Travel Guide to South Sudan 2026: Safety, Juba & the Great Nile Migration
This travel guide to South Sudan explains the world's youngest country, and why it is not safe to visit right now. Independent since 2011, South Sudan is home to the vast Sudd wetland, one of the largest in the world, the White Nile, the cattle camps of the Dinka, Nuer and Mundari peoples, and what scientists describe as the largest land mammal migration on Earth, in Boma and Badingilo national parks. Here you will find where South Sudan is, current safety and visa rules, the best time to go, the top places, a route for when travel is safer, costs, hotels in Juba and universities.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to South Sudan were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to South Sudan
- Capital: Juba💡 On the White Nile, in the far south
- Currency: South Sudanese pound (SSP)💡 High inflation; clean US dollar notes printed after 2013 are needed for most payments
- Languages: English (official)💡 Juba Arabic is the everyday common language; there are 60+ local languages
- Population: About 12 million💡 Estimates vary widely; no full census since 2008
- Area: 644,329 km²💡 Larger than France
- Time zone: CAT (UTC+2)💡 Convert times
- Independence: 9 July 2011💡 From Sudan, after a referendum
- Power: 230 V, plug types C and D💡 Power cuts are frequent
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to South Sudan are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is South Sudan?
South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It borders Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, and the Central African Republic to the west. The White Nile flows north through the country and spreads into the Sudd, a huge swamp of papyrus and floodplain. The southeast has savannah and the Boma and Badingilo national parks; the far south has green hills near Uganda.
Juba has flights from Nairobi, Entebbe, Addis Ababa and Cairo. Roads are poor, and many areas are cut off in the rainy season. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator, or explore more in our Africa travel guides.
📅 Best Time to Visit South Sudan
South Sudan is hot all year. The dry season (December to March) is the only realistic time for travel: dirt roads become passable and wildlife gathers near water. This is also when the great antelope migration moves through Boma and Badingilo. The rainy season (April to November) floods large areas, expanding the Sudd and making most roads impassable. Independence Day is celebrated on 9 July.
Roads passable and wildlife concentrated near water.
White-eared kob, tiang and gazelle move across Boma and Badingilo.
Floods close roads and swell the Sudd wetland.
Independence Day (9 Jul)The national holiday, marking independence in 2011.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to South Sudan to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 South Sudan Visa & Entry Requirements
E-visa required for almost everyone: most visitors must apply online for a South Sudan e-visa before travel and show the approval at check-in. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival. Foreigners staying more than a few days must register with immigration in Juba, and a photography permit is needed before taking photos in public. Check also whether your home country has health screening for travellers returning from the region.
- E-visaApply only on the official government portal; print your approval.
- Yellow fever certificateMandatory; carry the original card.
- PassportValid for at least six months.
- Registration & permitsRegister on arrival and get a permit before taking photographs.
🔗 Official sources: South Sudan e-visa portal · US country information. Entry rules change, so always confirm before travelling.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to South Sudan were last checked in October 2026.
🦒 Top Places in South Sudan
These places show what this travel guide to South Sudan can offer when the country is safe again. Today, reaching most of them is dangerous or impossible.
Home to a vast seasonal migration of white-eared kob, tiang and gazelle, described as the largest land mammal migration on Earth.
💡 Best time: Dec–MarOne of the world's largest wetlands, a refuge for millions of birds, including the shoebill.
💡 Best time: Dec–MarLong-horned Ankole-Watusi cattle tended by the Mundari near Terekeka, north of Juba.
💡 Best time: Dec–MarThe river that shapes the capital, with views from the Juba Bridge.
💡 Best time: Dec–MarNear the Ugandan border, with elephants, hippos and the Fula Rapids.
💡 Best time: Dec–MarThe memorial to the leader of the independence movement, in central Juba.
💡 Best time: All yearJuba's biggest and busiest market.
💡 Best time: All yearA rocky hill outside Juba with views over the capital.
💡 Best time: Dec–Mar🗺️ 7-Day South Sudan Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
This route is for the future, when governments lift their warnings. Even then, travel only with an experienced, licensed operator who arranges permits, security and flights.
Follow this route from our travel guide to South Sudan day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Juba: arrive, register with immigration and visit the John Garang Mausoleum.
- Juba: Konyo Konyo Market and a sunset view of the White Nile.
- Mundari cattle camp: guided visit near Terekeka.
- Mundari cattle camp: morning in the camp, return to Juba.
- Boma or Badingilo: charter flight to see the migration (dry season only).
