Why visit South Sudan? South Sudan is an adventurous country located in Eastern Africa. It is a newly formed country that gained independence in 2011. It has almost sixty-four tribes living in different areas, and they have preserved their culture for decades.
One of their strongest traditions is their love for cattle, which represents their wealth and power. If you steal their cattle, you become their enemy. Meeting different tribes should always be on your bucket list.
Once in South Sudan, you are treated like family. In some areas, you are welcomed with a local dance and then served traditional food or drinks to make you feel at home.
From one village to another, you will be amazed by their beliefs, such as considering all cows as theirs because they believe cattle were gifts from their god.
Some tribes decorate themselves in unique ways. For example, women wear short skirts, leave their chest areas uncovered, and wear beads around their waists and earrings in their ears. Men, on the other hand, smear their bodies with ash from cow dung and dress in half-naked attire.
People in these villages are always busy. From west to east, men perform daily duties such as hunting, guarding the village, and taking care of the cattle. Boys in the village also help and even drink milk directly from the cow’s udder. Meanwhile, women stay at home with the young girls and do house chores, as every responsible woman would.
After a long journey, you can relax in the national parks, which are home to wildlife. Some of these parks include Shambe Nature Reserve, Boma National Park, Bandingilo National Park, Southern National Park, and Nimule National Park.
Each of these parks offers activities that make your stay enjoyable, such as nature walks, which give a clear view of the wild, and game drives, which help those who do not want to walk or have health issues.
Camping is also very exciting because it brings people from different places together. They share life experiences as they watch the beautiful night sky filled with shining stars.
The national parks have large water bodies that support wildlife and provide water for humans. They are also used for hydroelectric power generation.
The green vegetation in these parks follows a beautiful pattern, categorized into woodlands, rainforests, and grasslands. The rainforests are home to primates and colorful birds, while the grasslands are where you find rhinos, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, and elephants.
These animals are always moving in search of nutritious pasture, and watching their migration can brighten your day. However, during South Sudan’s civil wars, the loud noise from weapons forced many wild animals to move to other areas, leading to a decrease in their population in the national parks.
There are many exciting places to visit in South Sudan. Juba City is one of the best places, with five-star hotels offering comfortable and affordable accommodations with delicious food.
The wonders of Juba City will also take you to historical sites, such as Bor Freedom Square, where wrestling competitions are organized to promote peace among different tribes. This has helped stop conflicts in some areas.
Visitors also go to the nearby Jonglei Canal, which is the largest man-made waterway in the world and a major source of irrigation for farmers in the region.
You cannot leave Juba City without visiting the John Garang Mausoleum. John Garang was a freedom fighter who played a major role in making South Sudan an independent country.
Sadly, he did not live to witness this victory. However, the current president declared South Sudan an independent country near his grave, and a mausoleum was built in his honor.
Juba City is also a busy place filled with many economic activities, such as markets, offices, banks, and museums.
That is why visitors are always advised to carry their documents if they are not citizens.
