JUBA – MAYONG (MUNDARI AREA)

Today after breakfast we transfer from Juba capital city for a 3 -4 hours drive to Terakeka, a center of the Mundari people. From the hotel, we drive roughly 75 kilometers north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan into the countryside to meet the Mundari, a traditional ethnic group known for their facial scarring and traditional rituals.

We hope to be able to see one of the regular wrestling ceremonies that take place between the different villages, it will be an optional decision to participate or just enjoy as our guide keep on explaining. Overnight camping. Hours; (3-4 Hours’ Drive) 75Km Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

WHOLE DAY MUNDARI EXPERIENCE

Today you will spend a full day with the Mundari, exploring their fascinating culture and customs. Mundari people: live to the north of Juba, centered around the small settlement of Terekeka. Deriving a living from herding and agriculture they live in small villages and follow a largely traditional lifestyle.

Custom dictates that young men and women are marked with a series of parallel V-shaped scars on their forehead – this tradition is now officially discouraged by the government and is starting to die out, but most of them over the age of around 25 still have these markings. The Mundari are locally famed wrestlers and on certain days of the week, young men from neighboring villages will gather to compete against each other in traditional shows of strength.

These are quite a spectacle as the men daub themselves with mud and etch patterns into their bodies, each trying to throw and hold the other to the ground. Watching the surrounding crowd is just as interesting as they cheer and sing songs for their respective teams. This is a chance to see a side of Africa that may not exist for much longer, while here you can opt to participate or just enjoy the activity with guidance from our staff.

Overnight camping. Meal Plan (BLD)

RETURN TO JUBA CAPACITY CITY FROM MUNDARI CATTLE CAMP

After a final morning with the Mundari, we drive back to Juba straight to your hotel for relaxation, refreshing your minds about the amazing experience with the Mundari, and finally an Overnight stay at a booked hotel.

Meal Plan (BLD) (3-4 Hours’ Drive) Roughly 75km

DRIVE FROM JUBA TO TORIT

We transfer for 140km (5-8 hours) drive from Juba Capital city with either packed or en-route lunch (liria), heading east through East Equatorial State to the town of Torit where you will spend your night. The road can be difficult at times, and we may pass through evidence of the civil war in the form of tanks, half-hidden in the bush.

Overnight at Booked Hotel. Meal Plan (BLD) (5-8 Hours’ Drive 140km)

PROCEED TO IMATONG FROM TORIT, VISIT THE LOTUKU

Today we drive for 64 km (3 hours) to visit the villages of the imatong, located amongst the isolated rocky hills, thereafter we proceed to the territory of the Lotuko people, these are lotuko speaking villages with a complex social-political system based on age groups and finally an overnight stay.

Camping. Meal Plan (BLD). (3Hours Drive,64Km)

WHOLE DAY EXPLORING THE IMATONG

This will be another day to remember you will spend a full day with the imatong people, exploring their fascinating culture and custom not missing the imatong cultural ceremony and finally an Overnight: Camping.

Meal Plan (BLD).

VISIT THE DONGOTONA

Today after breakfast, you will be transferred for 36 KM (2 hours) to visit the mountains of Dongotona, a granite island separated from imatong by a village.

This will be a walking tour to the Sierra Mountains, interact with elders of the community as our guide keep on translating for you. This is another interesting day for photography; you will opt to take as many as you want and finally an overnight stay.

Camping. Meal Plan (BLD) (2 hours’ drive,36km)

DRIVE FROM DONGOTONA TO BOYA HILLS

Today our driver will transfer you for a 60km (4 hours) journey to the hills of Boya to discover a group of people hiding here, through trekking the isolated hills you will visit a small ethnic minority tribe called larim with interesting culture and finally, an overnight stay.

Camping. Meal Plan (BLD). (4hours Drive,60km)

WHOLE DAY WITH THE BOYA PEOPLE

Today is another day to explore a hidden South Sudan tribe with virgin culture, you will Spend A full day with the larim under boya group of people, exploring their fascinating culture and customs, attend some traditional dance or ceremony, you will see young girls wearing mental noses with colored beads that go from ear to nose something that is considered as beauty and finally an overnight stay:

Camping. Meal Plan (BLD)

Boya Group Of people The Boya people live east of the town of Torit centered on a small and rather ramshackle settlement with the unpoetic name of Camp 15. Living in pretty villages in the shadow of mountains and gigantic boulders, the Boya paint their houses in attractive patterns and adorn them with intricate beadwork.

