How many parks to visit: I advise
one or two parks on a single trip, not a collection. Each stop takes a day or more just to reach, permits and escorts are arranged per area, and the budget is front-loaded into transport. Two well-chosen stops, with spare days, give far better wildlife time than four rushed ones.
Which kind to prioritize: Backpackers on a tighter budget should choose the
road-accessible southern border area. It costs a fraction of the remote east, with simple lodging and local transport options. Travelers with a bigger budget who want large-scale wildlife should choose a
remote migration landscape through a specialist operator, because independent access there is effectively impossible. The far northern floodplain areas are not worth the money for a first visit, since access …
read more 👉 How many parks to visit: I advise one or two parks on a single trip, not a collection. Each stop takes a day or more just to reach, permits and escorts are arranged per area, and the budget is front-loaded into transport. Two well-chosen stops, with spare days, give far better wildlife time than four rushed ones.
Which kind to prioritize: Backpackers on a tighter budget should choose the road-accessible southern border area. It costs a fraction of the remote east, with simple lodging and local transport options. Travelers with a bigger budget who want large-scale wildlife should choose a remote migration landscape through a specialist operator, because independent access there is effectively impossible. The far northern floodplain areas are not worth the money for a first visit, since access is hard and facilities are absent.
What it costs: Expect US$100 to 200 a day for a southern trip using guesthouses, shared vehicles and a hired guide, and US$400 to 800 a day on an organized remote trip, where charter flights are the main cost and can add several thousand dollars per group. Entry or conservation fees are usually tens of dollars per person (US$20 to 50), with a ranger or guide at roughly US$30 to 100 a day. Budget Juba hotels run US$80 to 150 a night, and almost everything is priced and paid in US dollars, in clean recent notes. Carry more cash than you think you need, because cards and ATMs are unreliable.
Costs and delays that catch people out: The e-visa costs around US$100 and the processing time varies, so apply weeks ahead. On arrival, register with immigration and get a travel permit for movement outside Juba, plus a photography permit; skipping these causes fines and held-up checkpoints. Yellow fever vaccination proof is required, and malaria prophylaxis is essential. A cancelled charter in rain can strand you, so buy insurance that covers evacuation and regional conflict.
Safety and culture: Check your government’s advice for each area, then use local security briefings through your operator before moving. Stay on established tracks because of landmines and unexploded ordnance in former conflict zones. Cattle-herding communities may be armed, so never photograph people without asking and clearing it with your guide. Do not photograph soldiers, bridges or government buildings. Dress modestly, greet people properly and expect checkpoints; keep copies of your documents and a little cash for small official fees.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.