showcases remarkable instances of British colonial architecture in the Hai Jalaba neighborhood.
However, the majority of tourists would prefer to abandon man-made constructions and explore the nation’s natural beauties.
The Nile creates one of the biggest inland wetlands in the world in the enormous marshy Sudd region, which the locals refer to as Bahr el Jebel, or “Mountain Sea.”
Explore its enormous islands of reeds by canoe; it’s a unique experience, and a habitat safe from poachers for large populations of hippos.
Boma National Park is home to significant concentrations of some of Africa’s most famous wildlife species, such as lions, giraffes, and elephants.
It also hosts the world’s largest mammal migration, during which an estimated two million grazing animals depart in search of fresh pastures.
The area is well-known for its numerous traditional tribal homesteads scattered across the plains.
South Sudan’s natural beauty doesn’t stop at rivers, swamps, and Savannah; the Imatong Mountains are home to Kinyeti, the nation’s highest peak at 3,200 meters (10,500 feet).
The remarkable diversity of South Sudan’s natural settings makes it difficult to disagree with the people’s belief that their country is blessed.
Although driving can be uncomfortable at times, the experience is well worth the difficulties.
Highlights of a South Sudanese Safari
The Sudd Wetlands
The Sudd Wetlands Tour
One of the largest migrations in the world occurs in the Sudd swamp, which stretches 400 kilometers.
In the spring and fall, about two million animals—mostly antelope and elephants—travel between the Sudd and Boma National Parks, followed by a roving band of lions and leopards who are ravenous.
There is anticipation that the 2018 peace accord will make the Sudd accessible again after being inaccessible throughout the war.
Climb Imatong Mountains
The Ugandan border is backed by the Imatong Mountains. The highest point in the nation, Mount Kinyeti (3,187 meters), offers indigenous herbs at its summit and a variety of rainforests at its slopes.
Its woodland is still a secure haven for endangered spotted ground thrushes and canopy-dwelling primates, despite threats from destruction and poaching.
Meet the Imatong people, who farm the eastern slopes, for an alternative perspective.
Explore Juba – The Capital City of South Sudan
Juba is experiencing the chaotic allure of being a boomtown in the twenty-first century. In the past, Victorian explorers started their search for the Nile’s source from this location.
In addition, since the country gained independence in 2011, approximately 200,000 displaced persons have been protected by camps.
Experience a sun-downer at a bar by the sea and recognize the range of nations with stakes in South Sudan.
Visit Kapoeta
In the Kapoeta area, gold is everything that glitters. Here, the Toposa tribe search for gold flakes in the Singaita River.
The peasants that successfully pushed for the cross-regional peace deal now control Rickety Kapoeta town, which was formerly a halfway home for war refugees.
The stilted cottages in the nearby villages resemble beehives more than dwellings; you have to see them to believe it.
Visit the Mundari People at Mayong
The Mundari people are renowned for their prowess in Mayong, so move over, WWE.
If you spend any time at all in this area north of Juba, you’ll almost certainly witness an inter-village wrestling battle taking place in the red dust.
Join in the cheering and spend some time learning more about the distinctive facial scars that resemble arresting arrows that distinguish the Mundari.
Explore Torit
Eastern Equatoria State is centered at Torit. The Otuho (Lotuko) people farm this land.
They cultivate tobacco, sesame, peanuts, potato-like cassava, and cereal crops like maize, millet, and sorghum.
In the charming hillside towns surrounding Torit, areas for storytelling and dancing are just as essential as the ebony mansions, and the VIPs are rainmakers and diviners.
South Sudan Activities – Top Things to do in South Sudan
Attend a Wrestling Match at Bor Freedom Square
Become acquainted with tribal communities. There are an incredible amount of ethnic and tribal groupings in South Sudan.
You can set up tent outside the villages, have conversations with tribal elders, watch a wrestling bout with other spectators, and watch women weave stories.
You may begin to comprehend the causes of the civil war after you have a firm grasp of the many politics, ideologies, and territorial interests at stake in a given nation.
View the Dinka cattle camps, home to up to 500 cows with long horns. The majority of Dinka people are pastoralist nomads, and their animals, which are a conspicuous display of wealth and rank, are worth their weight in gold.
The cattle camps also provide a glimpse into numerous conflicts, as nearby tribes have engaged in death-defying battles for pastureland.
Would you like to see one of the Dinka calendar’s highlights? Take a trip in December or January to witness calf acclimating to the water as they amble across the Savannah.
