SOUTH SUDAN

Dates: March 7 – 14, 2025

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
– USD 2 890 subject to 12 participants or
– USD 3 090 subject to 10 – 11 participants or
– USD 3 290 subject to 8 – 9 participants or
– USD 3 490 subject to 6 – 7 participants

Everything is included, except for:
- international flight to Juba roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- visa of South Sudan (e-visa to be purchased in advance at USD 120).

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Juba – Moscow: USD 900 – 1200 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Cairo – Juba – Cairo: from USD 650 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Addis Ababa – Juba – Addis Ababa: from USD 600 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Nairobi – Juba – Nairobi: from USD 650 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Istanbul – Juba – Istanbul: from USD 1000 (to be purchased on your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Dubai – Juba – Dubai: from USD 1100 (to be purchased on your own).

Single supplement: 380 USD per person (it is provided throughout the entire itinerary).



TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to South Sudan


Day 1. Мarch 7, 2025 (Friday). 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. Briefing with the guide. Guide will arrange travel permits. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore.
Dinner. Rest and overnight in hotel Royal Palace.

Meals: dinner
Accommodation: hotel Royal Palace in Juba

* Recommended flights:
– Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, departing Moscow on March 6 at 21:30, then departing from Addis Ababa to Juba at 5:40 am on March 7, arriving in Juba at 9:30 am on March 7 (2 hours 45 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa), or
– Egypt Air via Cairo, departing Moscow on March 6 at 15:45, then departing from Cairo to Juba at 10:00 am on March 7, arriving in Juba at 14:30 am on March 7 (13 hours 50 minutes layover in Cairo. Airlines provides free Egypt visa, transfer and hotel),
– Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, departing Moscow on March 6 at 20:05, then departing from Istanbul to Juba at 1:30 am on March 7, arriving in Juba at 6:55 am on March 7 (1 hour 15 minutes stopover in Istanbul), or
– FlyDubai direct from Dubai, departing Dubai on March 7 at 9:05 am, arriving in Juba at 12:35 on March 7, or
– any other flight arriving in Juba at any time on March 7.


Day 2. Мarch 8, 2025 (Saturday). JUBA – TORIT – IMEHEJEK (LOPIT TRIBE)

After early breakfast at 6 am, we will depart by 4WD jeep cars from Juba to the Eastern part of the country along the main highway to Kenya border, passing byTorit city, capital of Eastern Equatoria.
This morning we drive up to 7 hours to get to the Lopit ranges, Imehejek village – the headquarters of Lopa county.
After lunch, afternoon walk in the Lopit beautiful villages. Lopit (Donge) people build their tall house with bamboo and coconut leaves. You will experience one of the largest villages with rocky streets build throughout the village. The Lopit are speakers of Nilotic languages, close to Lotuko. It is believed that the Lopit came to Southern Sudan from East Africa, probably late migrants from Lake Turkana. They practice cattle keeping and substance farming growing sorghum as a staple food.
The same as Lotuko, Lopit have so called "ruling age set", which presumes the transfer of the power to another generation every 12 or 22 years. A great ceremony is held when the new generation takes over from the previous ruling age set.
Lopit still sometimes practice a massive traditional hunting for big animals, such as giraffes or elephants. Neighboring villages team up to hunt in the land of the village that has called for the hunt. In this group hunting up to 2000 men team up to hunt game.
Overnight in the tents with meals provided by our chef.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 3. Мarch 9, 2025 (Sunday). IMEHEJEK (LOPIT TRIBE) – ILLIEU KINGDOM (LOTUKO TRIBE) – KOTEIN (TOPOSA TRIBE)

Early morning coffee with snacks, then walk to the village for sunrise, morning photos and enjoy one of the amazing traditional dances of Lopit people. You will witness few men dressed in very peculiar helmets made of shells and ostrich feathers, as well as leopard skins, with women dressed in traditional costumes made of goat skin.
Music and dancing are central to Lopit culture. There are dozens of different dances for different occasions. Each dance has specific costumes, music, at time allocations associated with it.
After the amazing experience, have breakfast, while crew loads luggage in the cars.
Say goodbye to the Lopit people and departure to Lotuko village (3 hours driving). Lunch on arrival at Illieu Kingdom of Lotuko.
Visit to Illieu mountain kingdom ruled by a priest-king. We will spend some 2 hours exploring the Lotuko village with interesting medieval stone walls, and traditional dancers. We will also pay visit to the traditional healer, rain maker.
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 agropastoralists, 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.
After visiting Lotuko, drive straight to Toposa village of Kotein (up to 4 hrs driving). Dinner and overnight in tents.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 4. Мarch 10, 2025 (Monday). KOTEIN (TOPOSA TRIBE) – BOYA HILLS (LARIM TRIBE)

