Find places in South Sudan

Must-Haves

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Juba Grand Mosque (Juba Town)
  The city's main mosque, a reminder of Juba's long Muslim community, best admired respectfully from outside.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nyakuron Cultural Centre (Nyakuron)
  The home of concerts, dance shows and national cultural events in Juba.

Must-Haves

• Konyo Konyo Market (Konyo Konyo)
  Juba's busiest old market, piled with dried Nile fish, grain, spices and everyday life.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Wood carvings and beadwork sellers (Juba Town)
  Look for carved stools, beaded jewellery and woven baskets from across the country.

Must-Haves

• Jebel Kujur (Jebel)
  The rocky hill west of the city, climbed at dawn for wide views over Juba and the Nile.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset on the White Nile (Riverside)
  Watch the light turn gold over the river from one of the Nile-side terraces.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jebel Lado (North of Juba)
  A lone mountain that gave its name to the historic Lado Enclave.

Fun for Everyone

• Nile riverbank at Kololo (Kololo)
  A quieter stretch of riverbank for birds, breezes and fishermen at work.

Must-Haves

• Freedom Bridge (Juba Na Bari)
  The modern Nile crossing opened in 2022, best seen from the riverbank at sunset.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Juba river port (Juba Town)
  Watch barges and boats load cargo for the long journey down the Nile.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Boda boda ride through Juba Town (Juba Town)
  A short daytime ride with a helmet shows how the city really moves.

Fun for Everyone

• Juba Stadium (Juba Town)
  Catch a football match or a national celebration with an enthusiastic local crowd.
• Christmas in Juba (Citywide)
  Packed churches, choirs and family feasts make Christmas the warmest time to be in the city.

Must-Haves

• Independence Day on 9 July (Citywide)
  The country's biggest celebration, with parades, music and flags across the capital.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Martyrs' Day on 30 July (Citywide)
  A day of remembrance for those lost in the liberation struggle, marked with services and gatherings.

Off the Beaten Path

• SPLA Day on 16 May (Citywide)
  The anniversary of the start of the 1983 uprising, remembered across the capital.

Great for Date Night

• Da Vinci Restaurant (Riverside, near the Juba Bridge)
  A long-standing Nile-side terrace for wood-fired pizza and sunset over the water.

Must-Haves

• Logali House (Juba Town)
  A favourite garden hotel restaurant for an easy lunch in central Juba.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Ethiopian restaurants in Hai Amarat (Hai Amarat)
  Sharing platters of injera and stews are a sociable, filling meal for groups.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Pyramid Continental Hotel (Tongping)
  A long-running hotel close to the airport with a pool and conference facilities.

Great for Date Night

• Acacia Village (Riverside, Juba Na Bari)
  A riverside retreat with landscaped gardens and a calm, upmarket feel.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Street tea sellers in Juba Town (Juba Town)
  Sweet spiced tea and ginger coffee poured by the tea ladies who keep the city running.
• Ful breakfast in Juba Town (Juba Town)
  Stewed fava beans with bread and oil, the classic Juba breakfast.

Must-Haves

• Ethiopian coffee in Hai Amarat (Hai Amarat)
  Slow, smoky coffee ceremonies in the Ethiopian cafés of Juba's busiest food district.

Fun for Everyone

• Juice stands in Hai Malakal (Hai Malakal)
  Fresh mango, avocado and passion fruit juices, a cooling stop on hot afternoons.

Fun for Everyone

• Riverside bars at Juba Na Bari (Juba Na Bari)
  Cold drinks and music by the water, livelier on weekends.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• Nile riverbank at sunset (Nimule)
  Golden evening light over a wild stretch of the Nile.

Fun for Everyone

• Hippo pools below the rapids (Nimule National Park)
  Hippos wallow in the slower water, the most reliable sighting in the park.

Off the Beaten Path

• Birdwalk in the riverine forest (Nimule National Park)
  Fish eagles, kingfishers and hornbills on an early morning walk with a ranger.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Nimule Market (Nimule town)
  A border market where traders from Uganda and South Sudan meet.

