South Sudan Tours

South Sudan tours are for adventurous travelers who want to see untouched tribal groups. Photographers from all over the world dream of finding the world’s most remote routes to meet some of Africa’s most traditional tribes and photographing their cattle camps, villages, scar people, and amazing white bulls with horns. South Sudan is the newest country in Africa, and tourists haven’t found it yet.

South Sudan tribe tours will show you how the traditional tribal world works with the different ethnic groups that have lived in the area’s wild areas for thousands of years. You will meet people from the Mundari Tribe, the Dinka Tribe, the Toposa Tribe, the Larim Tribe, and many more. You will also visit places like Sudd Swamp.

One of the world’s newest and least well-known countries, South Sudan, offers very personal cultural tours. These tours combine old cultural rituals with travelers’ preconceived notions to create an experience that is both very different and often moving.

In South Sudan, there is more to the country than the many years of civil wars and chaos. It has been hard for people to travel around South Sudan over the years because of all the trouble. The country has, however, bounced back from all of these terrible events since it became independent in 2011. South’s tourism business makes up about 4% of the country’s GDP. There are still some dangerous places in South Sudan that make it harder to see the whole country.

A lot of bad things have been said about this country, but it also has a lot of beautiful things about it. People don’t talk much about the 14 national parks and reserves, the world’s largest swamp (the Sudd), and what is possibly the best place in the world to see birds. South Sudan has some public parks that are bigger than some East African countries.

A second mistake that many people make is thinking that Juba is the only thing that the country has to offer. When you come to South Sudan, the best parts are in the countryside. Wildlife and interesting cultures in South Sudan are still hidden away in the vast and remote wilderness, ready to be discovered with the help of a good local guide.

What to see on your trip to South Sudan: the best places for tourists to visit

South Sudan has many hidden gems that haven’t been found yet. Boma National Park, the Mundari Tribe, the Toposa Tribe, Bandigiri National Park, the White Nile, wrestling in Bor, and other places are some of the best places for tourists to visit in South Sudan. It’s fun to see places that not many people have been able to see, like pristine wilderness and rare cultural groups that haven’t been changed by technology. You would be going to places that will become so famous in the future that you will smile (when you are very old) knowing that you were one of the first people to experience them.

Going back to safety. We don’t think you should wait until there is complete peace to decide to visit South Sudan if you want to try something new, love excitement, and are willing to take risks to see the best that nature has to offer. It will happen soon.

Juba and Other Towns

This city is one of the fastest rising in Africa. It is the capital of South Sudan. There are some pretty good places to stay there. The international airport in Juba is also very busy. Every day, planes come from most of the big cities in Africa and the Middle East.

Better roads are being built inside and outside the city, and big businesses have set up shop to take advantage of the business possibilities. You can see a lot of Juba in one or two days. While you’re in the city, there are many fun things to do and places to see. A few of them will be talked about as separate attractions in later parts.

One of the biggest public universities in the young country is the University of Juba. It is also a great place to visit. The University was formed in 1977, but in the 1980s, civil unrest forced it to move to Khartoum, Sudan. English is used to teach the kids. The new presidential house opened in 2011, three months after the country became independent. You can visit it after going to the University.

The park of Boma

With an area of about 22,800 square kilometers, this is one of Africa’s biggest national parks. It is in the state of Jonglei, close to the border with Ethiopia. From March to April and November to January, the park is the site of one of the biggest wildlife migrations in the world. There are about two million animals that move from Sudds and Bandingilo National Park to Boma National Park and then to Ethiopia.

These animals include kobs, gazelles, and other types of antelope. When it’s going to rain, the animals move around. When it’s dry from November to January, the animals move back to the areas where the Nile used to fill to enjoy the new, green grass. There are more than 7,000 elephants, baboons, and giraffes in Boma National Park.

Sudd Swamp

It’s about 30,000 square kilometers big and is the world’s biggest swamp. One of the best places in the world to see birds. Since there is always water around the marsh, the soils are rich and can support a wide range of plants, animals, and birds. There are more than 450 kinds of birds here, such as shoebill storks, black-crowned cranes, and big white pelicans. You can also fish well in the Sudd.

It has national parks in South Sudan.

Visitors to South Sudan will be amazed at how many different kinds of animals and birds can be seen on safari. South Sudan probably has the biggest movement of animals in the world, with millions of gazelles, white-eared kobs, mongala gazelles, and other animals moving back and forth.

From January to June, kob, topis, and gazelles will be seen on safaris in South Sudan. They will be moving north and east from the marshes on the eastern bank of the White Nile to Boma National Park and Gambella National Park, which are just across the border in Ethiopia. South Sudan’s parks have very bad roads that aren’t well taken care of by the government. If you want to go on a trip there, you will either have to fly over the parks or have a very good 4×4 car.

The Mundari Tribe

Like many other Nilotic groups, the Mundari focus on their cattle. Cattle are used for food, money, and personal pride. The potential groom sets up marriages by giving the bride’s family cattle. Husbands can take as many wives as they can support. During the dry season, the Mundari and the nearby Dinka group always fight over cattle raiding.

