SOUTH SUDAN

Travel to South Sudan, in the Heart of Former Equatoria

South Sudan is one of the world’s youngest countries and, at the same time, one of those African countries where vast areas remain largely unexplored by travelers. Independent since 2011, the country stretches along the White Nile, nestled among savannas, mountains, vast floodplains, and some of Africa’s largest wetlands.

Traveling through South Sudan also offers a glimpse into an extraordinary cultural diversity. The Dinka, Nuer, Mundari, Lotuko, Larim, and Toposa are just a few of the ethnic groups that inhabit the country. In many of these societies, especially among the Nilotic peoples, livestock continues to play a central role in the economy, social relations, and daily life.

But South Sudan is also home to natural landscapes on a scale that is hard to imagine. The vast Sudd transforms the White Nile into a labyrinth of channels, papyrus reeds, and islands, while in the eastern part of the country, millions of antelopes take part each year in the so-called Great Nile Migration, currently considered the largest migration of land mammals on the planet.

What to See in South Sudan

With very limited tourist infrastructure, much of South Sudan remains off the beaten path. Juba, the White Nile, the Sudd, the southern mountains, and the vast natural landscapes of the east offer visitors the chance to discover different facets of a country that is still relatively unknown.

Juba, the capital on the White Nile

Juba is located on the banks of the White Nile and is the country’s main gateway. Its growth accelerated following South Sudan’s independence in 2011, and today it is home to much of the country’s economic and administrative activity.

Juba is not a city of major historic monuments, but it offers a first glimpse into contemporary South Sudan. Markets, traffic, small shops, and restaurants all coexist in a city that maintains a close relationship with the river.

From Juba, the White Nile continues its journey northward. As it flows, the landscape begins to change until it enters one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural regions: the Sudd.

The Sudd, the Great Barrier of the White Nile

The Sudd is one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands. Here, the White Nile loses its distinct appearance as a major river and spreads out into a vast expanse of channels, lagoons, floodplains, reed beds, papyrus fields, and islands.

Its size varies greatly depending on rainfall and river flow. The area protected as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention covers 5.7 million hectares, although the Sudd system is much more dynamic and its flooded areas vary considerably from one season to the next.

Traveling by boat makes it possible to grasp the scale of a region where water determines practically everything. The islands and shorelines are home to the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, and other communities, who—depending on the area and the season—combine fishing, herding, and farming.

In 2025, we undertook a reconnaissance expedition down the White Nile to cross the Sudd, traveling nearly 1,000 kilometers between Juba and Malakal. Along the way, we came across small fishing camps, villages situated on islands, and endless expanses of papyrus and canals. It was a grueling journey— you can read the full account on our blog.

The Imatong Mountains

In the far south of the country, near the border with Uganda, the Imatong Mountains form a landscape very different from the vast plains associated with the Nile. Here stands Mount Kinyeti, at just over 3,100 meters above sea level, the highest point in South Sudan.

The nearby mountains and plains are home to various indigenous peoples, including the Lotuko, and constitute one of the regions with the greatest landscape diversity in the country.

Boma and Bandingilo National Parks: The Great Nile Migration

For a long time, the large-scale animal migrations in South Sudan were virtually unknown outside the country. Research conducted in recent years has provided a much better understanding of their true scale.

The Boma and Badingilo National Parks are part of a vast ecosystem of savannas, wetlands, and floodplains through which approximately six million antelopes migrate seasonally. Among them are the white-eared kob, the tiang, the Mongalla gazelle, and the Bohor reedbuck.

This migration, known as the Great Nile Migration, is currently considered the world’s largest terrestrial mammal migration. The animals travel across a vast territory connecting Boma, Badingilo, and the Jonglei plains with the Sudd region and Gambella National Park in neighboring Ethiopia.

In 2026, the Boma-Badingilo Migration Landscape was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becoming the first site in South Sudan to be included on the list.

Peoples and Cultures of South Sudan

An essential part of South Sudan’s identity lies in its cultural diversity. The country is home to numerous ethnic groups with different languages, social structures, and ways of life, although pastoralism is a fundamental aspect of life for many communities.

