Destination Highlights
In 2011, South Sudan became the youngest country in the world after getting its sovereignty. The country has over the years before its independence suffered numerous political conflicts. South Sudan however has restored its peace and this has helped to develop. Although the country faced a lot of problems over the years, South Sudan has a diverse hidden natural beauty that is worth checking out.
South Sudan was once a unified country with Sudan but due to many years of conflict and harsh rule of the Sudanese, the Southerners were given independence. In 2011 a referendum was passed by the officials of the two regions north and south and it was agreed that the Southerners get their secession. This was the victory of the South as it marked the end of years of political unrest and conflict that led to many losing their lives.
Culture and People of South Sudan.
South Sudan is a diverse country with more than 60 ethnic groups that inhabit the country. The common groups in South Sudan include the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Bari, and Zande. The Dinka people make up the largest ethnic group in the country.
South Sudanese have a strong connection to culture and religion and often live in extended families and this fosters and builds strong bonds between family members. The culture of South Sudanese people is still fresh and visible even in these modern-day years as it has not been affected by civilization.
The people of South Sudan have a likeliness like the Karamojong of Uganda and Masai of Kenya. This is because they share ancients as they were once one people but upon migration, most of them went to settle in different places at the time with some going to Ethiopia and South Sudan areas, others to northern Uganda, and others to Kenya and Tanzania.
South Sudanese are traditionally nomadic pastoralists who would venture out to other communities in search of pasture and water for their animals. Due to modernization and civilization, this behavior ceased and they now rear their animals in their designated lands.
People of South Sudan are largely religious with the largest population being Christians and the minority being Muslims and some few still believe in the African Traditional Society.
Why travel to this country?
What to see and do in South Sudan?
Despite the many years of unrest and instability, South Sudan’s tourism sector which had once gone to the dogs is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.
The country has numerous flora and fauna scattered in the various national parks. South Sudan is one of the leading tourism destinations in the world. Below are some of the things to see and do in South Sudan.
Boma National Park.
Boma National Park is the country’s leading national park established in 1977 in the state of Jonglei on the border with Ethiopia. It offers a wide range of attractions from the flora to the fauna.
Covering a distance of approximately 22, 800 square kilometers, Boma National Park is one of the largest parks in Africa and the largest national park in South Sudan. The park is equipped with various animals such as kobs, elephants, baboons, Oryx, gazelle, and giraffes to mention but a few.
The park is also famous for hosting one of the largest animal migrations in the world with over a million gazelles, kobs, antelopes, and other grazers moving from the Sudd and Bandingilo National Park crossing to Boma National Park before proceeding to Ethiopia. Visit Boma National Park while on your safari tour and enjoy unforgettable safari experiences.
Nimule National Park
Nimule National Park located near the border with Uganda and the capital city Juba was established in 1954. Compared to other national parks in the country Nimule National Park is relatively more developed with good lodges and road infrastructure.
The park harbors a good number of wildlife including leopards, baboons, antelopes, zebras, and warthogs among others. Nimule National Park has a massive size of approximately 540 square kilometers. Visitors coming from a safari in Uganda can easily access Nimule National Park since it is very close to the border.
Bandingilo National Park
Bandingilo National Park established in 1992 is located in the remote equatorial region of South Sudan. The park has a sheer size of about 10,000 square kilometers. It is a savannah grassland and woodland park harboring a variety of flora and fauna.
There are a variety of animals in the park including giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, elephants, and reedbuck among others. Bandingilo National Park also hosts the great wildlife migration which sees over a million animals migrating in search of fresh pasture and water.
The Sudd.
Sudd is a large wetland in South Sudan that covers a large distance of about 30,000 square kilometers. Its sheer size has earned it the position of first place in the world for the largest wetland on earth. The Sudd wetland is an important birding area as it hosts over 450 bird species.
The wetland not only hosts birds but also other wildlife including waterbucks, elephants, and antelopes to mention but a few.
Sudd wetland also sees great migration as a large population of antelopes, gazelles, waterbucks, and others cross the wetland to Boma National Park before going to Ethiopia.
Sudd wetland is a paradise for birders and adventure enthusiasts. The wetland also is an amazing place for nature lovers to have guided nature walks and explore the wetland’s hidden gems on foot.
Kinyeti and the Imatong Mountains.
Kinyeti and the Imatong Mountains are perfect hiking areas for visitors interested in adventure. The Kinyeti mountain standing at a height of about 3,187 meters above sea level is the highest point in South Sudan.
The mountain overlooks the Imatong Forest Reserve which harbors a sufficient number of wildlife including elephants, leopards, and buffaloes to mention but a few. The Kinyeti mountain is located close to the border with Uganda in the remote region of Imatong.
What to know before to travelling
Weather and Climate of South Sudan.
South Sudan experiences seasons of dry and wet every year. The country has a tropical type of climate. A large part of the country is semi-arid and during the dry season, it normally receives harsh hot temperatures.
This is during the months of December to March and there is very little or absolutely no rainfall. South Sudan during this time of the year receives desert-like conditions of extremely very hot days and very cold nights.
Wet season which usually runs from April to November is often humid. The country records a reasonable account of rainfall which cools the heat temperatures of the previous dry season.
The best time to visit South Sudan.
The best time to visit South Sudan depends on the activities and period one is interested in doing. The dry season usually takes the lead in this case as it is preferred by many visitors who visit the national parks in this period.
During dry season, most of the activities such as game drives, hikes, boat cruises, and white water rafting on the West Nile are done. This is because during this period the country receives little or no rainfall which could have made most of the activities difficult to do.
However, the wet season also presents its advantages as it is the best time to visit South Sudan for birders and visitors traveling on a budget. Therefore, the best time to visit South Sudan mainly depends on the activity a visitor is interested in and his or her financial budget.