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South Sudan 🇸🇸

backpacking Africa South Sudan 🇸🇸Mundari cattle camps, vast antelope plains and the Nile, by permit.

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Backpacking South Sudan in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
What a trip here is really like

Backpacking South Sudan
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

South Sudan is not a desert. The Sudd, the White Nile’s vast swamp, is one of Africa’s largest wetlands and spreads well beyond 30,000 square kilometers in the rains, while the far south and west are green savanna and forest running up to the Ugandan and Congolese borders.

The reasons to come are specific. Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka put you among long-horned cattle in the haze of dung-fire smoke. Boma and Badingilo national parks hold one of the largest land-mammal migrations on earth, mostly white-eared kob and tiang. Toposa villages around Kapoeta show a pastoral culture that has barely touched tourism. The problems are just as specific: Juba hotels are priced for aid budgets, many roads become impassable in the May to October rains, and photographing without a government permit can end with your camera held at a police post. Get the permit in Juba on day one and hire a local fixer, who will save you more in checkpoint delays than he costs.

Uganda is far easier and cheaper, with real tourist infrastructure. Ethiopia’s Omo Valley has the tribal culture, but per-photo fees have turned many villages there into stage sets. South Sudan suits patient travelers with a flexible budget who want places that aren’t performing for visitors. Skip it if you need fixed schedules or want to roam independently.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of South Sudan

Juba and Central Equatoria (Juba, Nimule, Jebel Kujur)

Juba is where every South Sudan trip starts and where money leaks fastest: rooms priced for aid-agency budgets, and police who stop anyone photographing near bridges or government buildings. Sort your registration and photography permit before the camera comes out. Climb Jebel Kujur for the view over the Nile, then take the paved road south to Nimule, roughly 3 to 4 hours, for the Fula Rapids and Nimule National Park. It suits first-timers testing the country.

Mundari Country (Terekeka, Mundari cattle camps)

The Mundari camps along the Nile near Terekeka are the reason many travelers come, and they earn it: dung-fire smoke, ash-dusted herders, long-horned cattle bedded down at dusk. Terekeka is about 2 hours north of Juba by 4x4, but camps shift with the season. Arriving without a guide who has community ties gets you turned away or hit with improvised fees, so agree every payment, including the camp contribution, before leaving Juba. Best for photographers and patient observers.

Eastern Equatoria (Torit, Kapoeta, Imatong Mountains)

Kapoeta’s market fills with Toposa herders in heavy beadwork, and the Imatong Mountains rise to Mount Kinyeti, at 3,187 meters the country’s highest point. The road Juba to Torit to Kapoeta takes 7 to 10 hours in the dry season. Attempting it between May and October is the classic mistake: mud turns one day into three. Go December to March, with a vehicle and driver hired for the whole loop. Suits rugged travelers with spare days.

Western Equatoria (Yambio, Maridi)

This is wet, green Azande country of teak plantations and mango trees near the Congo border, with a strong royal history around Yambio. Road security from Juba shifts month to month, so most visitors fly. Without local contacts, there is little here a short trip can reach, and I would skip it on a first visit. For slow travelers with a contact in Yambio, it shows a side of the country few outsiders see.

Jonglei and the Sudd (Bor, Sudd wetlands, Boma National Park)

Boma National Park hosts one of Africa’s largest antelope migrations, hundreds of thousands of white-eared kob, but reaching it means a charter flight costing thousands of dollars. Split it with a group or drop it. Bor sits 4 to 6 hours from Juba by road in the dry season, with boat trips into the Sudd papyrus swamps beyond. Intercommunal clashes flare here, so check conditions locally first. Suits wildlife obsessives with deep pockets.
Safety warning

The current risk level for South Sudan is high. Check the advice before going.
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Seeing the layout at a glance
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⭐ HighlightsStandout locations across the country

