[Travel](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/) › [Guides](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/) › [South Sudan](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/) # Guide to South Sudan To visit South Sudan, check entry requirements, connectivity and this guide’s local references. South Sudan has a heritage of communities, rivers and great wildlife movements. Its circumstances require distinguishing curiosity about the country from a feasible travel proposal. [Places in South Sudan · 2 catalog places →](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/sudan-del-sur/) ## Visa for your trip Your passport countrySelect countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo - BrazzavilleCongo - KinshasaCosta RicaCôte d’IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmar (Burma)NamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé & PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweChoose the passport you travel with. The lookup adapts automatically. Conditions and other situationsShort tourist stays with an ordinary passport. Residence, other visas, stay length and transit can change the requirement. Check with the authority before booking or travelling. [Destination source](https://mofaic.gov.ss/visas/) · [Check itinerary with IATA](https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm) Enable JavaScript to adapt this lookup to your passport. You can also check the destination source. ## eSIM and connectivity Compare Saily and Airalo plans. Check destination coverage and phone compatibility on the provider’s website. [Saily ↗](https://tripguroo.com/api/affiliate/go/esim?source=guide&lang=en)[Airalo ↗](https://tripguroo.com/api/affiliate/go/esim-airalo?source=guide&lang=en) Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases. ## Currency and payments South Sudanese Pound (SSP) ## Embassy Missions are filtered by your passport country. Confirm services, opening hours and appointments with the mission. View 17 missions and contacts ### [embassy of Canada in South Sudan](https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/south_sudan-soudan_du_sud/index.aspx) Juba Joint Embassy Compound[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104427302) ### [Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Juba](http://ss.chineseembassy.org/) Juba Chinese Embassy, Independence Road, Juba, South Sudan[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748287) ### [Embassy of Germany, Juba](https://dschuba.diplo.de/) Juba [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748290) ### [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748296) [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748296) ### [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16083273) [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16083273) ### [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16083359) [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16083359) ### [Embassy of France, Juba](https://ssd.ambafrance.org/) Juba Kololo Road, Thomping[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2841683) ### [British Embassy Juba](https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-juba) Juba [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59290319) ### [Embassy of India, Juba](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748294) Juba Plot No. 209-245, Block 3-K (South), Juba Na Bari[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748294) ### [Embassy of Japan, Juba](https://www.ss.emb-japan.go.jp/) Juba Plot No. 514, 3-K, Tongping[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110162998) ### [embassy of Kenya in South Sudan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748289) [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748289) ### [embassy of the Netherlands in South Sudan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748291) Juba Airport Drive[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748291) ### [Embassy of Norway in South Sudan](https://www.norway.no/en/south-sudan/) Juba Joint Embassy Compound, Airport Drive[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16083419) ### [Embassy of Turkey, Juba](https://juba-be.mfa.gov.tr/) Juba Block 3K South Plots No: 880-881 Hai Matar[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110955585) ### [Embassy of the United States, Juba](https://ss.usembassy.gov/) Juba [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4116404) ### [Apostolic Nunciature to South Sudan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18410325) [Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18410325) ### [Embassy of South Africa, Juba](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748286) Juba House No 28,DDR Avenue,Southern Block K 3 K,Tong Ping,Juba[Source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12748286) ## Highlights ### [Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/unesco-1808/) UNESCO natural World Heritage, inscribed in 2026. ### [Juba](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/ciudad-yuba/) A city beside the White Nile and an urban center of South Sudan. ## Complete guide · chapter reading [Introduction](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-0) · [Regions](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-1) · [Cities](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-2) · [Other destinations](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-3) · [Understand](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-4) · [Get in](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-5) · [Get