South Sudan

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Introducing South Sudan

Say hello to South Sudan, the world's newest country. Separated
de facto for years since a 2005 peace agreement, South Sudan
celebrated its official independence on 9 July, 2011. The country
consists of 10 states grouped into three regions, which correspond
to those under the former Sudan: the Greater Upper Nile to the
north-east, Bahr el Ghazal to the west and Equatoria to the south,
which houses the capital city, Juba.

Six decades of conflict spanning two civil wars have left both
Sudan and South Sudan ravaged, but South Sudan has borne the brunt
of the violence. The Sudan People's Liberation Army/ Movement
(SPLA/M) is now governing the country. For many years a rebel army
rather than a functional government, it faces the massive task of
improving infrastructure in this desperately poor area, which has
the worst health situation and highest maternal mortality and
female illiteracy rates in the world. Considered unsafe for
inexperienced travellers for many years, the peace agreement and
subsequent independence has seen some ease in political clashes,
and dangers to tourists (such as being taken hostage) have
lessened. However, the area is still unstable - skirmishes continue
to break out along the border, and South Sudan itself is still
marred by more localised ethnic violence.

So why go? For one thing, underdeveloped South Sudan has the
potential to be one of Africa's best destinations for seeing
wildlife and unspoilt natural beauty. Unlike the dry deserts of
Sudan, South Sudan has a higher rainfall and is mostly made up of
rainforests, wetlands and grasslands, with impressive waterfalls in
the mountains. Despite decades of conflict and inadequate
conservation infrastructure, wildlife is still there, with 1.3
million-strong herds of antelope recently recorded crossing the
grasslands in migration season. The wetlands are also home to
thousands of bird species. There are five national parks, including
Boma National Park in the Greater Upper Nile region to the north,
and at least 14 smaller game reserves. Luxury resorts offer an
increasing array of overland safaris and sunset cruises. Head for
the grasslands to see impressive herds of antelope such as
hartebeest and eland, as well buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, elephants
and lions, or to the tropical rainforests to spot chimpanzees,
monkeys and wild boar. Adrenalin junkies can even go white-water
rafting at Fulla Falls on the White Nile.

Travel in South Sudan is mostly by dirt road, with few tarred
roads outside of central Juba. Although there are a couple hundred
kilometres of single-track rail in the north, these have yet to be
extended down to the capital. The biggest airport in the country is
in central Juba, which has weekly flights to and from neighbouring
capitals in Kenya, Ethiopia, the DRC and Uganda. There are also
three smaller international airports at Wau, Rumbek and Malakal
which have regular flights to Khartoum, Sudan, as well as smaller
landing strips (often dirt tracks) in rural areas.

Staying in and around the new capital, Juba, is safest and most
convenient in terms of facilities, infrastructure and government
control, and is probably the best base from which to explore the
natural beauty of South Sudan if you won't be staying in a resort.
Juba is situated on the banks of the White Nile in southernmost
Equatoria, about 11 km from the border and accessible by road from
DRC, Uganda and Kenya. The city has poor infrastructure and is
largely an informal urban sprawl. But that's changing - the city is
a true African boom town, with post-independence foreign aid and
business flowing in. Its citizens are proud people and determined
to make the new country work. Although small, Juba has plenty to
offer the international traveller: luxury hotels, restaurants with
cuisine from all over the world, a sports stadium, a number of
universities, local attractions like outdoor markets, and several
nearby resorts and game parks.

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