  • Mundari Cattle Camps, Terekeka: At dusk thousands of long-horned cattle file back into camp, tethered to pegs while herders light smoldering dung fires to drive off mosquitoes. The ash from those fires coats the young men’s skin a powdery gray, and the air smells of smoke, milk and warm animal. This is the defining image of South Sudan, and it is real working life rather than a show.
  • Boma National Park: The plains here are flat, enormous and quiet until the herds arrive. White-eared kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelle move across them in columns that stretch to the horizon, and the dust they raise hangs in the light for an hour after they pass.
  • Kapoeta and Toposa Villages: Compounds of round thatched huts sit behind thorn fences, and women wear heavy layers of beaded necklaces that click when they walk. Market days bring herders, gold panners and traders together, with sorghum beer sold from gourds.
  • Juba’s Nile Riverbank: The White Nile runs brown and fast past Juba, and at sunset fishermen paddle
… read more 👉
  • Mundari Cattle Camps, Terekeka: At dusk thousands of long-horned cattle file back into camp, tethered to pegs while herders light smoldering dung fires to drive off mosquitoes. The ash from those fires coats the young men’s skin a powdery gray, and the air smells of smoke, milk and warm animal. This is the defining image of South Sudan, and it is real working life rather than a show.
  • Boma National Park: The plains here are flat, enormous and quiet until the herds arrive. White-eared kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelle move across them in columns that stretch to the horizon, and the dust they raise hangs in the light for an hour after they pass.
  • Kapoeta and Toposa Villages: Compounds of round thatched huts sit behind thorn fences, and women wear heavy layers of beaded necklaces that click when they walk. Market days bring herders, gold panners and traders together, with sorghum beer sold from gourds.
  • Juba’s Nile Riverbank: The White Nile runs brown and fast past Juba, and at sunset fishermen paddle dugouts between the reeds while bars along the bank fill with music. Nearby, the John Garang Mausoleum is where the country’s independence was declared and where you understand how recent all of this is.
  • Nimule National Park: Near the Ugandan border, the Nile squeezes through the Fula Rapids, loud enough to drown conversation on the rocks above. Elephants and hippos use the riverine forest, and the park is one of the more accessible protected areas by road from Juba.
Off the map, look at the cloud forest of the Imatong Mountains, the Sudd’s papyrus channels by boat from Bor, and Wau’s red-brick cathedral.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesHow travelers typically move through the country

The 5-Day Capital and Nile Border Route

A compact first taste of South Sudan that pairs the capital’s independence landmarks with the rapids and wildlife of the Ugandan border. Short, paved road transfers keep the pace easy and leave room for a proper park day.
  • The John Garang Mausoleum and Juba’s cathedrals
  • An evening performance at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre
  • The Fula Rapids in Nimule National Park

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Cattle Camps and Highlands Route

An overland journey through the herding cultures of the Nile and the far east, with a cool mountain break in between. Expect smoke-filled dawns in the cattle camps, long dusty drives and markets few outsiders see.
  • Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka
  • Forest trails in the Imatong Mountains
  • Toposa markets and gold panning around Kapoeta

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand South Sudan Route

The deepest look at the country, linking the northwest, the remote eastern plains and the southern highlands by plane and 4x4. It suits … read more 👉

The 5-Day Capital and Nile Border Route

A compact first taste of South Sudan that pairs the capital’s independence landmarks with the rapids and wildlife of the Ugandan border. Short, paved road transfers keep the pace easy and leave room for a proper park day.
  • The John Garang Mausoleum and Juba’s cathedrals
  • An evening performance at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre
  • The Fula Rapids in Nimule National Park

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Cattle Camps and Highlands Route

An overland journey through the herding cultures of the Nile and the far east, with a cool mountain break in between. Expect smoke-filled dawns in the cattle camps, long dusty drives and markets few outsiders see.
  • Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka
  • Forest trails in the Imatong Mountains
  • Toposa markets and gold panning around Kapoeta

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand South Sudan Route

The deepest look at the country, linking the northwest, the remote eastern plains and the southern highlands by plane and 4x4. It suits travelers ready to invest in a charter flight for one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.
  • The red-brick cathedral town of Wau
  • The antelope migration in Boma National Park
  • Views of Mount Kinyeti, the country’s highest peak
  • The White Nile at Nimule

