Travel Essentials

South Sudan: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and D, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 999. Tipping: Tipping is not expected but small tips for drivers, hotel staff and guides are welcome; many governments advise against travel here, so check advisories and arrange visas and permits in advance. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..

Open The South Sudan Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and D, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

One number for everything

999

Tipping

Tipping is not expected but small tips for drivers, hotel staff and guides are welcome; many governments advise against travel here, so check advisories and arrange visas and permits in advance.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, meningococcal; rabies and hepatitis B for some travelers.
Malaria: Risk throughout the country; ask about preventive tablets.

Apps To Download Before You Go

WhatsApp: Essential for contacting hotels, NGOs, drivers and fixers, and for coordinating permits and pickups.
Juba Taxi / boda booking via WhatsApp: There is no major ride-hailing app; hotels arrange trusted drivers, and boda-bodas and tuk-tuks are hailed on the street.
m-GURUSH: The country's main mobile money service, run through Trinity Bank, used for transfers and paying merchants in Juba.
MTN MoMo South Sudan: MTN's mobile wallet, growing fast as an alternative to cash in a largely cashless-bank-card-free economy.
Facebook: The main channel for local news, events and business pages, including bus operators to Nimule and Uganda.
Jumia (Uganda) / Amazon: There is little local e-commerce; many residents order via Uganda or Kenya and use freight services.
MyMTN / Zain South Sudan: Apps of the two mobile networks for prepaid data bundles; Zain and MTN both cover Juba and larger towns.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Greetings are important and unhurried; a handshake and polite inquiry about health and family is customary.

Dress modestly. Conservative, modest dress is expected, particularly for women, given the country's traditional and religious norms.

Photography restrictions. Avoid photographing government buildings, checkpoints, or military personnel; permission is required for photographing people.

Safety And Scams

South Sudan is under a 'Do Not Travel' advisory from Western governments due to serious risk of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict, with no formal tourism infrastructure, unreliable emergency services, and airports/borders that can close without warning.

Checkpoint extortion. Armed checkpoints may demand money or documents; this reflects genuine security risk rather than a petty scam and should only be navigated with trusted local guidance.

Women travelers. Travel for women is not advisable given the current security situation across most of the country.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Criminalized

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can be punished with imprisonment; the environment is hostile and there is no safety for openly LGBTQ+ people in South Sudan.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	SSP 3,000	$1.50
Local bus or metro ride	SSP 1,000	$0.50
Mid-range restaurant meal	SSP 15,000	$7.50
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	SSP 20,000	$10
Mid-range hotel (night)	SSP 200,000	$100
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	SSP 300,000	$150

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

South Sudan is under a 'Do Not Travel' advisory due to active armed conflict and lacks any tourism infrastructure; historically the dry season (December-March) was more accessible for travel than the muddy rainy season.

Phrases

Basic English phrases · Basic Dinka phrases · Basic Acholi phrases