South Sudan The Youngest Country of Africa – 12 days
We would like to propose a journey to a country that has been in existence only since 2011. The South Sudan, created after a long and bloody war, is the youngest country on the African continent.
It is a country of many traditions and cultures. During our expedition, we will visit towns and villages belonging to Mundari, Boya, Lotuko/Otuho and Tampossa ethnic groups. We will be able to observe customs and traditions that are fading into the past, yielding to the pressure of civilisation. The South Sudan is one of the countries least visited by tourists, not only in Africa.
itinerary
Flights to Juba usually take place in the afternoon and evening. After arrival, visa formalities. Transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, an organisational meeting and dinner.
D.
After breakfast, a drive (for about 4 hours) to the territory of the Mundari tribe. We will go to the town of Terakeka where we will visit the local market. It will be a perfect opportunity to meet the inhabitants and learn about the culture of the Mundari people. In the afternoon, transfer to the site where we will sleep in tents.
B. L. D.
After breakfast, we will cross the White Nile on a boat. On the other side of the river, we will visit local Mundari shepherds and we will learn about the crucial role of livestock for their livelihood. Then we will go to a rural village of the Mudari people, where many traditional thatched houses built around a circle still stand. One of the highlights of this trip will be the possibility of participating in traditional ceremonies (if they are held during our visit). A particularly interesting and spectacular ceremony is the initiation of young boys who must prove their courage and strength to become men with full rights. Many rural inhabitants still practice traditional animistic religions and ancestor worship. In the afternoon, return to the campsite.
B.L.D.
Early breakfast, and then a whole day of off-road driving in the South Sudan. We will pass through the capital, Juba, and then we will drive along the Nile to the south, towards the border with Uganda, to the small town of Torit. Night rest at a hotel
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will drive for about 5 hours to one of the newly erected lodges for lunch, and next we will go for a visit to a village of the Toposa tribe, which is very traditional and very proud of their culture. We will sleep in tents near the village.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will go to the local market in Kapoeta. Markets are the best places to closely observe the contemporary life and the whole unique cultural mixture of the South Sudan. Handmade metal objects, for which the Toposa tribe is famous, are particularly worth seeing. Overnight stay in lodges or in tents on a camp site.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will start a day devoted to two ethnic groups of the South Sudan. At the beginning, we will drive to the territory of the Boya people who are famous for their very unusual forms of adorning their faces with beads, and them to the lands inhabited by the Lotuko/Otuho tribe, near the Lotuko hills, from where we will depart to a one-hour hike to a Lotuko tribe village. If possible, we will participate in evening dance performances. We will have a unique opportunity to see the customs and traditions of this small tribe, especially their songs and dances, which have been carried on for years but are now slowly fading into the past. We will sleep on a camp site near the village.
B.L.D.
A short morning hike in the nearby Lotuko Mountains, which are a very interesting formation and home to many rare species of plants and birds. Then we will go to the village of the Imatong tribe, and late evening we will set off to our accommodation site in Torit.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will continue our journey to the south, towards the South Sudan capital. After arrival, a short rest and farewell dinner.
B.L.D.
After breakfast we plan to visit Juba: we will go to the area of the Presidential Palace and to the Mausoleum of John Garang, the founder and first President of the South Sudan. Next we will visit the Konyo-Konyo market it will be last opportunity to purchase souvenirs and local handicraft products. In the afternoon we will go to the airport. Flight home from South Sudan.
B.
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 12 days in Africa;
- start of the trip: Juba;
- end of the trip: Juba;
- the highlights of this expedition Its highlights will be visits in villages and small towns with inhabitants of different nationalities, forming a real melting pot of people with different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds of South Sudan.
The tour will be an expedition to one of the regions of the world rarely visited by tourists. The tour is oriented on cultural, sightseeing and nature tourism. Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers are required to be physically and mentally fit. Long car rides through the South Sudan wilderness, often at more than +30°C, overnight stays in lodges and tents on camping sites with limited access to toilets and showers may be very tiresome and cause considerable discomfort. Furthermore, as the expedition will take place to very remote areas, during its course there will be practically no access to medical services, except for the capital of Sudan, and even there only to a limited extent. No long hikes or activities that require strenuous physical effort are envisaged during the tour. The itinerary was designed to enable best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting basic safety standards and ensuring comfort to the travellers. You should bear in mind that the Republic of South Sudan is a country of many cultures and traditions, having a special and unique character.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
- The visa can be obtained at the airport upon arrival. The cost of the visa is in addition to the price of the trip, payable on the spot.
