The White Nile at Juba, South SudanPhoto: Umar sheriff habibullah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in South Sudan
South Sudan, made clear: the Nile, cattle camps and wild horizons
South Sudan is the world's youngest country, with the White Nile running through its heart, cattle camps that look unchanged for centuries and one of the largest wildlife migrations on Earth. It is also a place where governments warn strongly against travel. This guide gives you honest answers on safety, entry, money and seasons, so you can decide with a clear head.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, eVisa, yellow fever and clean dollars, answered
- LandingJuba's airport, permits and first night, explained
- Your days in South SudanJuba, the Nile and the parks, planned around the seasons
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest answersWe tell you plainly what governments advise and where visitors actually go.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain why Juba is expensive and how to budget without shocks.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
South Sudan asks more of travellers than almost anywhere. We answer the hard questions first, so you can choose whether to go, when to go and who to go with, and travel with your eyes open.
Coming home to see family in Juba, Wau, Bor or Yei? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels well planned.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice for South Sudan, which shapes every other decision.
- Choose your South SudanFamily time in Juba, a cattle camp visit, or a specialist trip to Badingilo or Nimule.
- Sort the essentialseVisa, yellow fever certificate, clean US dollars and permits, checked against official sources.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape realistic days with established, specialist operators.
Everything your South Sudan trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Juba, Nimule, Terekeka, Kapoeta and Badingilo, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
Markets, Nile-side restaurants, hills, cathedrals and stays, from classics to quiet corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Juba and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The South Sudan few people see
The White Nile, cattle camps and a great migration
South Sudan's draws are rare and powerful: the White Nile flowing past Juba, Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka where long-horned cattle are the centre of life, and Badingilo and Boma national parks, where vast herds of antelope move across the plains. They are reached with specialist operators and careful planning.
- Sunset on the White Nile in Juba
- Mundari cattle camps at dawn and dusk
- The antelope migration of Badingilo and Boma
- Fula Rapids and the Nile near Nimule
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the camps and the parks fit together.
South Sudan destinationsPlan with confidence
A realistic route, without the worry
Roads are few, permits matter and government advice covers the whole country. Our free planner helps you think through seasons, travel times and the kind of support a trip here needs.
- Realistic travel times
- The right season for the parks and camps
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in South Sudan
From the capital on the White Nile to the cattle camps, the rapids and the great plains.
Central Equatoria
Juba
South Sudan's young, fast-growing capital on the White Nile, with busy markets and riverside sunsets.
Read the guidePhoto: Rigan123, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Equatoria
Nimule National Park
A riverside park on the Uganda border with the Fula Rapids, hippos and Nile forests.
Read the guidePhoto: Amoko Joseph, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central Equatoria
Terekeka
The home of the Mundari people and their extraordinary long-horned cattle camps on the Nile.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Equatoria
Kapoeta
A frontier market town in the land of the Toposa, famous for beadwork and cattle culture.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central and Eastern Equatoria
Badingilo National Park
Vast plains where huge herds of white-eared kob, tiang and gazelle move with the seasons.
Read the guidePhoto: Michael Walsh, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is South Sudan safe for visitors?
South Sudan carries some of the strongest government travel warnings in the world. The UK and US advise against all travel there, citing armed conflict, crime and kidnapping. Read your own government's current advice before booking, check your insurance, and travel only with established operators and a clear plan.
Do I need a visa for South Sudan?
Most visitors need a visa, and South Sudan runs an official eVisa system. Rules vary by passport, so check the official eVisa site and your nearest South Sudanese embassy before you book.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
South Sudan expects proof of yellow fever vaccination on arrival, so carry your certificate with your passport. See a travel clinic about malaria prevention and other vaccines as well.
When is the best time to visit South Sudan?
The dry season, roughly December to March, is best for most trips. Unpaved roads become impassable in the rains, and the wildlife migration is easiest to see in the dry months.
What languages are spoken in South Sudan?
English is the official language and Juba Arabic is the everyday common tongue in the capital. Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande and dozens of other languages are spoken across the country.
What money should I bring?
Bring clean, recent US dollar notes in cash. Cards are rarely accepted and cash machines are unreliable, so plan your money before you fly.
Ready to find your Bliss in South Sudan?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates, the seasons and the current advice.