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit South Sudan

The best time for backpacking South Sudan is December to February, when the dry season hardens dirt roads, Mundari cattle camps gather along the Nile near Terekeka, and wildlife concentrates around water. Prices stay high all year, so timing buys you access, not discounts. The north around Malakal and Renk has the shortest rains (roughly June to September), while Western Equatoria around Yambio stays wet from about March to November.
  • Peak dry season (December to February): Juba days run 33 to 36°C under a dusty haze, nights are drier and more comfortable, and roads to the countryside are passable. Visitor numbers are tiny, but the few guides and drivers book up first now.
  • Hot build-up (March to April): Juba hits 37 to 38°C, the hottest weeks of the year, and the first storms reach the south by April.
  • Rainy season (May to October): Heavy afternoon downpours turn clay roads to impassable mud, the Sudd swells, and much of Jonglei and Unity is reachable only by air. Malaria risk peaks.
  • Drying out (November): Rain tapers off, the land is green, and roads open week by week.
The risk people ignore is floodwater: since 2019, record floods have kept parts of Jonglei and Unity under water well into the dry season, so a dry calendar month does not guarantee a dry road. Book your guide and travel permits at least a month ahead for December to February.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: below average for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
SouthSudan-iStock-471039529

💰 Costs (as of 2026)How expensive it really is

Backpacking South Sudan runs about US$70 to 150 a day, roughly double what you’d spend in Uganda, Kenya or Ethiopia, and nearly all of that extra goes on rooms and vehicles.
Prices for anything imported or foreigner-facing are set in US dollars, and you pay them in dollars. Bring clean, undamaged bills printed after 2013, because older or torn notes often get refused. Street food, boda bodas and market goods are priced in South Sudanese pounds (SSP). The pound has lost value fast for years, so check the rate when you arrive and change small amounts at a time.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$40 to 80 per nightJuba has no backpacker dorms. The cheapest guesthouse rooms in areas like Hai Malakal or near Konyo Konyo market cost US$40 to 60, while the riverside tented camps aimed at NGO staff charge US$90 to 150. To pay less, share a twin room, or stay with a contact through a church or local organization. In Kampala a dorm bed costs US$10 to 15.
MealsUS$8 to 20 per dayA plate of ful (stewed beans) or rice with beans at a local canteen costs US$2 to 4, paid in pounds. Grilled Nile fish runs US$5 to 8, and sweet tea from a street stall under US$1. Self-catering costs more
… read more 👉
Backpacking South Sudan runs about US$70 to 150 a day, roughly double what you’d spend in Uganda, Kenya or Ethiopia, and nearly all of that extra goes on rooms and vehicles.
Prices for anything imported or foreigner-facing are set in US dollars, and you pay them in dollars. Bring clean, undamaged bills printed after 2013, because older or torn notes often get refused. Street food, boda bodas and market goods are priced in South Sudanese pounds (SSP). The pound has lost value fast for years, so check the rate when you arrive and change small amounts at a time.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$40 to 80 per nightJuba has no backpacker dorms. The cheapest guesthouse rooms in areas like Hai Malakal or near Konyo Konyo market cost US$40 to 60, while the riverside tented camps aimed at NGO staff charge US$90 to 150. To pay less, share a twin room, or stay with a contact through a church or local organization. In Kampala a dorm bed costs US$10 to 15.
MealsUS$8 to 20 per dayA plate of ful (stewed beans) or rice with beans at a local canteen costs US$2 to 4, paid in pounds. Grilled Nile fish runs US$5 to 8, and sweet tea from a street stall under US$1. Self-catering costs more than it would in Uganda or Kenya: Juba supermarkets stock trucked-in Ugandan and Kenyan goods at 1.5 to 2 times Kampala prices, and a 1.5-liter bottle of water costs about US$1.
Local transportUS$3 to 15 per day in townA short boda boda hop in Juba costs about US$1 to 2 in pounds, and a minibus ride well under US$1. Buses are the cheapest way out of the country: Juba to Nimule costs US$10 to 15 and Juba to Kampala US$40 to 60. Flights to Wau or Malakal cost US$150 to 300 one way.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 300 per dayWalking around Juba costs nothing. The real expense is a 4x4 with a driver, at US$150 to 250 a day, which you need for a Mundari cattle camp visit or any trip into the bush. Guided cattle camp day trips cost US$150 to 300 per person, which drops sharply if you split the cost between four people.
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 20 per dayA local SIM costs about US$2 to 5, and mobile data costs more than in Kenya. You must register with immigration in Juba and get a photography permit, and each comes with fees and sometimes a fixer. Budget around US$100 for the visa itself.
Total Daily BudgetUS$70 to 150Spend a quiet day in Juba with a US$50 guesthouse room, canteen meals and bodas, and you’ll land around US$70. Add a shared 4x4 day trip and you’ll reach US$150 or more. A comparable day costs US$30 to 40 in Uganda and US$25 to 35 in Ethiopia.
I’d spend most of my money on one well-organized trip out of Juba with a reliable guide and skip extra nights in the city, where the price of a room says nothing about how good it is.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutSouth Sudan Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (242 pages) contains:
✅ 57 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