Off the Beaten Path

• Madi community visit (Around Nimule)
  Meet Madi families who have lived along this stretch of the Nile for generations.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grilled Nile fish in Nimule town (Nimule town)
  Simple roadside grills serving fresh fish to travellers and truck drivers.

Fun for Everyone

• Elephant watching along the Nile (Nimule National Park)
  Elephants cross between South Sudan and Uganda, and patient visitors may spot them.

Off the Beaten Path

• Juba to Nimule highway (Central and Eastern Equatoria)
  The country's main paved road south, passing villages, hills and roadside markets.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Simple guesthouses in Nimule town (Nimule town)
  Basic rooms used by travellers crossing the border, fine for a night before the park.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Terekeka Market (Terekeka town)
  A small riverside market with fish, grain and daily essentials.

Off the Beaten Path

• Terekeka river landing (Terekeka town)
  A busy Nile landing where boats and fishermen come and go.

Fun for Everyone

• Mundari wrestling (Around Terekeka)
  Traditional wrestling contests draw cheering crowds, if you are lucky enough to see one.

Off the Beaten Path

• Camping near the cattle camps (Around Terekeka)
  An overnight camp, arranged by your guide, gives you both sunset and sunrise.

Off the Beaten Path

• Evening songs in the camps (Around Terekeka)
  Herders sing praise songs to their favourite bulls as the fires are lit.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dried fish and kisra in Terekeka (Terekeka town)
  Simple meals of Nile fish and sorghum bread at the town's market stalls.

Must-Haves

• Kapoeta Market (Kapoeta town)
  The busy hub of Toposa country, with goats, grain, beads and metalwork.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Toposa beadwork from the makers (Kapoeta)
  Buy beaded necklaces and belts directly from the women who make them.

Must-Haves

• Toposa villages (Around Kapoeta)
  Visit fenced homesteads by arrangement and learn about Toposa cattle culture.

Off the Beaten Path

• Carved Toposa stools (Kapoeta)
  Look for the small carved stools that double as headrests, a classic local craft.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gold panning along seasonal rivers (Around Kapoeta)
  See the artisanal gold diggings that have reshaped life in the area.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Cattle at dawn (Around Kapoeta)
  Watch herds leave the thorn enclosures for the day's grazing.

Fun for Everyone

• Toposa dances (Around Kapoeta)
  Celebrations bring leaping dances, songs and beaded finery.

Off the Beaten Path

• Didinga Hills (West of Kapoeta)
  Green hills rising from the plains, home to the Didinga people.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Guesthouses in Kapoeta town (Kapoeta town)
  Basic rooms for travellers, arranged through your operator.

Must-Haves

• Imatong Mountains (South of Torit)
  Forested mountains with cool air and the highest peaks in South Sudan.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.
• Lopit Hills (North of Torit)
  Rugged granite hills dotted with villages, beautiful in the late afternoon.

Fun for Everyone

• Katire forest (Imatong foothills)
  Cool, green forest walks in the foothills of the Imatongs.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Torit Market (Torit town)
  The main market of Eastern Equatoria's capital, full of hill produce.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lafon (North of Torit)
  A Pari village built on a rocky hill, with striking views over the plains.

Must-Haves

• Lotuko villages (Around Torit)
  Meet Lotuko communities known for their age-set traditions and rain ceremonies.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Torit town walk (Torit town)
  A relaxed daytime walk through a small regional capital surrounded by hills.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Guesthouses in Torit town (Torit town)
  Simple rooms that break the long road between Juba and Kapoeta.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Boma National Park (Near the Ethiopian border)
  A remote sister park of grasslands and plateau on the same migration route.

Fun for Everyone

• Birdwatching on the plains (Badingilo National Park)
  Raptors, cranes and waterbirds gather where grassland meets wetland.

Off the Beaten Path

• Expedition camping (Badingilo National Park)
  Self-sufficient camps arranged with the park authorities are the only way to stay.