The cost of obtaining a visa (visa brokerage + invitations necessary to obtain a visa) included in the price of the trip, - You should take with you for the trip a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Take with you for the trip the yellow vaccination booklet with certified valid yellow fever vaccination – it is impossible to enter the Republic of South Sudan without this document and vaccination.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, meningococci and typhus is recommended.
- Malaria prevention measures (Malarone or Lariam) are necessary.
- There is a risk of dengue and tuberculosis at the places planned to be visited during the trip.
- We recommend visiting https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods. Only private medical care exists in South Sudan, and this only in the capital.
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good general health and physical fitness are necessary. Furthermore, your patience will definitely be tested and you should prepare for hardships of long journeys, lassitude and discomfort.
- Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- insect repellents – absolutely necessary
- high sun protection cream (recommended SPF 50)
- disinfectants, wound dressing materials
- analgesics and antipyretics
- antibiotics, as a precaution
- anti-diarrhoeals, electrolytes and vitamins
The Republic of South Sudan is currently a moderately stable and relatively safe country. The actual terrorist threat or armed conflict risk is nowadays relatively low. We design our itineraries so as to avoid places that are potentially dangerous (border region with the Central African Republic and Sudan).
Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website:
The legal tender in the Republic of South Sudan is the South Sudanese pound. Currency exchange is possible only in the capital – at the airport and in hotels. It is very difficult elsewhere. Using payment cards is practically impossible outside the capital. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros and US dollars. UK pounds are not generally exchangeable.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
The official language in the Republic of South Sudan is English. Several dozen local languages are also spoken. For self-guided tours, you must speak English.
The South Sudan Republic is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Its inhabitants are predominantly Christians of different rites and followers of traditional African religions. Local customs and traditions are very much preserved.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
The tour dates are proposed in periods of the best possible weather conditions at the sites included in the itinerary. The best time for expeditions to the Republic of South Sudan is the period between February and the end of June. Temperatures exceed +30°C during the day and +20°C at night. Rainfalls should be expected. Major problems are low quality of roads, dust in the air in the dry season and mud after rainfalls.
For detailed information about the weather, see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages. In areas outside of large towns, mobile network services are mostly unavailable. Purchase of a local SIM-card is complicated and of little benefit. Before the trip, please enquire with your mobile network operator whether they have a contract signed with operators in South Sudan and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise, we recommend disabling mobile data usage.
- Wi-Fi is available only in hotels in Juba – the capital city – and in a handful of restaurants there.
- Power sockets of type C and D. Voltage 230 V, frequency 50 Hz.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank, solar charger or car charger. In national parks and in the course of car rides, it will be possible to charge electronic equipment only from vehicle power supplies.
Price
Price: £ 4290 p/p
During the expedition, we will travel by 4WD vehicles. Expected number of travellers in one vehicle: 3 + the driver. Our cars may not be equipped with air conditioning or the air conditioning system may be switched off because of too much dust particles in the air. Speed depends on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in South Sudan. Our priorities are your comfort, appropriate location, character of the site and historical, cultural and natural values. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section.
Two overnight stays in 3-star hotels are planned during the trip, only in the capital, Juba.
Apart from Juba, depending on availability, we will sleep in lodges and in tents on camping sites.
Meals are included in the tour price, as specified in the itinerary. B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner. Meals while travelling and during the stay in northern regions may be sometimes unvaried and repetitive, because of limited availability of foods. Apart from the capital and larger towns, only very basic foods can be bought.
For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Local guide and security guard services – where necessary
Entrance fees and permit charges.
Trip preparation, visa mediation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Republic of South Sudan
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
Visa costs and visa services. We will provide the necessary invitation to obtain a visa to the Republic of South Sudan
Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Personal expenses and souvenirs.
Surcharge for a single room and single tent: 550 £
The price does not includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Final notes
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible
For those interested and willing, it is possible to combine tour may be combined with trips to Sudan, Eritrea, Chad, Djibouti and Somaliland, Somalia, for this purpose, please contact BTP Adventure
We will keep updating the detailed information on the safety and final itinerary of the tour. Before you decide to submit the booking form, please learn about the current political and sanitary situation in the Republic of South Sudan.
The planned expedition is an exclusive proposal prepared on the basis of our experience and knowledge of the local peculiarities and major sightseeing attractions of South Sudan.
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling through this little-frequented and extremely interesting country.
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE
4290 £ Per Person
We can arrange a self-guided tour – if you are interested, please contact the office.
For those interested and willing, it is possible to combine tour may be combined with trips to Sudan, Eritrea, Chad, Djibouti and Somaliland, Somalia, for this purpose, please contact BTP Adventure
