12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Bird watching Tour |South Sudan Culture Safari and Birding Tour | 12 Days 11 Nights Bird watching Trip In South Sudan | 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Tribes & Bird watching Safari Tour | South Sudan Birding Holiday and Tours.

This South Sudan tour takes you to its bordering section with Uganda to the south, in Uganda over 1000 different species of birds have been identified Does this same number exist in South Sudan? We think so. 
This will be the first of many tours to identify the birds of South Sudan. At the same time, you will visit the tribes of Mundari, Toposa, Jie, and Dinka, and visit the great Sudd swamp the largest swamp.

12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Bird watching Tour |South Sudan Culture Safari and Birding Tour | 12 Days 11 Nights Bird watching Trip In South Sudan | 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Tribes & Bird watching Safari Tour | South Sudan Birding Holiday and Tours| Itinerary In Summary 

The 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Bird watching Tour |South Sudan Culture Safari and Birding Tour | 12 Days 11 Nights Bird watching Trip In South Sudan | 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Tribes & Bird watching Safari Tour | South Sudan Birding Holiday and Tours takes you to the state of Jonglei on the west bank of the Nile River (75 km north of Bor town – Jongolei state city) where you will spend two days birding. This is the southern edge of the great Sudd swamp.

12 Days Exploring South Sudan Tribes | 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Bird watching Tour |South Sudan Culture Safari and Birding Tour | 12 Days 11 Nights Bird watching Trip In South Sudan | 12 Days 11 Nights South Sudan Tribes & Bird watching Safari Tour | South Sudan Birding Holiday and Tours.

Duration:      12 days/11 nights

Best Time To Visit South Sudan: November - April
Discover the virgin territory of Mundari cattle herders, the tallest people on Earth, who still live in the Stone Age on the banks of the mighty White Nile River in full unity with their livestock. They are famous for their numerous cowherds, kept with Kalashnikov guns, and elaborative vernacular architecture.

South Sudan bridging and Exploring Toposa tribal villages – the most authentic tribes of the "Karamojong cluster", which also includes the Karamojong people of Uganda, the Nyangatom people in southwestern Ethiopia, and the Turkana people of Kenya.

Larim tribe populated the Boya Hills area – one of South Sudan's most traditional groups, who still practice nose and lip piercing.

The mountain kingdom of Ilieu is ruled by a priest-king, and Lotuko tribe in the mountainous region with Imatong Mountain, the highest mountain in South Sudan.

Living in the cattle herders’ camp of the Mundari following nomads in the swamps of the White Nile River.

DETAILED TRAVEL PROGRAM

Day 1. ARRIVAL IN JUBA FOR A BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

Arrive by air in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the youngest country on Earth. The guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel in Juba. Arrange travel permits (stamp in the passport). The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel Royal Palace
Meals: lunch (if needed), dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Palace in Juba

Day 2. DOMESTIC FLIGHT FROM JUBA – KAPOETAFOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

In the morning, after breakfast, transfer to the airport. Domestic flight to Kapoeta (2 hours flight), to the eastern part of the country. Kapoeta is an ideal base to explore Toposa tribal territory.

The Toposa are Turkana-speaking cattle-rearing people that have resisted Western influence to this date. Toposa has traditionally lived by herding cattle, sheep, and goats, and in the past were involved in the ivory trade. They have a tradition of constant warfare, usually cattle raids, against their neighbors.
Depending on arrival time, we can visit the first Toposa tribal village.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping at Mango Camp

Days 3 Explore Toposa Tribe FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

One full day to explore Toposa tribal villages, The Toposa belong to what has been called the "Karamojong cluster", which also includes the Karamojong people of Uganda, the Nyangatom people in southwestern Ethiopia, and the Turkana people of Kenya.
The Toposa economy and social life revolve around herding livestock, including cattle, camels, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Boys are first given care of goats and sheep, and then graduate to look after cattle when they come of age. Possession of cattle, along with possession of a loaded gun, is the main measure of status and wealth. Cattle are central to Toposa culture. The Toposa have always competed for water and pasturage with their neighbors, and have always engaged in cattle rustling. The Toposa also pan for gold and other precious minerals in the streambeds.

Toposa tribe continues to dress in their traditional clothes (leather-beaded skirts) and pierce their lips and scarify their arms, chests, and faces.

Each scarification is a work of art, Visit different communities and enjoy the intense welcome dances. 
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Kileu Hotel or Camping

 Day 5. TRAVEL TO BOYA HILLS (LARIM TRIBE) FOR A BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

After breakfast drive (2 hours) to Boya Hills to meet the Larim (Boya) tribal minority.
Larim speaks Murle and is an excellent architect.