around](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-6) · [Talk](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-7) · [See](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-8) · [Do](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-9) · [Buy](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-10) · [Eat](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-11) · [Drink](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-12) · [Sleep](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-13) · [Stay safe](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-14) · [Stay healthy](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-15) · [Connect](https://tripguroo.com/en/guides/sudan-del-sur/#full-chapter-17) ## Introduction Many governments continue to advise citizens to avoid all travel due to the possibility of armed conflicts and inter-ethnic violence and because of widespread violent crime. Land borders with Sudan and Ethiopia remain hazardous. Rural areas may contain landmines. Civilians and aid workers are at risk of shootings, carjackings, ambushes, violent assaults, harassment and robberies. Some embassies are operating skeleton staff and may not be able to provide assistance to travellers. The Ebola outbreak in South Sudan has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). The average Ebola disease case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied between 25 and 90% in past outbreaks. 2026-06-08 South Sudan (: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān) is a country in . The world’s youngest country, it was a part of until it gained its independence on 9 July 2011, following years of civil war and a referendum. ## Regions ## Cities – the capital Yambio ## Other destinations Southern National Park – a national park along the White Nile ## Understand History South Sudan was part of Sudan until it gained its independence in 2011, following a long war in which over 1 million people were killed, and a historic referendum. Although South Sudan was granted independence by Sudan after an overwhelming vote for independence in the referendum, relations between the two Sudans remain tense. Sudan depends on hard currency obtained from transshipping oil from South Sudan through on the Red Sea, while the landlocked South Sudan depends on access to that port, and the two countries have argued about terms for transshipment. There has also been some armed conflict over the oil-rich Abyei District which is ruled by Sudan but borders on South Sudan, and the Sudan People's Liberation Army - North, which fought alongside the Sudan People's Liberation Army that now rules South Sudan, continues to fight in the Sudanese provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, with the sympathy and, allegedly, military aid of the South Sudanese government. People South Sudan has more than 60 indigenous ethnicities. The Dinka comprise 40% of the population. Climate South Sudan's climate is similar to an equatorial or tropical climate, and has a rainy season of high humidity and large amounts of rainfall followed by a drier season. Holidays 9 January: Peace Agreement Day 16 May: SPLA Day 9 July: Independence Day 30 July: Martyrs' Day 25 December: Christmas Day Books They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan, by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, and Benjamin Ajak. Not exactly something to advertise South Sudan as an appealing destination, but it's a vivid and moving account of the war that preceded the country's independence. Warchild by Emmanuel Jal What is the What by Valentino Achak Deng and Dave Eggers ## Get in Visa requirements Visas are issued for US$100 at all border crossings and Juba International Airport. The length of the visas issued seems to vary randomly between 1 and 6 months. An invitation letter may be required depending on which official is at the desk on your day of arrival. The process can take 3 hours. If you do not have a local contact with official connections, it would be safer to get a visa before arriving in the country. Visas are now available from the [embassy in London](http://embrss.org.uk/) for UK₤50 cash and typically take 5 working days to process. The embassy in Nairobi is also a popular place to get a visa. Once in South Sudan, foreign visitors must register their presence in the country within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors must do this in person. As of April 2024, you can apply for e-visa at [evisa.gov.ss](https://evisa.gov.ss/). A single-entry visa is 100 USD, a 3-month multiple-entry visa is 300 USD, and a 6-month multiple-entry visa is 350 USD. Make sure you have your Yellow Fever Vaccine card with you. By plane As of 2025, the only direct commercial flights from outside Africa are from Dubai on [flydubai](https://www.flydubai.com/en/destinations/africa/south-sudan/) and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines (suspended May 2026). Most airlines flying into Juba depart from (), (), (), () and (). Be careful of taking photos in the airport as this is actually not allowed but an increasing number of people are observed to take photos despite the rules. By car Overland crossing from to South Sudan was closed from the latter's secession in 2011; Sudanese leaders have announced plans to re-open the border in 2016.