South Sudan · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in South Sudan
These are the places worth your time in South Sudan, from Juba's markets and Nile-side terraces to the Mundari cattle camps, the Fula Rapids and the great plains of Badingilo. Classics sit beside quiet corners in Equatoria and beyond, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Juba
Arts and Culture
- Dr John Garang Mausoleum (Ministries area)
The resting place of the liberation leader and the ground where independence was declared in 2011. - St Theresa's Cathedral (Kator)
The Catholic cathedral of Juba, where Sunday Mass fills with song. - All Saints Cathedral (Juba Town)
The Episcopal cathedral at the centre of one of the country's largest churches. - Juba Grand Mosque (Juba Town)
The city's main mosque, a reminder of Juba's long Muslim community, best admired respectfully from outside. - Nyakuron Cultural Centre (Nyakuron)
The home of concerts, dance shows and national cultural events in Juba. - University of Juba (Juba Town)
The country's leading university, a hub of student life, debate and occasional public events. - Gondokoro (North of Juba, east bank)
The old Nile trading post where nineteenth century explorers set out, now a quiet village. - Sunday service at Kator (Kator)
Visitors are welcome at Sunday worship, full of choirs and drums.
Shopping and Markets
- Konyo Konyo Market (Konyo Konyo)
Juba's busiest old market, piled with dried Nile fish, grain, spices and everyday life. - Custom Market (Custom)
A sprawling trading hub where goods from Uganda, Kenya and beyond change hands. - Jebel Market (Jebel)
A lively market at the foot of Jebel Kujur, good for fresh produce and local snacks. - Gudele Market (Gudele)
A neighbourhood market in one of Juba's largest residential districts, very local and unhurried. - Wood carvings and beadwork sellers (Juba Town)
Look for carved stools, beaded jewellery and woven baskets from across the country.
Nature and Outdoors
- Jebel Kujur (Jebel)
The rocky hill west of the city, climbed at dawn for wide views over Juba and the Nile. - Sunset on the White Nile (Riverside)
Watch the light turn gold over the river from one of the Nile-side terraces. - Jebel Lado (North of Juba)
A lone mountain that gave its name to the historic Lado Enclave. - Nile riverbank at Kololo (Kololo)
A quieter stretch of riverbank for birds, breezes and fishermen at work.
Things to Do
- Freedom Bridge (Juba Na Bari)
The modern Nile crossing opened in 2022, best seen from the riverbank at sunset. - Old Juba Bridge (Juba Na Bari)
The older Nile bridge that carried the city's traffic east for decades. - Rejaf (South of Juba)
A historic riverside settlement south of the city, once a colonial post, with quiet Nile views. - Juba river port (Juba Town)
Watch barges and boats load cargo for the long journey down the Nile. - Boda boda ride through Juba Town (Juba Town)
A short daytime ride with a helmet shows how the city really moves. - Basketball at the outdoor courts (Juba)
Basketball is a national passion, and pickup games draw fans of all ages. - Kite flying and football on open grounds (Juba)
Join the weekend energy as families and kids gather in the cooler evening hours.
Events
- Juba Stadium (Juba Town)
Catch a football match or a national celebration with an enthusiastic local crowd. - Independence Day on 9 July (Citywide)
The country's biggest celebration, with parades, music and flags across the capital. - Christmas in Juba (Citywide)
Packed churches, choirs and family feasts make Christmas the warmest time to be in the city. - Martyrs' Day on 30 July (Citywide)
A day of remembrance for those lost in the liberation struggle, marked with services and gatherings. - SPLA Day on 16 May (Citywide)
The anniversary of the start of the 1983 uprising, remembered across the capital.
Restaurants
- Da Vinci Restaurant (Riverside, near the Juba Bridge)
A long-standing Nile-side terrace for wood-fired pizza and sunset over the water. - Logali House (Juba Town)
A favourite garden hotel restaurant for an easy lunch in central Juba. - Fish grills at Gumbo (Gumbo, east bank)
Fresh Nile tilapia grilled whole on the east bank, a true Juba treat. - Kisra and mulah stalls (Konyo Konyo)
Sorghum flatbread with okra or meat stew, the everyday lunch of the capital. - Ethiopian restaurants in Hai Amarat (Hai Amarat)
Sharing platters of injera and stews are a sociable, filling meal for groups. - Ugandan and Kenyan kitchens in Hai Cinema (Hai Cinema)
Matoke, nyama choma and chapati from the large East African community. - Lebanese grills in Tongping (Tongping)
Shawarma, grilled meats and mezze in the restaurants near the airport. - Goat meat grills in Munuki (Munuki)
Smoky grilled goat with onions and chilli, a favourite evening meal.