Early morning visit Toposa tribal village, participate in traditional dancing.
The Toposa are Turkana speaking cattle rearing people that have resisted western influence to this date. 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, and in the past were involved in the ivory trade.
After breakfast drive for 4 hours to the Boya Hills. En route, we will be stopping for view of the beautiful landscapes and mountains of Boya territory.
The "boya" is nick name to Larim people by their neighbors Toposa (meaning "people living in the mountains").
Arrilal in the villages of Larim tribe.
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, as a way of beauty. The more scars, the earlier you get married with more cows.
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.
Evening experience with the Larim people in their traditional villages on the picturesque mountainous slopes.
Dinner from our chef and spend the night in tents with the community.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 5. Мarch 11, 2025 (Tuesday). BOYA HILLS (LARIM TRIBE) – TORIT – JUBA

Early morning at 6 am, we will wake up for coffee and snacks, then after we walk into the village for morning photos accompanied with traditional dancers. Take this time for your last photos with Larim people.
After exploring Larim villages and sharing traditional dance, we will get back to the camp for breakfast, while the team unfolds the tents and load into the cars. At 11 am, we will drive to Juba, via Camp 15 and Torit (6 hours). Lunch in Torit.
Check-in at the hotel Royal Palace in Juba. Cool shower and relax.
Dinner and overnight in Juba.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: hotel Royal Palace in Juba


Day 6. Мarch 12, 2025 (Wednesday). JUBA – MUNDARI NOMADIC AREA IN MAYONG

Breakfast and morning visit Konyo-Konyo market. 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 stature. 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, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 7. Мarch 13, 2025 (Thursday). MUNDARI CATTLE CAMP

Whole day 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. Also at sunrise and sunset Mundari clean the place and burn the dung. 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 serve 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 these 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.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents


Day 8. Мarch 14, 2025 (Friday). MUNDARI CATTLE CAMP – JUBA – RETURN FLIGHT

Last morning photography. Breakfast and farewell from Mundari land. Drive to Juba.
Day use hotel for taking shower (2 rooms for the team) and quick lunch in the hotel on your own.
At the arranged time transfer to the airport, trying to be at the airport 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. Return flight.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: day use hotel

* Recommended flights:
– Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, departing from Juba on March 14 at 16:50, and further from Addis Ababa to Moscow, departure at 23:15 on March 14, arrival in Moscow on March 15 at 7:50 am (3 hours 25 minutes stopover in Addis Ababa), or
– Egypt Air via Cairo, departing from Juba on March 14 at 15:30, and further from Cairo to Moscow, departure at 8:10 on March 15, arrival in Moscow on March 15 at 14:45 (11 hours 45 minutes layover in Cairo. Airlines provides free Egypt visa, transfer and hotel), or
– FlyDubai direct to Dubai, departing from Juba on March 14 at 13:35, arrival in Dubai on March 14 at 21:00, or
– any other flight departing from Juba no earlier than 13:30 on March 14.


* The order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions, i.e. state of roads, market days, 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, security conditions and any other reasons, be in a good shape, as well as be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.

TOUR TO SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan

Best season: November - April


Discover virgin territory of Mundari cattle herders, the tallest people on Earth, who still live in the Stone Age on the banks of mighty White Nile river in full unity with their livestock. They are famous for their numerous cow herds, kept with Kalashnikov guns, and elaborative vernacular architecture.

Explore Toposa and Jiye tribal villages – the most authentic tribes of "Karamojong cluster", which also includes the Karamojong people of Uganda, the Nyangatom people in south western Ethiopia and the Turkana people of Kenya.

Larim tribe populated Boya Hills area – one of South Sudan's most traditional groups, who still practice nose and lips piercing.

Mountain kingdom of Ilieu ruled by a priest-king, and Lotuko tribe in the mountainous region with Imotong mountain, the highest mountain in South Sudan.

Living in the cattle herders camp following nomads in the swamps of White Nile river.

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