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South Sudan
Venture to South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation teeming with untold natural wonders. Witness the breathtaking Boma-Badingilo wildlife migration and connect with incredibly diverse tribal cultures.
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Summary
Did you know?
World’s Newest Nation – Gaining its official independence in 2011 after decades of struggle, it proudly holds the title of the absolute youngest recognized country on Earth!
Overview
Months
April, August, December, February, January, July, June, March, May, November, October, September
Vacation type
Hiking, Nature, Safari, Tropical
Expenses
0-50€, <100€, <150€, <200€, Over 200€
Temperature
25-30°C, Over 30°C
Rainfall
0-50mm, 50-100mm
Safety
Very dangerous
Continent
Africa
Currency
South Sudanese pound
Languages
English, Juba Arabic
Currency Converter
When to visit
Travel to this country is currently not recommended or possible due to the ongoing war.
The optimal travel period for South Sudan is the strictly defined dry season, stretching from December to March. During this window, extreme daytime temperatures frequently soar between 35°C and 40°C+, but the absolute lack of precipitation is what makes travel possible. The country's infrastructure relies heavily on unpaved dirt networks; during the dry season, these tracks harden and allow 4x4 access to remote tribal lands and national parks. Conversely, the rainy season (April to November) brings torrential downpours that cause the massive Sudd wetland to swell exponentially. This turns the vast majority of the country into an impassable mud basin, completely cutting off overland routes and isolating entire regions.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season (December to March)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 9 to 11 hours.
Rain Frequency: 0 to 2 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 0 hours.
Intensity: Negligible.
Duration: Relentless sun, baking heat, and heavily dust-laden air (the Harmattan winds).
Off-Peak Season (April to November)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 5 to 7 hours.
Rain Frequency: 12 to 20 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 3 to 6 hours.
Intensity: Violent, heavy tropical downpours causing immediate and catastrophic road washouts.
Duration: Prolonged thunderstorms that significantly expand river systems and floodplains.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: CRU Time Series v4.07
https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/5fda109ab71947b6b7724077bf7eb753
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: December-March
(Note: South Sudan is one of the most expensive and logistically complex travel destinations on earth. "Budget" travel in the traditional backpacking sense does not exist due to mandatory security, transport, and permit requirements).
1. Basic / Essential Travel ($200-300/day)
Accommodation: $80-150/night (basic, secure compound guesthouses running on limited generator schedules).
Food: $20-40/day (local markets and basic expat diners in Juba).
Activities: $50/day (unguided exploration strictly limited to safe zones within Juba).
Transportation: $40-60/day (local boda-bodas or unarmored private taxis within city limits).
Other Costs: $10-20/day (bottled water, mobile data).
2. Mid-Range Travel ($500-800/day)
Accommodation: $150-250/night (standard international business hotels with 24/7 power and security).
Food: $50-100/day (hotel restaurants and premium expat establishments along the Nile).
Activities: $150-250/day (guided, permitted day trips to nearby tribal camps like Terekeka).
Transportation: $150-200/day (private, secure 4x4 Land Cruiser with a vetted driver).
Other Costs: $50/day (camera permits, local village fees).
3. Expedition Travel ($1,500 - $3,000+/day)
Accommodation: $200-300+/night (premium fortified hotels in Juba) or fully catered remote bush camps.
Food: $100+/day (all meals securely catered).
Activities: $1,000+/day (complex logistics, private charter flights to Boma National Park, mandatory armed ranger escorts).
Transportation: $300-500+/day (specialized expedition 4x4s, excluding aviation costs).
Other Costs: $100+/day (extensive government permits, security gratuities).
Off-Peak Season: April-November
(Note: Overland travel outside Juba is largely paralyzed. Prices for accommodation and food remain static year-round).
1. Basic / Essential Travel ($180-250/day)
Accommodation: $80-120/night (compound guesthouses).
Food: $20-40/day (local diners).
Activities: $20/day (indoor locations, subject to flooding).
Transportation: $50/day (taxis, frequently dealing with flooded urban roads).
Other Costs: $10/day (incidentals).
2. Mid-Range Travel ($450-700/day)
Accommodation: $150-250/night (business hotels).
Food: $50-100/day (hotel dining).
Activities: $100/day (boat trips on the Nile).
Transportation: $150-200/day (4x4 vehicles to navigate deep mud within the capital).
Other Costs: $30/day (permits).
3. Expedition Travel ($1,500 - $3,000+/day)
Accommodation: $200-300+/night (fortified hotels).