Your money should follow your morals. No, not stolen leather. Yes, empowering women. Visit the ROOTS shop in Juba to purchase elaborate necklaces made by women from various tribes.
It’s a win-win situation that preserves traditional South Sudanese folk crafts, provides disadvantaged women with job and education, and allows you to return home with a sentimental memento.
Things not to do in South Sudan…
Sunset View over River Nile, South Sudan
You’re on a trailblazing journey to a hitherto unreachable nation, where you’re meeting individuals who have been shut off for years by civil conflict.
How thrilling is that? Thus, remember to approach your vacation as the exciting journey that it is and travel with an open mind and eyes.
Since there is very little tourism in South Sudan, you will eventually become accustomed to being asked sincere questions.
Even this travel guide shouldn’t be taken at face value. Every week, things change in South Sudan since the nation is still navigating the early stages of peace.
Your tour operator will notify you after your reservation if the schedule has to be adjusted.
Really, it should go without saying: avoid treating the villagers like museum pieces, especially when shooting pictures of them.
The best tours to tribal settlements allow you to learn about and enjoy local culture while letting the people run the show.
You will get the unique opportunity to speak with the true authorities on South Sudan, so take advantage of this chance to ask them advice and hear their stories.
Do you have any inquiries concerning tribal tourism? Learn about the positive effects it can have when used appropriately.
South Sudan Attractions – Top Things to See in South Sudan
The Mundati Tribe, Cattle Camp
Observe an unchanged way of life at a cattle camp
Since the bulk of the Dinka tribe is still nomadic, their cow camps provide an intriguing look into a bygone era and highlight the significance of cattle to the tribe’s members.
The camps are usually located near Bor and house herds of more than 500 long-horned cattle alongside bors.
Attend a wrestling match at Bor Freedom Sqaure
Wrestling matches are important occasions for fans of what is arguably the most popular sport in the nation.
Famous, dust-covered wrestlers compete in arenas equipped with floodlights.
Big groups of people yell encouragement above loud music and pounding drums. See for yourself why the sport inspires such fervent admiration, or give it a try.
Every weekend, there are events in the town of Bor.
Experience old and new in Wau
South Sudan’s second city, Wau is home to a plethora of colonial-era buildings and a mix of tribes that give the city a cosmopolitan air.
Its domed 1913 cathedral is the largest in the region, while Wau is also the terminus of the country’s only rail line, snaking its way slowly north to Babanosa in Sudan.
Explore the Sudd by canoe
The Sudd is an enormous inland sea created by the Nile. Because of its dense vegetation, which is impenetrable, it is an excellent location to observe a wetland habitat that has not been impacted by modern development.
Take a canoe out on the water and paddle among the resident hippos for a surreal experience.
Go on safari
The easiest to get to national park in the nation is Nimule. Before traveling to Fola Falls with a knowledgeable ranger, visitors can rent a boat to Opekoloe Island, which offers the finest opportunities for elephant sightings.
Not only can you take in the breathtaking sight of the water tumbling down this place, but you can also observe fishermen lowering their nets in front of crocodiles and hippos.
Hike through the Imatong Mountains
The hiking scene in the forests of the Imatong Mountains, whose peaks give breathtaking vistas over the plains into Uganda, is still in its infancy, much like South Sudan itself. Hopefully, you will also be able to see the leopard and elephant.
Kick back in the capital, Juba
If you want front-row seats to the spectacle that is country building, head to the newest capital city in the world. Juba is a boom-town that is expanding quickly, with new structures going constructed every week.
The memorial to John Garang, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army for more than 20 years, is the most significant of the places to visit.
Sip a sun-downer on the Nile
The White Nile valley contains 90% of South Sudan, including the country’s capital, Juba, and the Nile is vital to daily life there.
When the sun sets in a stunning display of color, head to one of the many eateries or pubs in the city to see views of the longest river in the world.
Walk through history in Fashoda
Renamed Kodok, Fashoda was formerly a closed city for about 500 years because of its spiritual connections to the Shilluk kings.
In the 19th century, France and Britain nearly came to blows over control of the region at this location.
Witness the world’s largest animal migration
The largest mammal migration in the world takes place in Boma National Park, so forget about the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti.
Every October, millions of white-eared kob and tiang antelope storm across South Sudan from this protected area.
Although there are still dangers from fighting, this magnificent show has withstood numerous wars.
In addition to antelope, other animals that call the park home include lions, elephants, giraffes, and cheetahs.
