SOUTH SUDAN

Dates: December 25, 2023 – January 4, 2024
Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
– 4 290 USD, subject to 11 – 12 participants or
– 4 490 USD, subject to 9 – 10 participants or
– 4 790 USD, subject to 7 – 8 participants or
– 4 990 USD, subject to 6 participants

10% early booking discount (in case you book before August 25, 2023)

Everything is included (incl. domestic flight and full board meals) except for:
- international flight to Juba roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- lunch and dinners in Juba and Torit,
- visa of South Sudan (e-visa to be purchased in advance at USD 120).

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Juba – Moscow: USD 1200 – 1700 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Cairo – Juba – Cairo: USD 700 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Addis Ababa – Juba – Addis Ababa: USD 900 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Istanbul – Juba – Istanbul: USD 1100 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Dubai – Juba – Dubai: USD 900 – 1100 (to be purchased on your own).

Single supplement: 460 USD per person (it is provided along the whole itinerary).



TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO SOUTH SUDAN

Day 1. December 25, 2023. ARRIVAL IN JUBA

Arrive by air in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the youngest country on Earth. Obtaining visa upon arrival at the airport. The guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel Royal Palace. Arrange travel permits (stamp in passport). The rest of the day is free to relax or explore.
Rest and overnight in hotel Royal Palace.

Meals: not included
Accommodation: hotel Royal Palace in Juba

* Recommended flights:
- Egypt Air via Cairo, departure from Moscow on December 24 at 17:05, then departure from Cairo to Juba at 10:40 am on December 25, arrival in Juba at 14:30 on December 25 (14 hours layover in Cairo. Airlines provides free transfer and hotel), or
– Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, departing Moscow on December 24 at 20:10, then departing from Istanbul to Juba at 2:10 am on December 25, arriving in Juba at 7:00 am on December 25 (early check-in may be required), or
- Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, departing Moscow on December 23 at 22:00, then departing from Addis Ababa to Juba at 8:55 am on December 24, arriving in Juba at 10:10 am on December 24 (an extra night at the hotel in Juba will be required), or
- any other flight arriving in Juba at any time on December 25 or on the night of December 25 to 26.


Day 2. December 26, 2023. JUBA – KAPOETA – TOPOSA TRIBE

In the morning, after breakfast, transfer to the airport. Domestic flight to Kapoeta (1 hour flight), to the eastern part of the country. Kapoeta is an ideal base to explore Toposa tribal territory.
The Toposa are Turkana speaking cattle rearing people that have resisted western influence to this date. Toposa have traditionally lived by herding cattle, sheep and goats, and in the past were involved in the ivory trade. They have a tradition of constant warfare, usually cattle raids, against their neighbors.
Visit the market. After lunch drive to a Toposa village (3 hours drive from Kapoeta) and spend the night in tents with the community.
*Last days of December are very favorable for marriages of Toposa. We have really good chances to witness and attend the Toposa wedding ceremony while our stay with them.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 3. December 27, 2023. TOPOSA TRIBE – JIYE TRIBE

Breakfast and morning photography with the Toposa and long drive (3-5 hours depending on the season) to Jiye tribal area.
The Jiye are related to the Toposa but now they are enemies. The Jiye are a minority and have special traditions such as the fortress-type villages and their upper lip piercings and scarifications. Reach the Jiye area and camp there after having visited two big villages. Enjoy the intense welcome dances.
The Toposa and Jye belong to what has been called the "Karamojong cluster", which also includes the Karamojong people of Uganda, the Nyangatom people in south western Ethiopia and the Turkana people of Kenya.
Both Toposa and Jiye tribes continue to dress in their traditional clothes (leather-beaded skirts) and pierce their lips and scarify their arms, chests, and faces. Each scarification is a work of art.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 4. December 28, 2023. JIYE TRIBE – KAPOETA

Breakfast. Last visits around the Jiye communities. Drive back to Kapoeta.
En route stop at Toposa village.
The Toposa economy and social life revolves around herding livestock, including cattle, camels, donkeys, goats and sheep. Boys are first given care of goats and sheep, then graduate to looking after cattle when they come of age. Possession of cattle, along with possession of a loaded gun, are the main measures of status and wealth. Cattle are central to Toposa culture. The Toposa have always competed for water and pasturage with their neighbors, and have always engaged in cattle rustling. The Toposa also pan for gold and other precious minerals in the stream beds.
Arrival in Kapoeta and check-in in the basic conditions bungalows at Mango camp. Shower and relax.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: simple bungalows at Mango camp


Day 5.December 29, 2023. KAPOETA – BOYA HILLS (LARIM TRIBE)

After breakfast drive (2-3 hours) to Boya Hills to meet the Larim (Boya) tribal minority.
Larim speak Murle and are excellent architects. They also pierce their nose and lips and scarify their bodies and considered to own the most sophisticated scarifications in whole Africa. Larim keep cattle and grow seasonal crops, such as sorghum, maize and beans. Widowed women wrap vegetable cords around their legs and head. Larim is considered one of South Sudan's most traditional groups.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 6. December 30, 2023. BOYA HILLS – MOUNTAIN KINGDOM OF LOTUKO TRIBE

After breakfast drive (4 hours) to mountain kingdom ruled by a priest-king. Interesting Medieval (14th century) stone walls. Explore the village and meet the Lotuko people.
Lotuko people are a Nilotic ethnic group that populates the region characterized by ranges and mountain spurs such as the Imotong mountain, the highest mountain in South Sudan.
As agro-pastoralists, they keep large herds of cattle, sheep and goats, and supplement this with hoe-farming, hunting, and fishing. Land is owned by no single person, but in trust by the community. In the mountains, after finding a site, the group decides the boundaries of each person's garden, with certain areas being fallow for a number of years.
Lotuko's religion is based on nature and ancestor worship that is deeply rooted in their ethnic identity.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 7. December 31, 2023. LOTUKO TRIBE – TORIT – JUBA