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/sudan-opens-border-with-south-for-first-time-since-2011](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/sudan-opens-border-with-south-for-first-time-since-2011) As of April 2024, crossing from Uganda to South Sudan is possible. The Renk crossing for Sudan to South Sudan is also flooded with refugees and returnees fleeing from Sudan. By bus A bus can be taken from to . By train There is one railway line in South Sudan that enters from Sudan in the north and terminates at . Before independence there were services between Wau and Babanosa, which had rail connections to Khartoum. As of 2014, however, there are no scheduled passenger services; indeed, the entire Sudanese rail network has come to a halt. Sporadic and non-scheduled trains may, however, still run, so you can try contacting the [Sudan Railways Corporation](http://www.sudanrailways.gov.sd/) for more information. ## Get around By car Roads are unpaved, and during the rainy season from July to October and November, they often become impassable. Infrastructure is non-existent, ## Talk English and (Juba Arabic) are the official languages of South Sudan, although Dinka is the most widely spoken language. Jur Modo, Nuer, Chollo/Shilluk, and Zande languages are also spoken there. ## See East African wildlife in . Rumbec Freedom Square in . White Nile. See the White Nile and the locals taking a drip from any of the restaurants located on its bank like Da Vinci and Afex. Afex. This restaurant has the best view of the iconic sinking ship that every humanitarian has on their Facebook page. Jebel Kujur. Hike up this 684m-high rock and get a good view of the city. However, it is crowded during the weekends. Check the security situation of the area before hiking up. ## Do Safaris to Boma National Park and Nimule National Park. See the parks by 4x4 vehicle or aircraft. See the greatest migration of mammals on the earth. If you're feeling charitable, visit the Angels of East Africa orphanage (as featured in the film Machine Gun Preacher), also located in Nimule. ## Buy Money currency: South Sudanese pound currencyCode: SSP date: January 2026 USD: 4,500 EUR: 5,300 GBP: 6,000 source: [Bank of South Sudan official exchange rate](https://boss.gov.ss/exchange-rates/) The currency of the country is the South Sudanese pound (ISO currency code: SSP). The official rate or "bank exchange rate" (above) is what you would see on sites like Oanda and mataf.net. You can exchange your money by paying in US dollars at supermarkets like Juba Mall, Lily's, and Phoenicia. They will ask you if you want your change to be in USD or SSP. There are also money changers that line some streets with stacks of SSPs but be wary of them. As of Jan 2026, the black market rate for US dollars is SSP 5,800. Coins in South Sudan come in denominations of 10-, 20 and 50 piasters, 1 and 2 South Sudanese pounds. Banknotes in South Sudan come in denominations of 5-, 10 and 25 piasters, 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 500 and 1,000 South Sudanese pounds. You can withdraw money with a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card in any of the Ecobank or Equity bank ATMs in South Sudan. Souvenirs Maasai Market. The Maasai Market is a souvenir place but the items sold here are souvenirs from Kenya and Uganda, not from Juba. Shea butter. You can buy unprocessed shea butter from the market. ## Eat South Sudanese cuisine is mostly based on grains such as maize and sorghum. The national dish of South Sudan is Kisra, a sorghum pancake. It is heavily influenced by Arab cuisine. The following are the most common dishes served: Kisra. This is the main source of carbohydrate. It looks similar to Ethiopia's injeera but is more fermented, has a stronger sour smell, and has a rougher texture. It's color depends on what grain is used but most are made from sorghum, which gives its deeper brown color. Mandazi. Deep fried square donuts. Wala-wala, millet porridge. Aseeda, sorghum porridge Shaiyyah. Pan fried meat. Mahshi. Similar to the Middle Eastern dolma. Zucchini, tomatoes and bell peppers are stuffed with minced meat, rice, onions etc. in a bed of tomato sauce. Gurassa, yeasted pancake. Kajaik, fish stew. Ful sudani, peanut sweet. Molokhia. Made of Molokhia or Jews mallow leaves cooked in a meat based soup. Tamia, falafel. ## Drink South Sudan's first brewery closed in 2016. However a new brewery was opened in 2024. South Beer is one of their most popular products. In the towns of South Sudan such as Rumbek and Juba, Kenyan and Ugandan beers are starting to appear in bars at inflated cross-border prices. In Renk, you can even buy Red Horse, a Filipino beer! Fresh fruit juices are available throughout South Sudan. One of the local juices is "aradeab" (tamarind) and juice made from the baobab fruit. The clove-flavoured tea (chai) is very good. Outside the capital, you'll pay usually 10 SSP for a cup. Also try the ginger-flavoured coffee. In Renk, one cup of this is 100SSP (2019). Both are very sweet, so if you don't want sugar or you want it separately, say "Sukar bara" (serve sugar separate) when you order. ## Sleep Radisson Blu Hotel Pyramid Continental Hotel Juba Grand Hotel Palm Africa Hotel Acacia Hotel ## Stay safe Although the level of violence has subsided since the establishment of the country and the end of the civil war, South Sudan remains dangerous for travel as ceasefire violations and boundary disputes have continued. Guns are freely and readily available to the populace, and it is not uncommon to hear gunshots being fired in broad daylight. Travel near the Sudan or Central African Republic borders is extremely dangerous. Western governments continue to advise against all travel to South Sudan and the adjacent regions in Sudan. Violent crime remains problematic; unexploded ordnance from years of civil war also poses hazards to civilians. Photography South Sudan has very strict photography laws. For any kind of photography, you are required to obtain a photography permit from the Ministry of Interior. Be very mindful of what you take pictures of, and do not take photos randomly; foreign tourists have been arrested and physically assaulted by South Sudanese law enforcement for simply taking photographs. To err on the side of safety, keep the following in mind: Never take a photograph of a South Sudanese person without their explicit permission. Never take photographs of government buildings, vehicles, military personnel, or law enforcement personnel. Never take photographs of airports, bridges, or gas stations. Authorities South Sudan is one of the most unstable, lawless, and corrupt countries in the world. Many scholars regard South Sudan as a kleptocracy. Do not expect the South Sudanese police to help you or solve your problems in the event you run into any kind of difficulties during your stay; the South Sudanese police are extremely corrupt and are written off as hapless, abusive, and ineffective. Low salaries are the main reason why there's a high level of corruption among the police force. As a foreigner, you may attract unwanted attention from corrupt officials. