South Sudan Tours
10 Days 9 Nights South Sudan Wildlife Safari Tour To Southern National Park | Mundari cattle camp, a trip to South Sudan | Southern national park Wildlife | Trip to South Sudan, visit to a Mundari cattle camp| Visit Southern National Park In South Sudan
Juba, South Sudan
11th Mar
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11th Jul
Overview
10 Days 9 Nights South Sudan Wildlife Safari Tour To Southern National Park | Mundari cattle camp, a trip to South Sudan | Southern national park Wildlife | Trip to South Sudan, visit to a Mundari cattle camp| Visit Southern National Park In South Sudan | 10-day 9 Nights south Sudan tour
The 10-day 9 Nights south Sudan tour expedition takes you to Southern national park in the town of Rumbek. This huge Park was reported at one time to have large herds of Nile Buffalo, grass that reached 2 meters high, and Island ecosystems supporting monkeys.
South Sudan’s wildlife areas have been decimated by decades of civil war. Political instability resulted in the breakdown of law enforcement and the proliferation of automatic firearms. As the country gradually returns to peace, there is now the opportunity to re-establish effective management in the country’s iconic national parks. Southern is South Sudan’s largest National Park and is an area with massive potential for lion recovery, though the current status of the species in the area is unknown.
The Southern National Park is enormous being roughly 7,800 square miles (4,992,000 acres) or 20,194 square kilometers (2,019,400 hectares). The Southern National Park was created in 1939 when the area was part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The River Sue creates the western boundary of the Southern National Park, which eventually turns into the Bahr el Ghazel as it passes through Wau. The River Ibba flows through the center of the park and the River Gel flows through the eastern part of the Southern National Park.
In 1949 a report about the park listed the following wildlife- (to read this interesting report on the park link to 1949) Nile Buffalo (the dominant mammal in 1949) and Giraffe (a 1981 aerial census located 2,095 Giraffes in the park and near the park - in 2007 an aerial census could not locate any Giraffe) Elephant, Giant Eland, Waterbuck, Oribi, Kob, Hartebeest, Colobus Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Lions, Baboon, Bush-baby, Crocodile, Warthog, White Rhino (believed extinct, but a search is underway), Tilapia, Cat-fish (1 meter long), Lung Fish (Polypterus bichir), Eel Fish (Gymnarchus niloticus), Marabou stork, and Pelican.
In 1949 most of the park was covered by tall grass, often 15 feet high, in the wet season. There are also two types of islands of tropical forests within the grassland called:
- Anogeissus forest, where the bush baby is located.- Granite koppie with gallery forest, where colobus and Giant Forest Hog are located.
Recently Wild dogs have been reported along the north edge of the park, see more
Trip to South Sudan, visit The Mundari cattle camp | Mundari cattle camp, the trip to South Sudan
The Mundari are a small ethnic group of Nilotic origin, consisting mainly of cattle herders and farmers. The Mundari are known locally for their tribal body and facial markings (scarification), as well as for their interest in traditional fighting. They are also known, especially internationally, for their nomadic cattle camps, widely captured by renowned travel photographers.
The tribal lands of the Mundari people are traditionally located east of the White Nile, about a hundred kilometers north of Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, and are concentrated in the city of Terekeka in Central Equatoria State. Until recently, this short distance meant a hard journey of several hours. Today, it is possible to reach Mundari territory in just over an hour.
Mundari cattle camp south of Terekeka
We are in the dry season, usually, at this time of year, Mundari cattle camps are located along the banks of the White Nile. But this year is different. As a result of the excess water everywhere, caused by heavy rains and flooding in July and August, the Mundari have set up their seasonal camp next to the new road from Juba to Terekeka, much further south than in other years and away from the Nile. Let us remember that the Mundari inhabit a flat territory, easily subject to flooding.
Cattle, the center of the Mundari universe
In a few other places like the Mundari cattle camp, you can see the perfect communion between cattle and people. The Mundari, like other pastoralist groups in Africa, live by and for their cattle. But it could be said that these animals are more than just a way of life for the Mundari. The relationship transcends into the spiritual.