Breakfast. After last visits around the village, farewell from the mountain kingdom and drive (2 hours) to the town of Torit. En route we can see the local life. Lunch in Torit in Northern Sudanese restaurant or on the way.
In the afternoon continue driving (4 – 5 hours) to Juba. Late arrival in Juba and check-in at the hotel Royal Palace.
Tonight is the New Year's Eve, so we will choose good restaurant in order to celebrate!
Dinner in Juba at your choice: in Notos, in Old Juba quarter with nice Sudanese, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine (the restaurant for New Yer's Eve should be reserved well in advance).
After celebration, night in Royal Palace hotel.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel Royal Palace


Day 8. January 1, 2024. JUBA – MUNDARI NOMADIC AREA IN MAYONG

New year — new tribal experience!
Late breakfast after new year's celebration. If time permits, visit Konyo Konyo market or old botanical garden near the White Nile. Lunch and Then by 4x4 vehicles we drive to the South Sudanese bush (about 1 – 2 hours driving by very good new road). We drive to the area of Mayong where Mundari cattle camp is nomading depending on the season.
After having checked with the local authorities drive to a cattle camp to encounter the Mundari people and their long horned cattle. The cows and bulls return to the camp before sunset.
Mundari are a small ethnic group related to the Nilotic peoples. Mundari, together with neighboring Dinka people, are sometimes noted for their height. With the Tutsi of Rwanda, they are believed to be the tallest people in Africa.
The traditional Mundari tribal lands are located roughly 20-100 kilometers north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and are centered on the town of Terakeka in the state of Central Equatoria. The land, like much of South Sudan, is predominantly flat and marked by occasional isolated large hills. The low-lying land contains many rivers and lakes and provides a very fertile basis in support of cattle grazing.
On arrival, we will experience few activities, like cleaning and drying of the cow dung. In the evening, when cows return back from the grazing land, we will have the most amazing experience in witnessing how the Mundari naturally coexist with their cattle. Evening photography.
Overnight in tents with meals cooked by our chef.

Meals: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Days 9 – 10. January 2 – 3, 2024. MUNDARI CATTLE CAMP

Two full days to see aspects of the Mundari daily lifestyle. The cows return to the camp around 5 pm and they leave the camp around 9 am every day, so this is the most interesting time for photography and observing the lifestyle of Mundari. Smog together with dust in the rays of low sun makes a unique picture for photographers.
Visit the camp and small Mundari villages (if available nearby depending on the season) where facial and body scarification are still practiced to this day. In common with other Nilotic tribes in Sudan, the Mundari practice ritual scarification as a rite of passage into adulthood for young men. The typical Mundari scar pattern consists of two sets of three parallel lines, each on either side of the forehead, extending in a downward slope and unconnected in the middle.
Mundari villages are also interesting because of vernacular architecture: huts, black and white totems, and granaries beautifully built.
The Mundari, like other Nilotic tribes, are very cattle-oriented: cattle serves as food, a form of currency and a mark of status. Marriages are arranged by the prospective groom offering cattle to the bride's family and husbands may take as many wives as they can support. The Mundari engage in perennial cattle raiding wars with the neighboring Dinka during the dry season. In order to secure their cattle, Mundari men at night take their weapons and go to the bush.
Mundari have kept alive animistic religion while the neighboring Dinka have lost most this traditional ways due to war and conversion to Christianity.
During the day we can follow the cattle to see the pastures or just interact with people in the cattle camp and enjoy storytelling.
Overnight in tents with meals cooked by our chef.
*Exactly in this season Mundari celebrate a lot. We will witness Mundari New Year celebration with exceptional slaughtering the bull and traditional dancing and singing. The marriages are also often at this period among Mundari, even if it is not guaranteed (but probable).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 11. January 4, 2024. MUNDARI CATTLE CAMP – JUBA – FLIGHT HOME

Last morning photography. Breakfast and farewell from Mundari land. Drive to Juba.
Afternoon to relax at the hotel. Day use hotel for taking shower (2 rooms for the team).
At the arranged time transfer to the airport, trying to be at the airport 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. Flight back home.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: day use hotel

* Recommended flights:
– Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, departing from Juba on January 4 at 16:30, and further from Addis Ababa to Moscow, departure at 23:30 on January 4, arrival in Moscow on January 5 at 7:25 am, or
– Egypt Air via Cairo, departure from Juba on January 5 at 15:30, and further from Cairo to Moscow, departure at 10:35 on January 6, arrival in Moscow on January 6 at 16:05 (15 hours layover in Cairo. Airlines provides free transfer and hotel. Also an extra night at the hotel in Juba will be required), or
– Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, departure from Juba on January 5 at 9:00 am, and further from Istanbul to Moscow, departure at 20:50 on January 5, arrival in Moscow on January 6 at 0:45 (an extra night at the hotel in Juba will be required), or
– any other flight departing from Juba no earlier than 15:00 on January 4.

* The order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions, i.e. state of roads, market days, available ceremonies, location of nomadic tribes, security situation in tribes etc. If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.

** The participant of expedition to South Sudan must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local tribes, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather conditions, ceremonial days, security conditions and any other reasons, be in a good shape, as well as be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.