The South Sudan Economy
Oil and aid are the two main pillars of the South Sudanese economy at independence. Large oil deposits exist in South Sudan, albeit they were hotly disputed during the protracted civil war with the north.
Since oil pipelines travel to Port Sudan on the Red Sea for refinement and export, South Sudan is still dependent on its northern neighbor for transit.
Many people in the population became dependent on foreign help as a result of years of fighting and internal displacement; this number increased when many Southerners from Sudan returned in the run-up to independence.
The White Nile River flows across the nation from south to north, joined by the Bahr al-Ghazal, Bahr al-Arab, and Sobat, three of its principal tributaries.
The Sudd is the largest swamp in the country, with an area of 120,000 sq km (46,332 sq miles).
To the south, this gives place to equatorial forest, which rises to the Imatong mountains, which contain Mount Kinyeti, the highest peak in the nation at 3,187 meters (10,456 feet), and the jungle along the Ugandan border.
Where to stay in South Sudan
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Juba – South Sudan
There is a dearth of lodging outside of Juba. The city is home to many hotels of differing caliber; however, it is hard to obtain a stay for less than US$120.
A different choice would be long-term tented camps, which grew in popularity after the peace agreement with the North and the flood of foreign laborers.
The major towns have a few smaller hotels.
South Sudan Food and Drinks
South Sudan Food and Drink
The bulk of South Sudanese people obtain most of their daily energy needs from this simple, pounded millet-based diet. Bread and cassava fritters are also available in cities.
The peanut, which thickens and bases many cuisines, is arguably the main component.
Meat is frequently eaten, especially goat, cow, and chicken, but only in moderation and as part of a sauce that covers and flavor the ground millet.
Everybody should consider drinking water to be potentially dangerous. Before using water for drinking, tooth brushing, or producing ice, it should have been sterilized by boiling or another method.
Since milk is unpasteurized, it needs to be cooked. Steer clear of dairy items as they were probably prepared with raw milk.
Eat only fish and meat that is well-cooked, ideally served hot. Fruit needs to be peeled and vegetables prepared.
Ethiopian food, Ethiopia’s neighbor, is also widely available.
Specialties:
Kisra: Flatbread made from sorghum flour.
Goat stew: Mildly-flavoured concoction of chunks of goat meat, onion and a touch of chilli.
Salaat zabadi: Vegetables including carrot, cucumber and tomato in locally-produced yoghurt.
Perch: Smoked or deep-fried pieces of fish served with a chilli relish.
Baseema: Cake made with yoghurt, sesame oil and sugar.
Miris: Stew containing sheep’s fat, onion and dried okra.
Wala-wala: Thick, starchy and plain tasting balls of millet flour that typically make up a meal’s carbohydrate quota.
Combo: Stewed spinach, peanut butter and tomato sometimes served with meat.
Ful: Arabic stewed fava beans.
Tamia: Balls of deep-fried ground chickpeas, in other words, falafel.
Tomato Salad: Basic salad majoring in tomato, with onion and chilli. The best are served with a peanut butter and lime dressing.
Is It Safe to Travel to South Sudan?
Despite being the youngest nation on Earth, South Sudan has seen a significant amount of conflict since winning independence in 2011.
Even if they make for depressing reading, it’s imperative to study as many news articles and history books as you can in order to comprehend safety in South Sudan.
Four million people fled violence between rival groups of the Sudan People’s Liberation Party in 2013, sparking one of the biggest displacement tales in history.
This was the start of the most current conflict. Soon after, there was overt ethnic violence, with an estimated 383,000 individuals slain due to their alleged ethnicity or political affiliation.
Famine hit hard in 2017, right after the collapse of the economy.
Health Care in South Sudan
There are decent but constrained medical facilities in Wau, Yei, and Malakal, in addition to excellent medical facilities in Juba.
However, health insurance is necessary and ought to cover emergency repatriation.
Other Risks
Do not paddle or swim in freshwater. There are occasions when vaccinations against hepatitis B and TB are advised.
Antimalarial medications are strongly advised.
South Sudan Currency information
Sudanese Pound (SDG) = 100 piasters. Notes are in denominations of SDG50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 piasters.
Using Credit Cards in South Sudan:
Bring lots of cash (US dollars) if possible; using cards to make purchases in Sudan is not recommended.
ATM Machines in South Sudan:
ATMs are not widely available in South Sudan at this time, except in major cities.
Currency Limitations:
It is not permitted to import or export local currency. Foreign currency imports and exports are unlimited as long as they are declared.