Stays
- Afex River Camp (Riverside, Juba Na Bari)
Tented rooms and a riverside bar right on the White Nile. - Crown Hotel (Juba Town)
One of Juba's established central hotels, with secure grounds and a busy restaurant. - Juba Grand Hotel (Juba Town)
A large, central hotel used by many visiting delegations, with a riverside setting. - Pyramid Continental Hotel (Tongping)
A long-running hotel close to the airport with a pool and conference facilities. - Acacia Village (Riverside, Juba Na Bari)
A riverside retreat with landscaped gardens and a calm, upmarket feel.
Cafés
- Street tea sellers in Juba Town (Juba Town)
Sweet spiced tea and ginger coffee poured by the tea ladies who keep the city running. - Ethiopian coffee in Hai Amarat (Hai Amarat)
Slow, smoky coffee ceremonies in the Ethiopian cafés of Juba's busiest food district. - Ful breakfast in Juba Town (Juba Town)
Stewed fava beans with bread and oil, the classic Juba breakfast. - Juice stands in Hai Malakal (Hai Malakal)
Fresh mango, avocado and passion fruit juices, a cooling stop on hot afternoons.
Bars and Nightlife
- Riverside bars at Juba Na Bari (Juba Na Bari)
Cold drinks and music by the water, livelier on weekends.
Places to Visit in Nimule
Nature and Outdoors
- Fula Rapids (Nimule National Park)
The Nile roars through rocky channels in the country's most dramatic river scene. - Nimule National Park (Nimule)
South Sudan's oldest protected area, with hippos, elephants and riverine forest. - Nile riverbank at sunset (Nimule)
Golden evening light over a wild stretch of the Nile. - Hippo pools below the rapids (Nimule National Park)
Hippos wallow in the slower water, the most reliable sighting in the park. - Birdwalk in the riverine forest (Nimule National Park)
Fish eagles, kingfishers and hornbills on an early morning walk with a ranger. - Aswa River (North of Nimule)
A wide seasonal river crossed on the highway, with quiet banks for birdwatching.
Shopping and Markets
- Nimule Market (Nimule town)
A border market where traders from Uganda and South Sudan meet.
Arts and Culture
- Madi community visit (Around Nimule)
Meet Madi families who have lived along this stretch of the Nile for generations.
Restaurants
- Grilled Nile fish in Nimule town (Nimule town)
Simple roadside grills serving fresh fish to travellers and truck drivers.
Things to Do
- Elephant watching along the Nile (Nimule National Park)
Elephants cross between South Sudan and Uganda, and patient visitors may spot them. - Juba to Nimule highway (Central and Eastern Equatoria)
The country's main paved road south, passing villages, hills and roadside markets.
Stays
- Simple guesthouses in Nimule town (Nimule town)
Basic rooms used by travellers crossing the border, fine for a night before the park.
Places to Visit in Terekeka
Things to Do
- Mundari cattle camps (Around Terekeka)
Long-horned cattle, smoke and ash in one of Africa's most extraordinary pastoral scenes. - Sunrise at a Mundari camp (Around Terekeka)
Watch herders rub cattle with ash and lead them out to graze at first light.
Shopping and Markets
- Terekeka Market (Terekeka town)
A small riverside market with fish, grain and daily essentials.
Nature and Outdoors
- Terekeka river landing (Terekeka town)
A busy Nile landing where boats and fishermen come and go.
Events
- Mundari wrestling (Around Terekeka)
Traditional wrestling contests draw cheering crowds, if you are lucky enough to see one.
Stays
- Camping near the cattle camps (Around Terekeka)
An overnight camp, arranged by your guide, gives you both sunset and sunrise.
Arts and Culture
- Evening songs in the camps (Around Terekeka)
Herders sing praise songs to their favourite bulls as the fires are lit.
Restaurants
- Dried fish and kisra in Terekeka (Terekeka town)
Simple meals of Nile fish and sorghum bread at the town's market stalls.
Places to Visit in Kapoeta
Shopping and Markets
- Kapoeta Market (Kapoeta town)
The busy hub of Toposa country, with goats, grain, beads and metalwork. - Toposa beadwork from the makers (Kapoeta)
Buy beaded necklaces and belts directly from the women who make them.
Arts and Culture
- Toposa villages (Around Kapoeta)
Visit fenced homesteads by arrangement and learn about Toposa cattle culture. - Carved Toposa stools (Kapoeta)
Look for the small carved stools that double as headrests, a classic local craft.
Things to Do
- Gold panning along seasonal rivers (Around Kapoeta)
See the artisanal gold diggings that have reshaped life in the area. - Cattle at dawn (Around Kapoeta)
Watch herds leave the thorn enclosures for the day's grazing.
Events
- Toposa dances (Around Kapoeta)
Celebrations bring leaping dances, songs and beaded finery.