At night, the Mundari Tribe takes their guns and goes to the bush to protect their cattle. As a way for young guys to become adults, the Mundari practice ritual scarification. The usual Mundari scar pattern has two sets of three parallel lines, one on each side of the forehead. The lines go down and are not connected in the middle.

People from the Mundari tribe use cow urine and burned cow droppings to make hair that is reddish brown and looks nice.

Check out a Dinka cattle camp.

In South Sudan, the Dinka are the biggest and most powerful tribe. A lot of them have moved to the city and other administrative states, but most of them are still nomads who live as herders. Cattle are a big part of figuring out how important a person or family is, and the bride price can sometimes be more than 400 cattle.

More than 600 cattle can live in their cow camps. You can get a sense of how they live, which is based on their animals, by going to one of the camps. The cattle give the owner almost everything they need to stay alive. If you are in Juba and can’t easily get to the cattle camps outside of town, you can watch animals being sold at the cattle market in the middle of the city. In South Sudan, cows are very important, and a fully grown long-horned white bull is a sight to see.

Wau Zoo

In the state of Bahrel Ghazal, the Wau Zoo is near a river. The striped hyena, which is the largest species of hyena, is the zoo’s main draw. There are also antelopes, warthogs, crocodiles, ostriches, and monkeys like baboons in the zoo.

The national park Bandingilo

Bandigilo National Park is in the tropical part of the country, which is not used nearly enough. Gazetted in 1992, it’s made up of about 10,000 square kilometers. Wildlife from all over the world come to this national park, making it one of the most important in South Sudan. The park is home to many different kinds of animals, such as giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, elephants, and reedbuck. Also, read the piece about things to do in Dar es Salaam.

The park of Nimule

The Park was given a gazette in 1954 and is in the southern part of the country, right next to the border with Uganda. That’s why you can get to it from Uganda. It takes up an area of 540 square kilometers. Because it is closer to the capital, Nimule National Park has been developed a bit. It is home to leopards, baboons, zebras, warthogs, and several kinds of antelopes. Rangers can give you a tour of the park or take you by boat to Opekoloe Island, where you can see big groups of elephants and a few dangerous animals. The park has an office.

The Uganda kob, crocodiles, leopards, warthogs, bushbucks, baboons, jackals, monkeys, and zebras are some of the other animals that live in the park. The piece about where to hang out in Nairobi might be interesting to you if you are planning a trip to Kenya soon.

Center for Culture in Nyakuron

It’s possible that this is the best place to see the rich culture of South Sudanese people. South Sudan’s tribal groups see dancing, singing, and sharing stories as important ways to show what’s good about their culture, just like people in most of Africa. People from Southern Sudan built the Nyakuron Cultural Center in 1976 to help show off their rich cultural history. It’s built with a big lawn, a nightclub, a stage outside, and a theater.

The White Nile

A branch of the River Nile is called the White Nile. Its journey begins in Jinja, Uganda. A lot of countries are on the Nile, and South Sudan is one of them. The White Nile and the Blue Nile are its two main branches. The name comes from the color of the water in the river. Because of the clay, the Nile turns color here. As the White Nile flows through Juba, tourists in the city can easily visit the river without having to drive a long way.

You should go to the Juba bridge and look at the river from the top. The river flows through many countries. Boats carrying people and goods can be seen going about their daily business. The White Nile is mostly calm and flows smoothly.

There is Mount Kinyeti and the Imatong Mountains.

This is a tough walk for people who like mountain hiking. At 3,187 meters, Mount Kinyeti is the tallest mountain in South Sudan. It is in the Imatong Mountains, which are far away and not often explored. It is close to the border with Uganda. If you climb to the top, you’ll see untouched wilderness, forested hills, and animals that live in the Imatong Forest Reserve, such as leopards, buffaloes, and elephants.

Rafting on white water

You thought that Uganda was the only place where you could go river rafting? Now think again. An outfit for whitewater rafting has been set up near Nimule so that daring tourists can row all the way from Nimule to Juba, the capital, through the rough Nile rapids. You will be whitewater rafting through areas with hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys, and elephants, which makes the trip even more exciting. On the islands, you can stop and enjoy the quiet water for fishing or watching birds.

A company called African Rivers lets you book a whitewater rafting trip if you are in Juba over the weekend. They will pick you up in the city and take you to Nimule National Park to see Fola Falls. The event starts very early in the morning. The first eight kilometers have grade 4 waves that can be scary for rafters who have never done this before. After that, it gets easier because the waves drop to grade 3 and 2.

Go see the tomb of John Garang.

The former leader of South Sudan, DR John Garang, was a respected person. He died in a chopper crash on his way back from a meeting in Uganda. The freedom movement, which fought against the harsh rule of the Sudanese government until the country got its independence, was led by him. The Mausoleum is built on the Avenue of Nations, which is also where celebrations of freedom take place.

People who want to honor a man who is known as the “father of South Sudan” should go to the Mausoleum. The building is heavily watched, and you need to be polite when you sign the visitor’s book so that you can get in without any problems. There is a picture of the past president and flags of South Sudan in the building. The tomb itself is highly guarded and locked inside a special room.

