Travel Advisory for Southern Sudan

**TStone** · 2010/01/12, 11:08 AM

...As if anyone would!!!!!!!

We worked in Southern Sudan for 9 months last year. We felt relatively safe in Juba, the capital, while we were there but it is by no means a safe place for tourists who are not well versed in the ways of war torn Africa. Everyone and his dog are armed with AK's.

Those planning, for whatever reason to travel through Sudan North to South, should firstly look at going through the North only, via Ethiopia. The roads between Southern Sudan and the North are not safe, chances are very high you will be attacked. Tribalism is the first hurdle and if that doesn't get you the faction fighting with the North will.

In the North, just be very aware of the customs of the people and respect them and there customs, it is not like Egypt where female tourists can wear western clothing, they often lash outsiders for wearing pants (female), showing too much skin etc... Just do your homework before the trip and you will probably be fine.

Back to the South, the road to Juba from either Kenya or Uganda is again, not a walk in the park, bandits and the LRA are everywhere, looking to make a quick buck and have no regard for human life, if you have to do it, take along a local who knows the road and who can talk to the people you may meet.

The South is extremely hot and humid, dust masks for the winter, summer rains bring mud mud mud. Roads are not in great condition although the Juba - Nimule (border to Uganda) road is in construction.
Speaking arabic would get you very far.

Accommodation in Juba - haha right! prefab if you lucky. There is one place run by Kenyans which is the only place to stay worth anything - Logali house (pm me for details) I have been to a nice looking place called Arcacia, but never stayed there, worth looking for (SAB staff are staying there)

Budget 3 times the amount you would in SA for everything. A meal in one of the so called restaurants can easily cost US$50 per person.

Ensure all you documents have a rubber stamp, they like rubber stamps, it makes everything official. Visa's cost US$100 and can be obtained in SA at the embassy or in Kenya (recommended) via the Embassy in Nairobi - pm for contact details, can be obtained via email would you believe!!!

Hope it helps

**freeflyd** · 2010/01/12, 01:53 PM

Nice info!

I have to say that I think most Trans Africa overlanders would go through Ethiopia, then on to Kaurtum, Wadi Halfa and into Egypt.

Please PM me contact for getting visa by email! That sounds FANTASTIC! rather than the reported shlep in Nairobbery!

www.pictureafrica.org.

**Tony Weaver** · 2010/01/12, 02:39 PM

I haven't been through Sudan, but I've heard from many travellers that the people in the north are hugely hospitable and friendly. TStone - are the LRA still very active down south? I'd heard that what's left of them were now more active in north eastern DRC and the Central African Republic.

**MikeAG** · 2010/01/13, 10:52 AM

Tony,

I heard there was a big push to get the LRA out of DRC, and they have now re-located to Southern Sudan. Just what that place needs right now!

Mike

**freeflyd** · 2010/01/13, 11:38 AM

Remember the size of Sudan though! The part most overlanders travel through is the VERY FAR north between Ethiopia and Wadi Halfa. That's almost like a different continent compared to southern Sudan.

The bit that worries me slightly is the western border of Ethiopia as we were definitely planning the Lake Turkana route and ending up there...

Thing do change fast though, so we'll make that decision when we reach Nairobbery

**Johnna** · 2011/01/21, 12:56 PM

Wanted to go there recently, wouldn't even let us in with the peacekeepers

**freeflyd** · 2011/01/22, 03:07 PM

Interesting... we shared some space on the boat from Wadi Halfa to aswan with a British Cyclist that extensively traveled Souther Sudan on his bycicle for the month surroudning the reffurendum. His report was that the poeple were as friendly and hospitable as the northerers... as long as you were not from Northern Sudan.

Having spent one full day in egypt I wish I could go back to Sudan!

**Jayefe** · 2012/11/22, 09:12 PM

Been going to ssudan since august 2011 on a regular basis ; travel by air via nairobi to juba ; kq flights that leave at midnight jhb can be sometimes late ; max record of 18,5 hours to get to the client once ; also heard from SAB visitors that there is a "good b&b" not so far from the SAB plant ; will try to get to the name next trip;used to get the visa at the airport ; now no more - visas only via the embassy in pretoria; +- 2weeks to get it.

**Tony Weaver** · 2012/11/22, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jayefe

Been going to ssudan since august 2011 on a regular basis ; travel by air via nairobi to juba ; kq flights that leave at midnight jhb can be sometimes late ; max record of 18,5 hours to get to the client once ; also heard from SAB visitors that there is a "good b&b" not so far from the SAB plant ; will try to get to the name next trip;used to get the visa at the airport ; now no more - visas only via the embassy in pretoria; +- 2weeks to get it.

Jayefe, you must be working with the breweries there? Hats off, it's a rough gig.

**jolonimp** · 2013/03/21, 11:56 PM

im new to using 4x4 forum and am travelling up east africa in a small road car n a week or so. can south africans get visas for ethiopia and north sudan in nairobi?

and how does this PM thing work if i needed to cantact a memebr about specific addresses of hotels etc?

Terence