Nature and Outdoors
- Didinga Hills (West of Kapoeta)
Green hills rising from the plains, home to the Didinga people.
Stays
- Guesthouses in Kapoeta town (Kapoeta town)
Basic rooms for travellers, arranged through your operator.
Places to Visit in Torit
Nature and Outdoors
- Imatong Mountains (South of Torit)
Forested mountains with cool air and the highest peaks in South Sudan. - Mount Kinyeti (Imatong Mountains)
The country's highest peak, a serious trek for experienced hikers with local guides. - Kidepo Game Reserve (South east of Torit)
A wild reserve bordering Uganda's Kidepo Valley, rarely visited from this side. - Katire forest (Imatong foothills)
Cool, green forest walks in the foothills of the Imatongs. - Lopit Hills (North of Torit)
Rugged granite hills dotted with villages, beautiful in the late afternoon.
Shopping and Markets
- Torit Market (Torit town)
The main market of Eastern Equatoria's capital, full of hill produce.
Arts and Culture
- Lafon (North of Torit)
A Pari village built on a rocky hill, with striking views over the plains. - Lotuko villages (Around Torit)
Meet Lotuko communities known for their age-set traditions and rain ceremonies.
Things to Do
- Torit town walk (Torit town)
A relaxed daytime walk through a small regional capital surrounded by hills.
Stays
- Guesthouses in Torit town (Torit town)
Simple rooms that break the long road between Juba and Kapoeta.
Places to Visit in Badingilo
Nature and Outdoors
- Badingilo National Park (North east of Juba)
Vast plains at the heart of one of the largest antelope migrations on Earth. - White-eared kob migration (Badingilo plains)
Huge herds moving with the seasons, a sight almost no traveller has seen. - Boma National Park (Near the Ethiopian border)
A remote sister park of grasslands and plateau on the same migration route. - Birdwatching on the plains (Badingilo National Park)
Raptors, cranes and waterbirds gather where grassland meets wetland.
Stays
- Expedition camping (Badingilo National Park)
Self-sufficient camps arranged with the park authorities are the only way to stay.
Places to Visit in Wau
Arts and Culture
- Wau Cathedral (Wau town)
A grand red-brick cathedral, one of the most striking buildings in the country.
Shopping and Markets
- Wau Market (Wau town)
The main market of the north west, with produce from across Western Bahr el Ghazal.
Nature and Outdoors
- Jur River at Wau (Wau town)
A peaceful riverbank on the river that runs through the town.
Places to Visit in Bor
Nature and Outdoors
- Sudd wetlands (North of Bor)
One of the largest wetlands in the world, a maze of papyrus and channels. - Bor riverfront (Bor town)
A Nile-side town front where boats arrive from upriver.
Places to Visit in Yei
Shopping and Markets
- Yei Market (Yei town)
A busy market town near the Congo and Uganda borders, known for its farm produce.
Nature and Outdoors
- Yei River (Yei town)
A green river valley in the farming heartland of Central Equatoria.
Places to Visit in Rumbek
Things to Do
- Dinka cattle camps near Rumbek (Lakes State)
Dinka herders tend long-horned cattle around the lakes, a different camp culture from the Mundari.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Munuki Market (Munuki, Juba)
A busy local market where Juba families shop, far from the hotel strip. - Notos Lounge (Tongping, Juba)
A relaxed garden restaurant known for Mediterranean plates and evening drinks. - Home and Away (Tongping, Juba)
A well-known bar and restaurant where Juba's mixed crowd meets on weekend nights. - Radisson Blu Hotel Juba (Tongping, Juba)
An international-standard hotel near the airport, convenient for short stays. - Quality Hotel (Juba Town, Juba)
A practical mid-range base with secure parking and a busy terrace. - Royal Palace Hotel (Juba Town, Juba)
A large hotel with a pool, popular for family gatherings and weddings. - Bedouin Lodge (Tongping, Juba)
A garden lodge with a relaxed bar, a long-time favourite with visitors. - Palm Africa Hotel (Hai Amarat, Juba)
A simpler, well-located option in one of Juba's busiest restaurant areas. - New Sudan Palace Hotel (Juba Town, Juba)
One of the older hotels from the early years of the capital. - Anataban Arts Initiative (Juba, Juba)
A collective of young artists using street art, theatre and music to talk about peace. - Likikiri Collective (Juba, Juba)
A South Sudanese art collective showing and supporting contemporary painters. - Roots Project (Juba, Juba)
A social enterprise selling handmade crafts by South Sudanese women. - Java House (Juba, Juba)
The East African café chain for a familiar coffee and a quiet table. - Community conservation projects (Around Badingilo, Badingilo)
Learn how local communities and rangers are working to protect the herds. - Ranger-guided game drives (Badingilo National Park, Badingilo)
Drive the plains with the people who know where the herds are moving.