SOUTH SUDAN
Ethnic expedition to 5 remote tribes of the world’s youngest country

Day 1 - Fri Feb 11, 2022: Arrival in Juba

 

Arrive by air in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the youngest country on Earth. 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. 

 

Meals: lunch (if needed) & dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Palace in Juba

 

Day 2 - Sat Feb 12, 2022: Juba - Kapoeta

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In the morning, after breakfast, transfer to the airport. Domestic flight to Kapoeta (2 hours 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 has 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.  Depending on arrival time, we can visit the first Toposa tribal village.

 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mango camp (simple bungalows with shower and toilet en-suite) 

 

Day 3-4 - Sun/Mon Feb 13-14, 2022: Kapoeta, Toposa, and Jiye tribes

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Two full days to explore Toposa and Jiye tribal villages. 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. 

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. 

 

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. Visit different communities and enjoy the intense welcome dances. 

 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents (day 3) and Mango camp (day 4) 

 

Day 5 - Tues Feb 15, 2022: Kapoeta - Boya Hills. Larim tribe

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After breakfast drive (2 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. 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: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: tents 

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Day 6 - Wed Feb 16, 2022: Boya Hills - Milieu Kingdom. Lotuko tribe - Torit

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After breakfast drive (4 hours) to the mountain kingdom of Ilieu ruled by a priest-king. Interesting 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. The 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. Later drive to Torit for an overnight. 

 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Torit Vision Hotel 

 

Day 7 - Thurs Feb 17, 2022: Torit - Juba

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After breakfast long drive (6 hours) to Juba. En-route stops in town, such as Liria. Reach Juba and check-in at the hotel. Dinner in Da Vinci restaurant with nice views over Nile River and old metal bridge (the only place in Juba to take pictures of the Nile). 

 

Meals: breakfast, lunch 

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Palace 

 

Day 8 - Fri Feb 18, 2022: Juba - Terakeka (Mundari Area)

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Breakfast and drive by 4x4 vehicles to the South Sudanese bush. Drive to Mundari tribal territory. Reaching Terakeka, the regional capital, walk around the market to meet the first Mundari tribal people. Mundari can nomade betweem Muntong and Terakeka. After having checked with the local authorities drive to a cattle camp to spend the night.  Full day to see aspects of the Mundari daily lifestyle. Mundari is 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 75 kilometers north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and are centered on the town of Terekeka 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. 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents

 

Day 9 - Sat Feb 19, 2022: Mundari Tribes Cattle Camps

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For a full day, we stay with the Mundari tribe. We will set the camp on one side of the White Nile river and by small canoes cross the river to the other side and to the islands. We will also follow the nomads with their cattle.  Visit the camp and small Mundari villages where facial and body scarification are still practiced to this day. 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: cattles 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 has kept alive animistic religion while the neighboring Dinka have lost most of these traditional ways due to war and conversion to Christianity.

 

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.

 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: tents 

 

Day 10 - Sun Feb 20, 2022: Terakeka - Juba - Departure

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After breakfast, you may take a stroll around the cattle camp one more time. You will be in time be transferred back to Juba and proceed to the airport for your onward international flight. 

 

Meals: breakfast

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Includes:

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• All transfers

• Accommodation in a hotel and tents

• One way flight to Kapoeta from Juba (Limited to 20kgs of softhand baggage per person

• Meals indicated and bottled water

• Transportation (a/c vehicle)

• Saga team leader (English/Thai)

• Local English-speaking guide

• Visits and photographs in the tribe

 

Excludes:

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• International flights to/from Juba

• Drinks in Juba

• Visa

• Tips

• Travel insurance

• Yellow fever vaccine certificate (required)

• Fees for COVID19 tests where applicable

 

What to bring:

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• Personal medications

• Sunscreen and hat

• Head torch

• Sleeping bag and sleeping pad

• Toiletries

• Face mask for dust protection

• Clothes suitable for the weather e.g. shorts, thin pants, t-shirts, light jacket, long-sleeves

• Mosquito and insect repellant

• Anti-malaria pills

• Yellow fever vaccine certificate (required)

• Camera gears

• Comfortable close-toed shoes

• Your favorite snacks for the day

• Small daypack

• Any donations you would like to give to the tribes and villagers

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Visa: Thai passport holders and most nationals can obtain a single-entry e-visa for South Sudan (100 USD) at https://www.evisa.gov.ss.  Please get in touch with us for updated visa information and advice. 

 

Recommended flights:

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ET645/352 Bangkok - Juba 1:50-10:15 on 11 Feb 2022

ET355/608 Juba - Bangkok 17:20-13:30 (+1 day) on 20 Feb 2022

 

*Flights are subject to change.

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Saga club discount: You are automatically offered our club membership after your first expedition. The following discount applies: 3% on 2nd trip, 5% on 3rd trip, 7% on 4th trip or 10% all after. This cannot be combined with the early bird discount. 

 

Payment & Deposit:

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• 35% deposit payment is required for reserving your spots

• Balance payment is due 60 days before the departure date. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of booking.

• If the booking is made within 60 days of departure date, full payment is required. 

 

Cancellation policy:

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• In any case of cancellation, 20% of the deposit payment is refundable or the whole amount can be kept as credits for any other Saga expeditions within 2 years of the cancellation date. 

• In any case of cancellation, if full payment is made, a full refund will be issued minus a 10% cancellation fee and any cost to the third parties.

• If the cancellation is due to COVID19, a full refund will be issued minus any cost incurred. We always attempt to maximize the refund for our client’s benefit! 

• In the event of premature departure during the expedition for any reason, no refund will be issued. 

 

Important note:

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All of our expeditions take you through one of the most challenging roads in the world. While the Saga team endeavors to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered as an approximate agenda of activities rather than a rigid schedule. Trip itineraries are subject to last-minute, and on-the-ground revision due to weather, road conditions, government and local restrictions, and other reasons beyond our control. Note that the order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions (i.e. state of roads, market days etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible. Your safety is always our first priority!