Food: $100+/day (premium dining).
Activities: $1,000+/day (aerial-only safaris, as ground movement is physically impossible).
Transportation: Flights only (bush airstrips frequently flooded out).
Other Costs: $100+/day (administrative fees).
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Juba
- The rapidly expanding capital city situated on the White Nile. It is a chaotic, booming frontier town characterized by heavy UN presence, NGOs, and fortified compounds, serving as the unavoidable hub for all national logistics.
2. Bor
- The capital of Jonglei State, located north of Juba along the White Nile. It is deeply connected to Dinka culture and history, and serves as a major transit point for river barges heading into the Sudd.
3. Wau
- Located in the northwest, it is one of the country's oldest and most diverse cities, featuring remnants of colonial-era architecture and serving as a commercial hub for the Bahr el Ghazal region.
Did you know?
Wildlife Migration – Its vast, remote national parks host a spectacular, largely unexplored migration of over a million antelopes that easily rivals the world-famous Serengeti!
Islands
South Sudan is a landlocked country and does not have islands in the traditional sense.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
South Sudan Border
Photo By EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid https://www.flickr.com/photos/eu_echo/7500700422
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. The Sudd Wetland
- One of the largest tropical wetlands in the world. This vast, impenetrable swamp is a critical habitat for hundreds of bird species, crocodiles, hippos, and migrating mammals, deeply defining the geography and hydrology of the Nile.
2. Boma National Park
- Located in the east near the Ethiopian border, this massive, raw wilderness hosts the spectacular White-eared Kob migration. It is an untamed ecosystem rivaling the Serengeti, though severely lacking in tourism infrastructure.
3. Bandingilo National Park
- Situated north of Juba, this park is also part of the great mammal migration route. It features vast savannas and is somewhat more accessible from the capital than Boma.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. Dr. John Garang Mausoleum
- Located in central Juba, this heavily guarded site is the resting place of the founding father of South Sudan. It is a stark, solemn monument of immense national significance.
- Note: Photography is strictly forbidden here without specific government clearance.
2. Gondokoro Ruins
- Just outside Juba on the east bank of the Nile lie the sparse remnants of Gondokoro. Once the absolute southern limit of Nile navigability from Egypt, it served as a brutal 19th-century ivory and slave-trading outpost.
Unique Experiences
1. The Mundari Cattle Camps
- An unparalleled anthropological experience in Terekeka. The Mundari people live in deeply symbiotic, ash-covered camps with their massive, long-horned Ankole-Watusi cattle. Visitors observe the burning of dung fires at dawn and the profound cultural connection between the herders and their livestock.
2. Dinka Wrestling Matches
- Traditional wrestling is a massive, highly energetic cultural sport among the Dinka and Mundari. Attending a weekend match in Juba involves intense drumming, chanting, and fierce, honorable physical competition.
3. Navigating the White Nile
- Hiring a local motorized boat at sunset in Juba to navigate the currents of the White Nile, passing local fishermen and birdlife while escaping the intense dust of the city.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Tours to do
1. The Cattle Camp Immersion
- A 3-to-4 day overland journey north from Juba to Terekeka. This focuses entirely on integrating into the daily rhythms of the Mundari cattle camps.
Best Time: January to March
Average Cost: $1,500 – $2,500 per person
2. The Great Migration Aerial Safari
- A complex, high-end expedition utilizing private chartered bush planes to reach Boma National Park, establishing temporary mobile camps to track the massive herds of antelope and kob.
Best Time: March to May
Average Cost: $8,000 – $15,000+ per person
How to get around
1. 4x4 Land Cruisers
- The only viable method for terrestrial movement outside the paved roads of central Juba. Vehicles must be fully equipped for severe off-roading, carrying their own fuel, water, and recovery gear.
2. Domestic Aviation
- The vast distances and lack of roads make air travel essential for remote areas. Operations are mostly run by the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) or extremely expensive private charter companies operating out of Juba.
3. Boda-Bodas (Motorcycle Taxis)
- The ubiquitous mode of local transport within Juba. They weave through traffic and mud efficiently but carry a notoriously high accident rate.
4. River Barges
- Slow, heavy commercial barges navigate the White Nile from Juba northwards through the Sudd to Malakal. They take weeks and offer zero passenger amenities, but are vital for national freight.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
The Great Swamp – It is home to the Sudd, a breathtakingly massive wetland recognized as one of the absolutely largest freshwater swamps in the entire world!
