South Sudan travel guide

Getting there

Almost all visitors arrive by air at Juba International Airport; land borders exist with Uganda, Kenya and other neighbours, but overland travel carries significant risks.

Best time to visit: Dec–Mar – the dry season, when roads are easier.

Tougher months: May to October – the rainy season floods large areas and makes many roads impassable.

Weather by month in Juba

• 37°J
• 38°F
• 38°M●
• 36°A●●
• 34°M●●
• 33°J●●
• 31°J●●●
• 32°A●●●
• 33°S●●
• 34°O●●
• 36°N●
• 36°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Juba. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 5 of 198 other passports can enter South Sudan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 193 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of South Sudan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-17). Read the advisory.

Source and more: South Sudan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to South Sudan are based around Juba, Boma National Park or Badingilo National Park. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$70–120 for a backpacker and US$150–300 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun South Sudan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, D. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +211.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Juba (Central Equatoria · capital): The young capital on the White Nile is the entry point for nearly all visitors.
• Boma National Park (East · wildlife): A huge wilderness that hosts part of one of Africa's largest land mammal migrations.
• Badingilo National Park (Central Equatoria · wildlife): Grasslands and woodlands crossed by migrating antelope herds, closer to Juba.
• Terekeka (Central Equatoria · cattle camps): Area known for the photogenic Mundari cattle camps along the Nile.
• The Sudd (Central · wetland): A vast swamp and floodplain of the White Nile, rich in birdlife and fishing communities.
• Nimule National Park (South · Nile wildlife): A park on the Ugandan border with river scenery, rapids and wildlife.
• Imatong Mountains (Eastern Equatoria · highlands): Cool, forested highlands rising to Mount Kinyeti, the country's highest peak.

Things to do

• Witness the great migration. See vast herds of white-eared kob and other antelope crossing the plains of Boma and Badingilo, on a specialist-guided expedition.
• Visit a Mundari cattle camp. Watch herders care for their prized long-horned cattle amid smoky dusk fires near Terekeka, with an experienced guide.
• See the White Nile at Juba. Watch fishermen and boats along the river that has shaped the country's history.
• Fly over the Sudd. Glimpse the endless channels and papyrus of one of the world's largest wetlands from the air.
• Explore Nimule National Park. Look for elephants and hippos along the Nile near the Ugandan border, where conditions allow.
• Browse Konyo Konyo Market. Experience the bustle of Juba's busy market, full of produce, fabrics and everyday goods.
• Learn about Nilotic cultures. Discover traditions of scarification, cattle songs and wrestling unique to the region's peoples.
• Spot shoebills. Search the swamps for the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork, a prize for birdwatchers.

Source: full South Sudan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Kisra – thin sorghum flatbread
• Asida – thick porridge served with stew
• Ful medames – slow-cooked fava beans
• Grilled Nile fish – fresh from the river

Source: RoamSun South Sudan guide

Money and safety

Currency: South Sudanese pound (SSP). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected but appreciated for guides and drivers.

• The economy is largely cash-based; foreign cards are rarely accepted and ATMs are unreliable.
• Bring clean, recent banknotes in a major currency and exchange only through official channels.
• Most governments advise against all travel or all but essential travel to South Sudan – check your government's latest travel advice before considering a trip.
• Armed conflict, intercommunal violence and crime affect many areas, and the situation can change quickly.

Source: RoamSun South Sudan facts