Although scarification is practiced here, interestingly it is more prevalent among the younger women rather than the older ones, and the local explanation is that they are copying a ‘trend’ from the Toposa, one of their near neighbors. Traditional mourning dress for Boya women involves wearing animal skins around the waist and bending the legs and arms with thin leaves to make a striped pattern – when a husband dies a Boya woman becomes the property and responsibility of his closest male relative.

The Boya are also hunters and it is not uncommon to see groups of children practicing their skills with a bow and arrow on the outskirts of villages.

TRANSFER TO KAPOETA, VISIT THE DIDINGA PEOPLE ENROUTE.

Today after breakfast, you will head for a 52km (3 hours) drive to Didinga Mountains, on your arrival you will have a guided walk to trek the mountain. Have a chance to enjoy cultural performances from decorated girls of the didinga village, thereafter you will be transferred for lunch and then proceed for a 50km journey to Kapoeta for an overnight stay in the hotel. Meal Plan (BLD)

DRIVE FROM KAPOETA TO THE JIYE AREA

Our driver-guide will transfer you for 0ver 40km journey to kathangor hills the areas of Jiye people for a local market tour. You will spend the whole day exploring the jiye area people with their everyday life, another chance to explore the culture of this group of people and finally an overnight stay Camping.

Meal Plan (BLD) (40km 2-3hours)

RETURN TO KAPOETA AND VISIT THE TOPOSA PEOPLE

Using Kapoeta as a base we explore the villages of the Toposa people, one of the country’s most traditional ethnic groups. We stop in villages and head to the nearby river where local people mine for gold, digging deep holes in the river banks to extract small grains of the precious metal.

The Toposa are a fascinating group, related to the Turkana in Kenya, who live well outside of mainstream society and follow lifestyles that have barely changed for centuries, if not millennia. We return to Kapoeta each night. Overnight Camping. Meal Plan (BLD)

Toposa people: are the principal ethnic group living around Kapoeta and are perhaps the most interesting in the whole country. Closely related to the Turkana of Kenya and the Karamojong of northern Uganda, they are herders with an economy based largely around livestock.

They are also prolific cattle raiders, which has led to conflict with other groups in the past, although with the independence of the country and greater stability this is now less of a problem. The Toposa live in villages made of mud and sticks, with thatched roofs often adorned with the skulls of cattle. The most striking feature of the Toposa is their practice of scarification.

Many of the men and women are decorated with elaborate raised patterns caused by careful incision, covering their upper arms, torsos, backs, and in some instances their faces. Although modernity is starting to erode their customs, many of the older Toposa still adhere to traditional dress – for women, this is usually animal skins worn around the waist, while men often go naked.

No self-respecting Toposa male will leave his compound without the obligatory AK47 slung over his shoulder – while this does not pose a problem to visitors we do ask that you heed your tour leader’s advice when in the Toposa villages, as the central authority is weak here. The Toposa are likely to be as curious about you as you are about them though – tourism is virtually non-existent and the concept is not well understood, so expect yourself to be the focus of attention somewhat. To the south of Kapoeta the Toposa pan and dig for gold by the banks of a river – although the quantities are not large the presence of this resource has created something of a mini gold rush, and it is fascinating to watch the traditional methods used here.

TAKE DOMESTIC FLIGHT TO JUBA FROM KAPOETA.

In the morning after breakfast, you will board 2 hours domestic flight from Kapoeta back to juba Capital City with our guide, have relaxation, refresh yourself as you enjoy the beautiful photos about South Sudan, and finally an overnight stay at a booked hotel. Meal Plan (BLD)

TRANSFER TO JUBA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME.

Today is a day to depart home, our driver-guide will Transfer you from your hotel in Juba either for a city tour if time allows, then proceed to the airport for your flight home, hence calling it the end of the South Sudan experience. Meal Plan: (B)

Please Note: This is a pioneering trip traveling to remote regions that rarely, if ever, see tourists. Infrastructure for much of the trip will be non-existent and a great degree of flexibility is needed to deal with any local conditions which may present themselves.