South Sudan
Packing list for South Sudan, travel insurance for South Sudan and taking your belongings
What to take to South Sudan: brief
To pack and check:
- Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months, an e-visa or visa obtained through a South Sudanese embassy, copies of your passport, visa, travel insurance and vaccination certificates both digitally and on paper, and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Sufficient cash is also important, as ATMs are difficult to find and foreign bank cards often aren't accepted. The South Sudanese pound (SSP) is the official currency, but US dollars are widely used in practice.
- Clothing: lightweight, breathable and modest clothing that covers your knees and shoulders, such as thin long trousers and long-sleeved shirts made from materials such as cotton or linen. This is practical because of mosquitoes, other insects, sun and dust. A light rain jacket or poncho is useful during the rainy season.
- Shoes: sturdy, closed shoes with good grip for unpaved roads, walks and nature areas. Sandals are comfortable in Juba and at accommodation, but are less practical outside the city when dealing with mud and tall grass.
- Toiletries and hygiene: high-SPF sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitiser, tissues, wet wipes and enough personal toiletries.
- Packing and protecting your belongings: a good rain cover for your backpack and waterproof bags for your phone, passport, medication and electronics, especially during the rainy season.
- Insects and animals: a strong insect repellent containing picaridin or DEET and a tick remover. In South Sudan, there are not only mosquitoes but also ticks and tsetse flies.
- Sleeping: an impregnated mosquito net is an important addition to your packing list, especially if you are staying in basic accommodation or sleeping outside the city.
- Medication and travel first aid kit: bring enough personal medication, plus ORS, plasters, blister plasters, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, hand sanitiser, a thermometer and, optionally, something to treat itchy insect bites.
- Outdoor and useful items: sunglasses, a sun hat with a wide brim or a cap, a reusable water bottle with a filter, a small daypack and a buff for protection against sun, dust and insects.
- Technology and equipment: a universal travel adapter for Type C and D sockets, a power bank and a headlamp.
- Safety and theft: it is useful to have a few secure ways of storing your documents, such as a money belt and a securely closing bag. Photography is a sensitive subject, and there are significant security risks throughout the country.
To consider:
- Extra water capacity for travelling outside Juba.
- An offline translation app or dictionary.
- A tick remover and, optionally, permethrin-treated clothing or equipment for travelling in nature areas.
- Plenty of flexibility. Distances are long, infrastructure is limited and plans can change quickly.
Are there mosquitoes in South Sudan?
- Yes, South Sudan has a rather impressive arsenal of mosquitoes. There is also a high risk of malaria throughout the country, as well as diseases such as dengue, Rift Valley fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Malaria mosquitoes are mainly active between dusk and dawn, but other species can also bite during the day. Mosquito protection is therefore important throughout the day.
- Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, lightweight long clothing and sleeping under an impregnated mosquito net or in a well-screened room are all ways to protect yourself.
- More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.
Are there sandflies in South Sudan?
- Yes, sandflies also occur in large numbers, and there is a significant risk of leishmaniasis, a nasty parasitic disease that can cause skin problems.
- Sandflies are small and mainly active around dusk and at night. Fortunately, DEET or picaridin and covering clothing also help protect against sandflies. A mosquito net with particularly fine mesh is useful too, as is avoiding sitting or sleeping directly on the ground.
- Tsetse flies also occur in South Sudan. They can transmit sleeping sickness. Insect repellent does not always provide sufficient protection against tsetse flies, so long clothing is a useful additional measure, as well as avoiding areas with large numbers of biting flies.
- More about sandflies and sand fleas.
Are DEET or other insect repellents available in South Sudan?
- Some insect repellents are available in Juba, but it is better not to rely on this, let alone when you're outside the city.
- It is therefore important to bring enough picaridin or DEET yourself, so that you do not suddenly run out and can protect yourself properly throughout your trip.
- More about DEET.
Is it legal to buy a joint or weed in South Sudan or bring it with you to South Sudan?
- No, definitely not. Drugs are illegal, and the penalties for drug use and trafficking are no joke. Think spending the rest of your life as a tourist in a South Sudanese prison, or worse.
- Bringing cannabis, CBD products or other illegal drugs to South Sudan is therefore, to put it mildly, a very bad idea. Also check in advance whether your personal medication is legally allowed into the country.
