South Sudan - Land of the Cattle Herders

No doubt that South Sudan is one of the most challenging destinations for the intrepid traveler. This is worlds newest nation, founded in 2011 and probably Africa's least visited country. In South Sudan you will not find traditional “sights”. In fact, for most of the country, you will not find "traditional roads" either. What you will find though is ancient cultural rituals, a myriad of colorful local tribes and raw natural beauty.

During this tour we will explore the growing capital of Juba and the Sudd – Africa’s largest wetland. The highlight of the tour, however, is the time spent with the local Dinka and Mundari people – the legendary cattle herders of South Sudan. They are known for their outstanding pastoral lifestyle and the special bond they have with their cattle. We will spend a few days with them and see firsthand how this bond is expressed in their everyday life, in the culture, the language and even their gestures. Another thing that Mundari are taking very seriously is wrestling. They pride themselves in being excellent wrestlers and if we are lucky, we might witness their daily competitions.

Tour highlights:

♦ Juba - capital and largest city in South Sudan
♦ The Sudd - Africa's largest wetland
♦ The unique culture of the Dinka  and Mundari people

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival
Arrival in Juba and transfer to our hotel for overnight. -/-/-

Day 2. Juba – Mundari Cattle Camp - Bor
Today we head to the North along the Nile reaching Terekeka and the Mundari settlement. The herders return to the village with their livestock in the afternoon. After spending some time with the tribe we continue to Bor.
Bor is located on the site of a fishing village on the White Nile (Bahr al Jabal River), where an ivory-and-slave trading depot was established in the 1860s. It is the administrative centre if the Dinka tribes. The Dinka are pastoralists, moving their herds of cattle to riverine pastures during the dry season (December to April) and back to permanent settlements in savanna forest during the rains, when their food crops, principally millet, are grown. A large number of Dinka people have converted to Christianity and are learning how to adapt or reject ancient religious practices and rituals to match Christian teachings. Overnight in Panorama Palace Hotel in Bor. B/L/D

Day 3. Bor and Dinka tribes. The Sudd.
A full day spent in Bor and its surroundings . Also known as Jieng, the Dinka are the largest ethnic tribe in South Sudan, and are noted for their traditional forms of agriculture and livestock raising. The Dinkas mostly live along the Nile, from Bor to Renk, in the region of Bahr el Ghazal. We will visit one of the Dinka settlements closer to Bor.
After that we take a boat trip in the Sudd. The Sudd (as-Sudd or al-Sudd) is a vast swamp, formed by the White Nile's Baḥr al-Jabal section. The Arabic word sudd is derived from sadd (سد), meaning "barrier" or "obstruction".The area which the swamp covers is one of the world's largest wetlands and the largest freshwater wetland in the Nile basin. Its size is highly variable, averaging over 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi) . During the wet season it may extend to over 130,000 square kilometers.
We drive back to Juba in the afternoon. Hotel B/-/-

 Day 4. Departure
Transfer to airport for departure B/-/-

 ► Visa: Citizens from almost all countries need a visa to visit Sudan. Please, contact the local Embassy in your country for visa application procedure and price. We will provide visa invitation.
► The official currency is the South Sudanese pound (SSP). US dollars are widely acceptable as well. It is recommended to carry cash as credit cars are not acceptable in most of the country.Check out our blog post about the best things to do in South Sudan here.

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Price Includes:
3 nights standard hotels in rooms with private facilities
meals acc. itinerary
local English-speaking guide
all ground transport in 4WD
airport transfers
Penguin tour leader (at min. 10 people)
registration fee and entrance fees
Speed boat to the Sudd
all types of government permits and photo permit
tribe payment for the Mundari and Dinka visits
security clearance

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Not Included:
tips
personal expenses
visa fees

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Gallery

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