Our Lady of All Saints Cathedral

This is the main place where Christians in Juba gather to pray. It’s on the corner of Gombura and Lanya streets. A lot of important people in Juba go to the Sunday prayers, which can be a fun place to be. One service is in English, one is in Zande, and one is in Arabic. There are plans to build a much bigger church so that all the people who want to worship can fit.

Eat out

There are many humanitarians and expats living in Juba, which has led to the opening of some great restaurants in the city. There are places open late into the night that are both expensive and cheap. You can get to know the locals better by going to one of the cheaper places that serves traditional food. Which are the best places to eat in Juba? We should start at Da Vinci, which serves veggie, Italian, and food from around the world.

Notos Lounge Bar and Grill serves Indian and Mediterranean food. People know Spice ‘n Herbs for their great Chinese, Italian, and Indian food. You could also get Thai and other Asian food at Home and Away. If you want to eat African food, especially Ethiopian food, you should go to Il Paradiso and the Juba Bridge Hotel Restaurant.

Le Bistro has the best burgers, soups, pies, cakes, and fresh salads. Istanbul serves Turkish and Middle Eastern food, and Villa Marvella is a great place to grab a quick bite on your way home from work after a long day.

The Wau Cathedral

Building the Wau Catholic Cathedral in 1913 is a big reminder of how important Christian missions groups were to the growth of the country. It is made with beautiful architecture and has unique glass windows and stone carvings that make it stand out from the nearby smaller churches.

At Bor’s Freedom Square, you can watch wrestling.

For many of the groups in South Sudan, wrestling is an old sport. Each person takes off their tops and challenges the other to a fight in front of a large crowd of people. There is a prize for the winner, which could be money or cattle. Sunday through Thursday is the best time to see this.

Things to think about when you go to Juba and South Sudan

Travel costs a lot

South Sudan is more expensive to travel within than to nearby countries. This is mostly because simple goods are hard to come by. It is important to bring enough cash with you because you can only use a credit card in Juba and a few of the bigger places. You can pay with dollars, but you will also need South Sudanese pound coins.

It is important to have a valid passport and visa in order to enter and move between South Sudanese towns. You can expect to be stopped at a number of checkpoints and roadblocks. It’s best to spend 8 to 13 days in South Sudan and see the Mundari tribe, the Toposa tribe, and go on safari if you want to.

The Weather:

South Sudan has a warm climate, which means that it rains a lot sometimes and then doesn’t rain for a while. In some places of the country, it rains and gets hotter at the same time. The rainy season lasts from April to October. The areas that are higher up get more rain than the areas that are lower. It’s also important to know that the days and nights are the same length because she lives so close to the equator.

Nice People:

South Sudanese are usually very friendly, kind, and open to visitors, even though they have had less contact with foreigners because of the decades-long civil war. Their willingness to be friendly to visitors from other countries can help you learn a lot about the country and how it works without seeming too interested.

Places for medical care:

Many insurance companies have left South Sudan because of the long-term lack of safety in some areas, but it is still important to get travel insurance before you go. The insurance should pay for any possible evacuations and medical care in a nearby country. Find insurance companies that will cover trips to countries with a lot of crime. A few hospitals run by the government and international groups are up to international norms, but most of the hospitals are not.

How to get around in the city and towns:

A boda (motorcycle taxi) is the best way to get around Juba, the city, and the smaller towns nearby. Taxis are great for long trips, but they can’t get you to the coolest spots in town. Hire a boda rider and ask him to show you around the city.

Picture Taking:

Local officials and the army will not let people take pictures of public buildings, even if they look like they are not doing anything wrong. This is especially true in Juba. It’s possible that Juba has the tightest rules about taking pictures.

If you are found taking pictures without permission or a government official with you, you could even be arrested or sent to prison. Don’t take pictures of military bases or state buildings. A neighborhood guide can help you get the permissions you need. You can take as many pictures as you want once you leave the city.

Unrest in the tribes:

A lot of South Sudan’s problems have to do with families and groups. You should avoid getting caught up in the middle or making it look like you’re on the side of one group, even if you have good reasons to. You should be polite when talking to tribal people, and if you can, let the locals lead the conversations about tribal problems.

Is it safe to visit South Sudan in 2023?

You can use Google to find information about South Sudan and be told not to go there. People from the US, Australia, and Canada are told not to go to South Sudan by their governments because they think it is unsafe. Many people don’t like the country because of the civil war, the refugee crisis in nearby Uganda, widespread corruption, and racial tensions.

What’s really going on, though? Is it safe to go to South Sudan?

The two main rivals signed a peace pact, but there are still occasional fights between South Sudan’s more than 60 tribes. There is much more peace in the country now thanks to the peace deal.

How to stay safe while traveling to South Sudan in 2023.

Always use a neighborhood business you can trust! No one else knows the country as well as we do.
You should never move by yourself at night.
Do not bring your fancy, pricey jewelry. Leave it at home and stay out of sight.
Dollars should not be shown to anyone! As much as possible, hide them!
Do not take pictures in Juba City.