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✅ Fully downloadable PDF
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to base yourself

South Sudan has no real backpacker hostel scene, so budget travel means basic guesthouses and prefab container-room camps in Juba, typically US$50 to 100 a night, with mid-range hotels running US$120 to 250. Tongping, by the airport, has the densest cluster of guesthouses, restaurants and bars, plus some of the city’s better security. Hai Amarat and Hai Cinema are quieter and have good places to eat, the riverside camps along the White Nile are pleasant at sundown but a ride from everything, and the cheaper rooms around Juba Town and Konyo Konyo market sit beside the action but are noisier and … read more 👉
South Sudan has no real backpacker hostel scene, so budget travel means basic guesthouses and prefab container-room camps in Juba, typically US$50 to 100 a night, with mid-range hotels running US$120 to 250. Tongping, by the airport, has the densest cluster of guesthouses, restaurants and bars, plus some of the city’s better security. Hai Amarat and Hai Cinema are quieter and have good places to eat, the riverside camps along the White Nile are pleasant at sundown but a ride from everything, and the cheaper rooms around Juba Town and Konyo Konyo market sit beside the action but are noisier and rougher after dark.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.



Best quality hotels in South Sudan

🚌 Getting aroundPublic transport and other ways to get around

A typical travel day in South Sudan means the paved highway from Juba to Nimule on the Ugandan border: a packed bus or minibus, 3 to 4 hours, roughly US$10 to 20 paid in dollars or the pound equivalent at the departure park. Beyond that one reliable road, overland travel gets slow, seasonal and often insecure, so flights do the heavy lifting for anything long. Every trip outside Juba also needs a travel permit from the Ministry of Interior, and checkpoints will ask for it, so sort it before you … read more 👉
A typical travel day in South Sudan means the paved highway from Juba to Nimule on the Ugandan border: a packed bus or minibus, 3 to 4 hours, roughly US$10 to 20 paid in dollars or the pound equivalent at the departure park. Beyond that one reliable road, overland travel gets slow, seasonal and often insecure, so flights do the heavy lifting for anything long. Every trip outside Juba also needs a travel permit from the Ministry of Interior, and checkpoints will ask for it, so sort it before you buy any ticket.
  • Domestic flights: Local carriers link Juba with Wau, Malakal, Rumbek, Aweil and Bor, with one-way fares of roughly US$150 to 300 for 1 to 2 hours in the air. Book at airline offices or travel agents in Juba and pay cash in dollars. Delays of several hours, or a full day, are normal, so never schedule an international departure the same day you fly back to Juba. UNHAS flights carry aid workers only, so don’t build a plan around them.
  • Juba to Kampala buses: The run takes 12 to 16 hours and costs about US$40 to 60, crossing at Nimule. Buy a seat a day ahead at company offices in central Juba and take the early morning departure. Keep your passport, visa and permits in a front pocket, because checkpoints come often.
  • Minibuses and shared cars: These fill up at Juba’s parks before leaving for towns such as Bor (4 to 6 hours in the dry season, about US$10 to 25). Ask locally about that week’s security before going, and skip these routes from May to October, when rain turns dirt roads into mud that can strand vehicles for days.
  • Boda-bodas: Motorbike taxis are the quickest way around Juba at about US$1 to 3 a hop. Agree the fare before you climb on, as there are no meters and helmets are rare. Stop using them after dark.
  • Car with driver: Expect US$100 to 200 a day in Juba, more for trips outside. It costs more, but a driver who knows the checkpoints saves hours of permit questions and is the safest option for day trips.
Treat Juba as a hub and fly out and back on each leg instead of chaining overland routes between regional towns, and travel between December and March, when roads are at their best and flights get cancelled less often.
Juba International Airport (JUB) in South Sudan is about 3 km (2 miles) from central Juba, and a shared minibus along the main road is the cheapest option, though most first-timers take a taxi or a pre-arranged hotel pickup.
  • Shared minibus (15 to 30 minutes, roughly US$0.50 to 1 in South Sudanese pounds): flag one down on the main road outside the airport gate heading toward Juba Town and Konyo Konyo, pay the conductor in small pound notes, and expect service to thin out after dark.
  • Boda-boda (motorbike taxi) (10 to 15 minutes, roughly US$2 to 5): riders wait just outside the terminal area, so agree the price in pounds before you climb on, and skip this option with a big backpack or after nightfall.
  • Taxi (10 to 20 minutes, roughly US$10 to 20): cars wait at the arrivals exit with no meters, so settle the fare upfront, carry clean small US dollar notes or pounds, and know that drivers work until the last flight.
  • Hotel or guesthouse pickup (10 to 20 minutes, free to US$20): most places in Tongping and beyond offer it, so book when you reserve and the driver will be holding a sign at arrivals.
If you land late, arrange a hotel pickup in advance rather than hunting for a ride outside, since streets empty quickly after dark and checkpoints are more frequent at night.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
🚀 Don’t waste time on the road.
We’ll generate a route that minimizes unnecessary travel and fits your available days.