The Nile Valley is predominantly inhabited by Nilotic peoples such as the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk. To the south and east, we find other societies such as the Mundari, Lotuko, Larim, Toposa, and Jiye, all of which are connected in various ways to livestock herding and agriculture.

The Mundari and Their Livestock Camps

The towns of Torit and Kapoeta, located along the main route connecting South Sudan with Kenya (Juba–Nairobi), are a great base from which to explore the various ethnic groups that inhabit the region. North of the capital, Juba, on the banks of the White Nile, you’ll find various Mundari and Dinka camps.

The Mundari are a people with an agropastoral tradition, known especially for their large livestock camps.

At dawn and dusk, these camps are the focal point of much of the daily activity. The bonfires produce ash and smoke, which are used to protect both people and animals from insects, while the herders tend to their livestock.

Cows represent much more than a source of food or wealth. They play a role in family relationships, marriage, prestige, and numerous aspects of social organization. This relationship between people and livestock is one of the best-known characteristics of Mundari culture.

We especially recommend this CNN article about the Mundari people.

The Dinka

The Dinka are one of the major Nilotic peoples of South Sudan and inhabit a very large territory, particularly in the regions associated with the Nile and its floodplains.

They do not form a homogeneous society, but rather numerous communities with regional differences. However, in many of these communities, livestock raising plays a fundamental role. The seasonal movements of water and pasture have traditionally dictated the movement of livestock and the organization of camps.

On our journey through the Sudd, we also encountered Dinka communities that make their living from fishing. In some areas of the wetland, fish are caught, cleaned, and dried before being transported on large barges to other markets, reflecting a way of life closely adapted to the White Nile.

The Larim of the Boya Hills

Considered one of the most traditional ethnic groups in South Sudan, the Larim are particularly known for their traditional architecture. The Larim live in the Boya Mountains, hills dotted with beautiful villages featuring traditional architecture.

Like many of their neighboring ethnic groups, the Larim engage in herding and subsistence farming. Their religion is also based on ancestor worship.

The Toposa

Further east, in the Kapoeta region and near the borders with Kenya and Ethiopia, the Toposa are a pastoral people culturally and linguistically related to other societies in this part of East Africa.

Livestock is one of the main pillars of their economy and social relations. In rural areas, various forms of body decoration, beading, and scarification associated with local traditions are still evident.

The Toposa have a strong warrior tradition, and cattle raiding has historically played a role in relations between pastoral communities. Despite growing contact with the outside world, many rural Toposa communities continue to maintain distinctive cultural traditions.

Livestock: The Center of Life in South Sudan

To understand many of South Sudan’s cultures, one must first understand the importance of livestock.

In many livestock-raising communities, cows represent wealth, but their significance goes far beyond their economic value. They can play a role in marriage arrangements, forge bonds between families and communities, and serve as a symbol of prestige and social status.

Livestock farming is also influenced by the seasons. Rainfall, flooding, and the availability of pasture determine the movement of herds and the formation of large seasonal camps.

This relationship between humans, livestock, water, and land is particularly evident among peoples such as the Dinka, Nuer, and Mundari, although the specific practices and the importance of livestock vary from one community to another.

South Sudan, Africa’s youngest country

The Republic of South Sudan gained its independence on July 9, 2011, following decades of conflict between the north and south of the former Sudan and a referendum in which the majority of the population in the south voted for secession.

Independence made South Sudan the youngest sovereign state in Africa. However, its history since then has been marked by renewed internal conflicts, population displacements, and enormous difficulties in developing infrastructure across a vast territory.

Beyond that recent history, the country encompasses territories and societies with identities that are far older than its current borders. The Nile, seasonal migrations, livestock herding, and interactions among different peoples have shaped this territory—situated between East Africa and the Nile Basin—for centuries.

To get to know South Sudan is to experience precisely that combination of water, vast natural landscapes, and peoples who continue to maintain a close connection with their land.