For the Mundari, cows represent many of the great values of their daily lives such as love, commitment, tradition, sustenance, food, and stability. Livestock gives status to each individual Mundari. It is therefore not surprising that every member of the Mundari cattle camp tribe knows every animal perfectly and is cared for even more than a person.
Everything you need to live
From their cows, the Mundari get milk and blood, one of their main foods. Rarely is a head of cattle slaughtered for its meat. The cattle’s urine serves as an antiseptic and they wash their heads with it. In addition, the ammonia in the urine makes the color of the Mundari’s hair reddish or orange.
Cattle feces are used to make smoking fires that will keep the thousands of insects in these swampy areas away. For the Mundari, the cattle is therefore their source of life, and they understand it as a connection between them and their gods, using it also in the ceremonies of union between a man and a woman, in which the husband’s family will have to pay the dowry, in heads of cattle to the woman’s family. In return, each Mundari dedicates most of his day and life to the care and attention of his cattle.
Ankole Watusi breeds “the cattle of kings”.
Known for its large and thick horns, which can measure up to one and a half meters, the Ankole Watusi breed traces its origins to the Nile Valley up to 4,000 years B.C. Traditionally for many of the region’s different ethnic groups, the Ankole-Watusi were considered sacred. They offered milk but were rarely used for meat, as the wealth of their owners consisted of the number of live cattle as was the case with the Mundari.
Evening falls in Mundari cattle camps
As evening falls, activity returns to the Mundari camps in South Sudan. The cattle return after spending the day grazing, the young people stoke fires made from the animals’ droppings so that the smoke keeps the insects away.
We watch as the Mundari massage their cattle with ash and do so with affection and care. This powder applied to men and cows mitigates insect bites. The ropes are prepared to tie up their cattle while other members of the group set up the beds where they will spend the night with their cattle. And the sun comes down slowly and that is when the backlights create an impressive dense atmosphere, making Mundari cattle camp a magical and very attractive and visually stunning place
Tour Overview
Availability
Nov 21 - Mar 29
Duration
10D/9N
Pickup Location
pickup avaiable from airport, train and also cruise
Language
English
Car PickUp
Available
Tour Guide
Included
Included
- Meals.
- Bottled water.
- Individual tent with cot bed that has a mattress, sheets, pillow (blankets or sleeping bags are not necessary).
- Mobile enclosed showers, towels, and body & hair shower soap.
- Mobile enclosed toilets.
- All Park fees.
- Photo permit.
- Introduction letter to get your visa.
- Translators from the local tribal languages to English.
- Drivers/guides that are knowledgeable about the wildlife and tribes
- Full mobile kitchen with chef and helper.
- 4x4 vehicles from Juba airport to Juba airport. Most of the parks in South Sudan have no roads so we navigate by GPS when searching for wildlife.
- Armed Forest Rangers guides
- Ice makers.
- Shaded dining area with camp chairs, tables, and lanterns.
- Visits to tribal villages for photography and purchasing artifacts.
- Game viewing (most game viewing will be from the 4x4 vehicles, however, there may be some short distance walking to reach particular areas).
Excluded
- Airfare to Juba
- South Sudan Visa
- Any health expenses for illness or accident including malaria prevention, yellow fever inoculation, hospitalization, doctor consultations, emergency evacuation costs. Check with your health insurance if you are covered while traveling, if not we recommend you obtain health insurance while you are in Southern Sudan.
- Any costs for delays caused by airlines, weather, mud, political occurrences, lost luggage. (Such as extra charges for hotels, meals, taxis, airline fees to change tickets.
- Any costs for delays caused by airlines, weather, mud, political occurrences, lost luggage. (Such as extra charges for hotels, meals, taxis, airline fees to change tickets.
- tips
- Use of SAT phone in camp USD 4 per minute
Itenary
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10:00 AM
Arrival at Juba international airport
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08:00 AM
Transfer to Telekeka the area of Mundari
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08:00 AM
Transfer to Rumbek
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08:00 AM
Drive into Southern National Park
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09:00 AM
Explore Southern National Park.
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09:00 AM
Transfer back to Rumbek.
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10:00 AM
Transfer to Telekeka the town of Mundri.
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08:00 AM
Explore Mundari Cattle Camp
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08:00 AM
Last day with Mundari and Drive back to Juba City at Your Hotel
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10:00 AM
Departure
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