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and keep your emotions under control; getting into a fight with corrupt, abusive officials or the wrong person in a country far away from home is not something you (or anyone) would want to do. Journalists and bloggers As tempting as it may be to write about South Sudan, it is illegal to report on the country without permission from the South Sudanese Media Authority. ## Stay healthy It's a l area, so before arriving, visit a tropical vaccination center to get prophylactic treatment and the necessary vaccines, including yellow fever, polio and hepatitis A and B. Be sure to sleep under a mosquito net and use mosquito repellent. Most of the South Sudanese drink from the rivers, which exposes them to diarrhea and cholera. If bottled water is not available, boil/chlorinate the river water before drinking it. Ebola may occur from time to time. ## Connect Telephone country code for South Sudan is +211, previous to 2011 it used the Sudan country code +249 so some numbers printed may need to be corrected. Local numbers are a 7 digit number preceded by a 2 digit provider code, those starting with a 1 are fixed line those with 9 mobile. Roaming with foreign phones/SIM cards does not usually work in South Sudan. For mobile communications, you will need to purchase a SIM card from one of the local networks (Zain or MTN). Bring an unlocked phone. Text by Wikivoyage contributors. Article edition: 2026-08-08T15:34:16Z · [Source and revision](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5325142) · [Authors and history](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=South%20Sudan&action=history) · [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ## Local food ### Asida Grain dough served with sauce. ### Ful Beans prepared with seasonings. ### Guiso de cacahuate Regional preparation with varying vegetables or proteins. ## Local drinks ### Karkadé Hibiscus infusion. Alcohol-free ### Café Drink found in urban daily life. Alcohol-free Plan your itinerary ### Feasibility Read the official advisory before any reservation and seek professional assessment of the exact area. ### Communities Photographs, interviews and village visits require local agreements; they are not spontaneous tourist encounters. ### Natural heritage Do not interpret Boma-Badingilo’s catalogue inclusion as safari availability; confirm access with official managers. ### Bahr el Ghazal ### Equatoria ### Greater Upper Nile Local reading and routesSerious official warnings apply to South Sudan. This cultural guide does not establish safe access or tourist-service availability. ### [Abyei](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Abyei) claimed by South Sudan and Sudan, but controlled by Sudan ### [Aweil](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Aweil) ### [Rumbek](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Rumbek) ### [Wau](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Wau_(South_Sudan)) ### [Deim Zubeir](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) ### [Malualkon](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) ### [Nyamlel](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) (Nyamliell) ### [Ashana Game Reserve](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) ### [Southern National Park](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) ### [Radom National Park](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bahr_el_Ghazal#Other_destinations) disputed between Sudan and South Sudan. ### [Juba](https://tripguroo.com/en/places/ciudad-yuba/) ### [Nimule](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nimule) ### [Yambio](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Equatoria#Other_destinations) ### [Magwi](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Magwi) home of the Acholi tribe ### [Yei](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yei) ### [Bandingilo National Park](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bandingilo_National_Park) ### [Nimule National Park](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nimule_National_Park) ### [Bentiu](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bentiu) ### [Bor](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) ### [Malakal](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Malakal) ### [Maiwut](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) ### [Melut](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) ### [Fashoda](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) (Kodok) ### [Renk](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) ### [Boma National Park](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Boma_National_Park) ### [Ez Zeraf Game Reserve](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Greater_Upper_Nile#Other_destinations) ## Sources [Referencia culinaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudanese_cuisine) · [Aviso de viaje](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-sudan)Wikivoyage contributors; selection, abridgement, translation and regional planning by TRIPGUROO · CC BY-SA 4.0 [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · [Wikivoyage · South Sudan](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5325142) [Guides by topic](https://tripguroo.com/en/travel/?view=topics)