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🔒 Safety (risk Level: high)Staying safe while traveling

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
South Sudan is one of the most challenging countries for solo travelers, and most Western governments advise against all travel due to armed conflict, crime and checkpoints in many areas. Juba is manageable with care if you stay in reputable accommodation, carry your permits, avoid moving around after dark and arrange trusted transport, but travel outside the capital requires up-to-date local security advice. Women travelers face conservative attitudes and a real risk of harassment, so modest dress and traveling with a known driver or guide are wise. Same-sex relations are criminalized with prison sentences of up to 10 years, so LGBTQ+ travelers should be fully discreet and avoid any public displays of affection.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
View details 👉
safety image

source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaWhat travelers should know about visas

Yes, almost all foreign visitors, including citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, need a visa to visit South Sudan. Apply through the official South Sudan e-visa portal or at a South Sudanese embassy before travel, usually with a letter of invitation from a host, hotel or organization in the country, a passport valid for at least six months and a yellow fever certificate. After arrival, foreigners must register with the immigration authorities in Juba and obtain separate permits for travel outside the capital and for photography.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?Packing essentials for the trip

Packing for South Sudan starts with the heat: daytime temperatures often hit 35 to 40°C in the dry months, so light, breathable, long-sleeved clothing beats shorts for both sun protection and mosquito defense. If you travel during the rainy season from roughly May to October, sturdy shoes that can handle thick mud and a rain shell will matter more than anything else in your bag. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, which keeps you comfortable at checkpoints and in conservative communities. Power cuts are frequent and shops outside Juba stock little, so bring your own lighting, medicine, a water filter and extra passport photos and document copies for the many permits you will need.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQFrequently asked questions

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through South Sudan can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized South Sudan itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter South Sudan, and officials check it at the airport. Health authorities also recommend hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B, polio, meningococcal meningitis (the country lies in the African meningitis belt), cholera and rabies, plus routine shots such as tetanus and measles. Malaria is present year-round nationwide, so malaria tablets are strongly advised. See a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in South Sudan, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

