South Sudan

South Sudan is a large, sparsely-populated country in Northeastern Africa that has only been an independent entity since the summer of 2011. The official language is English but Bari, Dinka, Murle, Nuer, and Zande are also used. There are an uncounted number of people from West African countries who speak Chadian languages that settled in certain regions on their way back from Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and are living in a traditionally nomadic lifestyle. The terrain includes grasslands, high-altitude plateaus, forests, and savannas. Overall, the climate is pretty tropical. Native animal species include the giant eland, the white-eared kob, and red river hogs. Mainstays of the economy include oil and natural resources-based companies. There is also the manufacture of beverages and other goods, and the largest teak plantation in Africa is here, but South Sudan is financially underdeveloped and has a heavy debt burden.

The travel industry is immature here, to say the least, and there’s very little infrastructure for visitors. Still, certain natural attractions beckon rugged travelers with the call of the wild. There are the Imatong Mountains toward the southern border with Uganda; forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys; hartebeest, elephants, giraffes, and lions; the Nile!

Food here is probably similar to Sudan. People in these areas seem to eat a lot of porridge, which may be made of sorghum. Corn flour is sometimes used in drinks, and dairy products are pretty key to the diet. Fish and meat, both often dried, seem to be a minor luxury. A dish called kajaik is a southern fish stew that can be added to porridge along with natural margarine. Food insecurity is a serious issue in this new and not-yet-stable country. Visitors may want to stay in resorts and in Juba, where you can actually go to Chinese and Indian restaurants.