Is It Safe To Travel To South Sudan?
This East African country, South Sudan is bordered by Republic of Uganda in the South, Central African Republic in the West, Sudan in the North, and Ethiopia in the East. The country’s population as of 2020 was approximated at about 13.5 million people. South Sudan’s capital city is known as Juba, and it also doubles as the largest commercial city in the country. South Sudan’s official language is English. Other national languages constitutionally recognized include Madi, Dinka, Zande, Otuho and Luo. Different from Sudan that is largely composed of Islam as the dominant religion, Christianity is the dominant religion in South Sudan. The Republic of South Sudan is one of the youngest democracies in the world after having attained its state autonomy from Sudan in 2005, and was later recognized by the United Nations body as an independent nation in the year 2011.
Safety of visitors in South Sudan.
Since breaking away from Sudan, the Republic of South Sudan has been involved in numerous civil strife most of which are politically motivated or arising from tribal tensions. The political fallout between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Dr. Machar in 2013 commenced the political turmoil in this new Republic. This political Strife motivated tribal wars and differences between the Nuer and the Dinka people. Peace agreements have been pushed by Regional and international civil bodies such as the African Union and the United Nations to forge new beginnings of peace and political sanity in the country but have overtime ended up in more conflict with each side blaming the other.
Back to the question: Is it safe to travel to South Sudan? The answer to this question is obviously “YES”. Regardless of the seemingly insecurity situation, South Sudan remains safe for tourists. However, it is advisable for tourists to seek out professional advice and counsel from their tour agencies on more required information to reach an independent decision. Either way, the Republic of South Sudan is an awesome travel destination and more tourists are encouraged to include it on their Wishlist.
Why visit South Sudan?
Regardless of having an extension effect of the Sahara Desert from Northern Africa, South Sudan has some tropical vegetation which is influenced by its location near the equator, isolated grasslands, and swamplands that are located along the White Nile. The country also has some gazetted wildlife conservation areas such as Southern National Park, Boma National Park, and the famous Bandingilo National Park. Each of these national parks is a hub for thousands of wildlife including the giraffes, zebras, buffalo, cheetahs, lions, and other migratory animals from the neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. The Nile lechwe is among the endemic animals in South Sudan after the popular “white eared kobs” that can literally only be found in South Sudan.
The River Nile Delta that passes through South Sudan also attracts numerous aquatic life such as reptiles and amphibians. The famous Nile crocodile can also be found on some parts of the river in South Sudan. The White Nile has lush swamp vegetation which is usually termed as the Sudd. This swampland is a home to some aquatic life such as lung fish, cat fish, snakes, and many others alike. The country also has widespread thickets and montane forests among its vegetation cover.
Culture and traditional explorations are another attractive feature for a prospective tourist in South Sudan. Visitors should not worry much because there are numerous tour agencies to make proper trip arrangements with local security agencies in order to provide enough safety while on a tour in South Sudan. The commonly visited sites are also located in areas that have considerable peace and safety for tourism activities. As a precautional safety guideline for the female tourists, it is advised to dress modestly and decently.