They also pierce their nose and lips and scarify their bodies. Larim keeps cattle and grows seasonal crops, such as sorghum, maize, and beans. Widowed women wrap vegetable cords around their legs and head. Larim is considered one of South Sudan's most traditional groups.

The Larim live in the Boya hills, we will focus more on the beautiful architecture and landscapes of Larim.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mobile tents

Day 6. Half Day with Larim, Transfer To Lotuko FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

After breakfast drive (4 hours) to the mountain kingdom of Ilieu ruled by a priest-king. Interesting 14^th Century stonewalls. Explore the village and meet the Lotuko people.
Lotuko people are a Nilotic ethnic group that populates the region characterized by ranges and mountain spurs such as the Imatong Mountain, the highest mountain in South Sudan.

As agro-pastoralists, they keep large herds of cattle, sheep, and goats, and supplement this with hoe farming, hunting, and fishing. The community owns by no single person but in trusts the land. In the mountains, after finding a site, the group decides the boundaries of each person's garden, with certain areas being fallow for several years. Lotuko's religion is based on nature and ancestor worship that is deeply rooted in their ethnic identity.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mobile tents

Day 7.ILIEU KINGDOM – TORITFOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR
Breakfast. After the last visits around the village, farewell from the mountain kingdom and drive (2 hours) to the town of Torit. En route, we can see the local life.

Accommodation: Torit Hotel. Dinner and overnight
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Torit Hotel

Day 8. TORIT – JUBAFOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR
After breakfast long drive (8 hours) to Juba. En-route stops in town, such as Liria, Reach Juba, and check-in in the hotel. Dinner in a Da Vinci restaurant with nice views over the Nile River and an old metal bridge (the only place in Juba to take pictures of the Nile).

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Palace

Day 9. COVID19 TEST AND LEAVE FOR TERAKEKA FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

Breakfast and transfer for covid19 test, thereafter we drive-by 4x4 vehicles to the South Sudanese bush. 4-hour drive to Mundari tribal territory. Reaching Terakeka, the regional capital, walk around the market to meet the first Mundari tribal people.

After having checked with the local authorities drive to a cattle camp to spend the night. Full day to see aspects of the Mundari daily lifestyle.

Mundari is a small ethnic group related to the Nilotic peoples. Mundari, together with neighboring Dinka people, are sometimes noted for their height. The Tutsi of Rwanda are believed to be the tallest people in Africa.

The traditional Mundari tribal lands are located roughly 75 kilometers north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and are centered in the town of Terakeka in the state of Central Equatoria. The land, like much of South Sudan, is predominantly flat and marked by occasional isolated large hills. The low-lying land contains many rivers and lakes and provides a very fertile basis in support of cattle grazing.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mobile tents

DAY 10 – MUNDARI TRIBE CATTLE CAMPS FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOUR

For two full days, we stay with the Mundari tribe. We will set the camp on one side near the cattle camp of Mundari. We will also follow the nomads with their cattle.
Visit the camp and small Mundari villages where facial and body scarification are still practiced to this day. Mundari villages are also interesting because of vernacular architecture: huts, black and white totems, and granaries beautifully built.
The Mundari, like other Nilotic tribes, are very cattle-oriented: cattle serve as food, a form of currency, and a mark of status. The prospective groom offering cattle to the bride’s family arranges marriages and husbands may take as many wives as they can support.

The Mundari engage in perennial cattle-raiding wars with the neighboring Dinka during the dry season. To secure their cattle, Mundari men at night take their weapons and go to the bush.
Mundari has kept alive the animistic religion while the neighboring Dinka have lost most of these traditional ways due to war and conversion to Christianity.
In common with other Nilotic tribes in Sudan, the Mundari practice ritual scarification as a rite of passage into adulthood for young men. The typical Mundari scar pattern consists of two sets of three parallel lines, each on either side of the forehead, extending in a downward slope and unconnected in the middle.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mobile tents

Please Note: Mundari are nomadic their visit is based on the current location of their cattle camp

Day 11. LEAVE TERAKEKA FOR JUBA CITY AND DEPARTURE FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOURBreakfast and farewell from Mundari land. Last pictures of the landscape: forested savannah and the mighty White Nile River. Drive to Terakeka and further to Juba for covid19 results that you will be used for the following departure from South Sudan and overnight at Royal Palace Hotel.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Royal Palace Hotel 

Day 12. Departure Day – JUBA City Tour – FLIGHT HOME FOR BIRDING SAFARI TOURHave breakfast and then embark on a city tour, thereafter proceed with the arranged time transfer to the airport, trying to be at the airport 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. Flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: day-use hotel

Please Note: the order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions (i.e. state of roads, market days, etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible

A-List 62 Birds in South Sudan that have been identified to date