In South Sudan, respect for elders and community hierarchy runs deep, so let older people speak first, accept offered tea or food when you can and use your right hand for eating and passing things. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially in rural areas and churches. Do carry your photography permit, and still ask before photographing anyone; don’t photograph soldiers, police, government buildings, bridges or the airport, as this can lead to detention. Cattle carry enormous social and economic value for groups like the Dinka and Nuer, so treat herds and cattle camps with respect and never wander in without permission. Avoid discussing ethnicity, the civil war or politics unless your host raises it. Public displays of affection are frowned upon for everyone, and same-sex relationships are illegal, so LGBTQ+ couples should stay strictly discreet; women traveling alone will find that a firm, polite manner and conservative clothing reduce unwanted attention.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for South Sudan.
  1. Kisra: A thin, slightly sour flatbread made from fermented sorghum batter cooked on a hot griddle. It is the everyday staple of South Sudanese meals, torn by hand and used to scoop up stews.
  2. Asida (Aseeda): A thick, smooth porridge of sorghum or maize flour, shaped into a mound and served with a sauce or stew. It is filling, cheap and eaten across the country, often shared from one bowl.
  3. Mulah: A stew of meat, okra, dried fish or greens, often thickened with peanut paste. It is the usual partner for kisra or asida and varies from household to household.
  4. Kudra: A dish of leafy greens similar to spinach, cooked with onions and sometimes peanut butter. It is a common, affordable home-cooked side found in markets and family kitchens.
  5. Wal-wal: Small balls of sorghum flour cooked and served with milk or sour milk. It reflects the central role of cattle and dairy in Dinka and Nuer food culture.
  6. Ful medames: Slow-cooked fava beans mashed with oil, onion and spices, eaten with bread. It is a popular cheap breakfast at small eateries in Juba.
  7. Grilled Nile fish: Fresh or dried tilapia and Nile perch, grilled or cooked in stews. Fish from the White Nile and its swamps is a key protein source, especially in riverside communities.
Tap water in South Sudan is not safe to drink, and many locals rely on boreholes, rivers or treated sources rather than piped supplies. Tourists should avoid tap water entirely, including for brushing teeth, and skip ice of unknown origin. Bottled water is easy to buy in Juba, and a quality filter or purification tablets are wise for travel outside the capital.
The main language in South Sudan is Dinka. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Dinka skills have become a bit rusty.

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English is South Sudan’s official language, so in Juba you can handle hotels, government offices, NGOs and most shops in it without much trouble. Younger, school-educated people and staff at guesthouses usually speak it well, while in rural areas it thins out fast and local languages such as Dinka, Nuer and Bari take over. Juba Arabic, a simplified Arabic used as a common language between communities, is the one that helps most, especially in markets and with boda-boda drivers. Learning a handful of Juba Arabic phrases like salaam (hello), shukran (thank you) and kam? (how much?) wins smiles and smoother bargaining.

Money & Payments

The local currency of South Sudan is SSP (£).
South Sudan runs largely on cash, and ATMs are scarce: a handful of bank machines in Juba occasionally accept foreign Visa cards, but they often run dry or reject cards, and outside the capital you should assume there are none. Cards are taken only at a few upscale hotels and some expat-oriented businesses in Juba, sometimes with surcharges of 3 to 5 percent, so don’t count on them. Bring all the money you need in US dollars, which are widely used for hotels, flights, permits and taxis; euros are far harder to exchange. Notes should be clean, undamaged and printed from 2013 onward, and $50 and $100 bills get better rates than small ones. Change dollars into South Sudanese pounds for markets and small purchases at banks or licensed forex bureaus in Juba rather than with street changers, and keep a stash of small dollar notes for everyday payments.
Tipping is not a deep-rooted custom in South Sudan, but it is appreciated, especially in Juba’s hotels and restaurants that cater to expats. Leaving about 5 to 10 percent at sit-down restaurants or rounding up the bill is generous, while drivers, guides and porters are usually happy with a few dollars for good service. Taxi and boda-boda fares are agreed in advance and don’t require a tip.

🧩 Nearby countriesOther countries to combine with South Sudan

We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways from the trip

Backpacking South Sudan feels slow, bureaucratic and then suddenly, at a cattle camp at dusk, completely worth every delay. The best surprise is how much people want to talk, often in good English, about their country’s story. I would bring patience, small US dollar notes in clean condition, and a fixer’s phone number before flying in. The lingering fear is hostility toward foreigners; in practice the friction comes from officials checking permits, not from ordinary people, who tend to be curious and welcoming.

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The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in South Sudan. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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