What to eat
1. Asida
- A thick, dense dough made from sorghum or millet flour. It serves as the primary carbohydrate base for most meals and is designed to be eaten with the hands, used to scoop up heavily spiced stews.
2. Kisra
- A thin, sour, fermented flatbread similar to Ethiopian injera or Sudanese bread. It is a daily staple used as both food and a utensil.
3. Nile Perch
- Freshly caught from the White Nile, this massive river fish is a delicacy in Juba, typically served grilled, fried, or baked with lime and fiery chili sauces.
4. Ful Medames
- A heavy, protein-rich stew of fava beans simmered with onions, tomatoes, and cumin, generously drizzled with sesame or peanut oil. It is a very common breakfast dish.
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Juba International Airport (JUB)
Flight Prices and Seasons:
From Europe
- Average Round-Trip Cost: €800 to €1,400 (Primarily -routed via Ethiopian Airlines or EgyptAir).
- Cheapest Months: February and March.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and December.
From North America
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,400 to $2,500 (Usually requires two stops, routing through Addis Ababa or Cairo).
- Cheapest Months: October and November.
- Peak Prices: June and December.
From Asia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,200 to $2,000 (Connections via Gulf hubs like Dubai onto East African carriers).
- Cheapest Months: March and May.
- Peak Prices: August and January.
From Australia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $2,000 to $3,500 (Long-haul routing via the Middle East and Addis Ababa).
- Cheapest Months: May and November.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Africa
- A verage Round-Trip Cost: $400 to $800 (Excellent, direct daily connectivity via Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways fro-Peak Prices:r EgyptAir from Cairo).
- Cheapest Months: September and October.
- Peak Prices: July and December.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
- A valid visa is strictly required for all foreign nationals. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival via the official government eVisa portal, as visa-on-arrival provisions are highly restricted and unreliable.
2. Consular Processing
- The eVisa system requires digital submission of documents. An official letter of invitation (LOI) or sponsorship from a locally registered tour operator, NGO, or business entity is a non-negotiable prerequisite.
3. Required Documentation
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the entry date, printed eVisa approval, a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate, and the official invitation letter.
4. Health Requirements
- A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is biologically mandatory for border entry. Aggressive malaria prophylaxis and up-to-date vaccinations for cholera, typhoid, and meningitis are strongly advised due to severely limited medical infrastructure.
5. Travel Insurance
- Standard international travel policies explicitly void coverage. Extremely specialized, high-tier risk insurance covering medical extraction, kidnap, and ransom is an absolute operational necessity.
Important things to know
1. Payments
- The official currency is the South Sudanese Pound (SSP), but the US Dollar (USD) is the dominant currency for logistics and tourism. Only completely crisp, unblemished USD bills printed after 2013 are accepted. Credit cards are functionally useless outside two or three fortified international hotels in Juba.
2. Tap Water
- Municipal tap water is biologically hazardous or nonexistent. Complete reliance on commercially sealed bottled water for drinking and dental hygiene is a strict biological necessity.
3. Electricity
- The standard voltage is 230V at 50Hz, primarily using plug types C and D. There is effectively no reliable national power grid; all electricity in hotels and compounds relies entirely on private diesel generators.
4. Tipping
- Tipping is customary in expat-oriented venues in Juba (typically 10%). For remote expeditions, providing substantial cash gratuities to your armed security, drivers, and local fixers is heavily expected.
5. SIM Cards
- Telecommunications providers like Zain and MTN offer prepaid SIM cards requiring passport registration. While 4G exists in Juba, network connectivity completely vanishes once outside major urban perimeters.
6. Driving Side
- Vehicles operate on the right side of the road.
Souveniers
1. Mundari Wooden Headrests
- Carved from single blocks of hard wood, these small, curved stools are carried constantly by herdsmen. They serve a dual purpose as both a seat during milking and a headrest to protect elaborate hairstyles while sleeping.
2. Dinka Beaded Corsets
- Intricate, tightly woven corsets made of brightly colored glass beads. The specific colors and patterns denote the wearer's age, gender, and social status within the community.
3. Carved Ebony Statues
- Heavy, polished figures and walking sticks crafted from deep, dark ebony wood, often depicting tall, slender Nilotic warriors or local wildlife, available in the craft markets of Juba.
Carved Ebony Statues
Location
You already visited this country? Share your experiences with others! Tell us what’s worth seeing, what to skip, the things you wish you knew before your trip, what surprised you, what do you wish you knew earlier? Leave a review and help others plan smarter. Thanks in advance! :))
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