- Boma or Badingilo: a full day of wildlife viewing.
- Return: fly back to Juba for your onward flight.
➕ Today's alternative: for great wildlife and safe travel in the region, consider Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to South Sudan Cost?
South Sudan is very expensive for visitors, because almost everything is imported and paid for in US dollars. These are approximate daily costs per person, excluding international flights.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Essential travel | US$150–250 | Basic hotels in Juba, local food, drivers |
| Business travel | US$250–450 | Secure hotels, a car with a driver |
| Expedition | US$600 + | Charter flights, permits and guided wildlife trips |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to South Sudan are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💵 Bring enough clean, recent US dollar notes; cards are rarely accepted and ATMs are unreliable.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to South Sudan
South Sudan is not currently safe for tourism. Fighting between armed groups, inter-communal violence and cattle raiding affect many states, and violent crime, including armed robbery, carjacking and kidnapping, is common in Juba. Roads outside the capital face attacks and landmines. Medical care is very limited. If you must travel for essential reasons, follow your embassy's advice, register with it, avoid moving after dark, and make sure your insurance covers South Sudan and medical evacuation.
Check your government's travel advice before and during any trip.
Do not travel by road outside Juba or after dark.
Enrol in your country's traveller registration scheme.
Most policies are invalid where governments advise against all travel.
Photography without a permit can lead to arrest.
Yellow fever certificate required; take malaria precautions.
🏨 Hotels in Juba (Essential Travel Only)
We list only established hotels in Juba for people who must travel for work or family reasons. We do not recommend travel to South Sudan for tourism at present.
A large hotel with a pool and conference facilities.
Check prices on Booking.com →A long-established hotel used by business and NGO travellers.
Check prices on Booking.com →A riverside hotel near the White Nile.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to South Sudan: we list only a few established hotels in the capital, because of the security situation. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in South Sudan
South Sudan's universities were rebuilt after independence; several still operate partly from Juba because of insecurity in their home cities.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| University of Juba | Juba | Public |
| Dr John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology | Bor | Public |
| Upper Nile University | Malakal | Public |
| University of Bahr el Ghazal | Wau | Public |
| Catholic University of South Sudan | Juba and Wau | Private (Catholic) |
🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to South Sudan: South Sudan's main public and private universities. Last checked: October 2026.
🌺 South Sudanese Culture & Food
South Sudan has more than 60 ethnic groups. For pastoral peoples such as the Dinka, Nuer and Mundari, cattle are central to wealth, marriage, songs and identity, and young men may be named after their favourite bull. Traditional music uses drums, lyres and call-and-response songs, and wrestling between communities is a popular sport. Independence in 2011 followed decades of civil war with Sudan, and the country has struggled with conflict since 2013.
Food is based on sorghum, maize, beans and river fish. Try kisra (a thin sorghum flatbread), asida (thick porridge) with stews, kajaik (fish stew), ful (beans), peanut sauces and mandazi doughnuts. Tea is drunk sweet and spiced.
❓ Travel Guide to South Sudan: FAQ
Is it safe to travel to South Sudan?
No. The US rates South Sudan Level 4: Do Not Travel, and the UK and Canada advise against all travel because of armed conflict, crime, kidnapping and landmines.
Where is South Sudan?
South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the DRC and the Central African Republic. Its capital is Juba.
Do I need a visa for South Sudan?
Yes, almost all visitors need an e-visa before travel, plus a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
When did South Sudan become independent?
South Sudan became independent from Sudan on 9 July 2011, making it the world's youngest country.
What is the Great Nile Migration?
A seasonal movement of millions of antelope, mainly white-eared kob, tiang and gazelle, across Boma and Badingilo national parks, described as the largest land mammal migration on Earth.
What currency is used in South Sudan?
The South Sudanese pound (SSP), but US dollars are needed for most payments by visitors.
Does South Sudan have UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Not yet. South Sudan has no sites on the World Heritage List.
Where can I go instead of South Sudan?
For wildlife and culture with much lower risk, consider Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to South Sudan
- US travel advisory: South SudanCurrent safety level
- UK travel advice: South SudanSafety and entry updates
- Canada travel adviceSafety, health and Ebola measures
- South Sudan e-visaOfficial visa portal
Finished this travel guide to South Sudan? 🌍 More East Africa guides: Uganda · Kenya · Ethiopia · Tanzania · All of Africa
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Curious about South Sudan?
South Sudan is not safe to visit right now. Explore East Africa safely with our other country guides, or use our free tools to plan your next trip.
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