SUD SUDAN
Highlights
The vernacular architecture of the village of Ilieu
Encounters with the Mundari communities
The sunset return of the Mundari herds
The mountain villages and cultural heritage of the Larim
Where we will stay
Hotels in Juba, local huts, tents
How we move around
Domestic flight, 4×4 jeep with private driver
TRAVEL TYPE
This journey involves travel by 4×4 vehicles with local drivers across regions where infrastructure remains limited and travel conditions can be unpredictable. While the itinerary does not require advanced physical preparation, it demands flexibility, patience, and a strong capacity for adaptation. Several nights will be spent in tented camps or basic accommodations, sometimes with limited access to running water and modern facilities. The experience is designed for travelers comfortable with long road journeys, changing schedules, and remote environments.
For more information about our trips, please consult the FAQ section.
DAY 1: Departure from Italy with a flight to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
DAY 2: Arrival in Juba, meeting with the local guide, and hotel check-in. Introduction to the city overlooking the White Nile, with time dedicated to first impressions of South Sudan and completion of visa and administrative formalities. Dinner and overnight stay in Juba.
Morning: Transfer to Juba airport for a domestic flight to Kapoeta, in the southeastern highlands of South Sudan, within the Eastern Equatoria region.
Afternoon: Beginning of our 4×4 journey through the savanna landscapes inhabited by Toposa pastoral communities. Introduction to the social and cultural traditions of the region, where cattle herding remains central to daily life and identity. The Toposa are a Nilotic people whose semi-nomadic pastoral lifestyle is shaped by seasonal migration patterns and deep ties to the land and livestock. Discussion of the historical tensions and resource-based conflicts that have affected communities in the region, including disputes linked to grazing land and cattle. Visit to villages composed of traditional circular dwellings and observation of local pastoral practices during the dry and wet seasons.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in a tent near the Toposa villages.
Morning: Early departure to observe daily life within Toposa pastoral communities before continuing toward the Boya Mountains, a mountainous area within the savanna region inhabited by Larim communities. Visit to Larim villages and introduction to local architecture and settlement patterns, including traditional homes with thatched roofs and protective perimeter structures shaped by local environmental conditions and historical intercommunity tensions.
Afternoon: Time spent with members of the Larim community to learn about pastoral life, agriculture, and local social organization. Discussion of traditional clothing, adornment, and body-marking practices, including scarification traditions that may carry cultural, aesthetic, and social significance within the community. Observation of gender roles and daily activities connected to livestock herding and subsistence farming.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in a tent near the Larim villages.
Morning and afternoon: Journey from the Larim region toward the village of Ilieu, located in the mountainous territory traditionally inhabited by Lotuko communities. Introduction to the history of the area, including local forms of governance, spiritual leadership, and community organization. Exploration of Ilieu’s architecture and settlement structure, including historic stone boundary walls and agricultural landscapes shaped over generations. Discussion with community members about farming practices, fishing traditions, land stewardship, and collective systems of resource management. Opportunity to learn about local spiritual traditions and the relationship between community life, environment, and seasonal rhythms.
Evening: Dinner and overnigh.
DAY 6: Return journey from Ilieu to Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Time to rest and prepare for the following stage of the journey after several days spent traveling through rural communities in Eastern Equatoria. Opportunity to reflect on the cultural diversity, local histories, and social traditions encountered during the expedition.
DAY 7: Journey toward the Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka, north of Juba. Introduction to Mundari pastoral life and the central role cattle play within the community’s social, economic, and cultural structures. Observation of daily camp activities, including livestock management and traditional practices connected to pastoral life. Discussion of the practical use of ash as protection against insects and the significance of cattle within Mundari identity and community organization. At sunset, observation of herders returning with their zebu cattle after the day’s grazing activities.
Morning: Time spent in the Mundari cattle camps to learn more about pastoral life and the relationship between cattle, social organization, and daily practices within the community. Discussion of traditional knowledge connected to livestock care, environmental adaptation, and the cultural significance of cattle in Mundari society. Opportunity to observe daily activities related to herding, food preparation, and camp life, including practices linked to hygiene, nutrition, and pastoral traditions.
Afternoon: Final moments with members of the Mundari community before returning to Juba. Possibility of a short excursion along the White Nile.
Evening: Dinner in Juba and overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 9: Free time in Juba while waiting for the connecting flight back to Italy. Depending on the departure time, it will be possible to explore the city and its markets. Transfer to the airport and flight to Italy.
DAY 10: Arrival in Italy… And on to the next adventure!
