The Mundari cattle camps are located in remote areas near the Nile River, where they have easy access to water and pasture for their cattle.
Their cattle, similar to those of the Angolans, are characterized by long, huge horns and play a central role in their culture, religion, and social life.
Below is the four-day South Sudan tour of the Mundari camp:
Day One:
This day involves settling into the country by acquiring the necessary documents and exchanging foreign currency for the local currency.
Day Two:
This is the departure day to the Mundari camp. If possible, you can first tour Juba City and buy any necessary items for your safari. Upon arrival at the Mundari village, you will be welcomed by the elders, and translators will accompany you to help with communication.
Day Three:
This may feel like a long day because you will spend it in the fields, learning how they milk their cows and hunt. You will also understand why they guard their cattle with guns. “There are many raiders, or sometimes, we protect them from wild animals,” says a Mundari youth.
Their entire bodies are covered with ash to prevent mosquito bites since they do not have insect repellents like visitors. Time is limited for this safari, but by the time you leave, you will have learned a lot.
For example, during sacrificial rituals, boys have their foreheads marked with a V-shaped scar using a knife. This scar represents the horn of a cow.
At the end of the ritual, the boys who participate receive a cow and a new name. This marks their readiness for marriage. Sadly, some get married at a very young age, especially girls, because parents value wealth in terms of cattle.
A girl as young as sixteen can be given away in marriage. The cattle are grouped by the elders, while young boys take care of them, and mothers stay at home to cook, clean, and groom the young girls.
Day Four:
This is the day of departure. Saying goodbye is always heartbreaking due to the bond visitors form with the Mundari people.
However, they must part ways and head back to Juba City, where they have breakfast or lunch while waiting for their flight back to their respective countries.
