January 28 – Feb 8, 2024
Ancient villages with pristine thatched roofs scatter the undeveloped vas wilderness of South Sudan. An un-spoilt nature with its untamed spirit, South Sudan reminds me of my first adventures on the African continent. Exploring the last of these raw, wild, hidden places is an incredible privilege since very few will have the opportunity to travel to this part of the world; especially before they are forever changed into a more modern world.
South Sudan became an independent country in July 2011, the youngest country in the nation. In January of 2020 I was able to join a leading African cultural anthropologist who has been traveling to South Sudan since it’s beginning, on an expedition. Wildly off the beaten path on dusty rough roads, we spent endless hours exploring the tribal areas. Over those weeks I was able to develop a fantastic tribal expedition deep into these mysterious tribal areas; Mundari, Jiye, Laarim, and Toposa.
The authentic truly off the beaten path African bush is exhilarating but can be very exhausting after a long day of photography, especially if you are really roughing it! Thus, having some minimal creature comforts can significantly help to rejuvenate you and keep up your stamina throughout the entire expedition. Unheard of in South Sudan, our incredible team will be erecting a simple mobile tent camp near each of the tribes we visit. The camp will have canvas tents that you can walk into; they will have a camp bed, mattress, and proper linens/ blanket. There will be a cabana for shade during meals, downloading images, editing, and a haven to relax under while having the treat of a cold beverage. Hot showers and camp toilets will be available!
In true expedition style, putting up our own private camps allow us access to villages far from the nearest towns bringing you deeper into the authentic tribal areas for a more intimate and authentic experience. We will be able to walk to the villages at sunrise and fall asleep under a brilliant star filled sky listening to beautiful tribal singing. These camps, along with our food donations, will help support the local community.
We will fly by private charter to and from the deep south where the main tribal villages are located. This avoids very long tiring drives that will cut into the time we are able to spend in a village or that logistically would force an overnight camping just to break up the drive.
We work with a properly licensed South Sudan company. You will have ALL the proper required documents and photography permits to legally move throughout the country.
This exciting expedition is being offered to ONLY 7 participants. This is a custom specialized photographic expedition and NOT a commercial trip. Therefore, traveling in a true remote off-the-beaten-path location requires flexibility, patients, open-mindfulness, a good sense of humor, being in good healthy physical condition, and an adventurous spirit to embrace cultural idea’s that differ vastly from your modern culture. If you have any questions, please email me in advance of registering – Info@PiperMackayPhotography.com.
ABOUT YOUR LEADERS
Piper Mackay – has over 18 years of experience photographing throughout the African continent and lives in Kenya. Fascinated by their beauty and ancient traditions, Piper has spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours deep in the tribal areas on her own. She passionately creates each expedition from her own personal experiences for a sensitive and intimate visit. She highly encourages guest to bring a laptop for image review and suggestions to achieve the goals of their vision.
Dominic Lekupie – A Samburu and very talented writer, Dominic grew up in a small tribal village in Northern Kenya. He took up photography and video to create documentaries about nature, wildlife, and tribes in his homelands. Domonic will be co-hosting, taking care of all organizational aspects during the trip to ensure everything runs smoothly for the guest. He will also be capturing memories of the trip to share with all the guests.
Itinerary
Day 1, Jan 28, 2024 – Arrive South Sudan –
Our team will meet you upon arrival and personally assist you through customs to help clear your camera gear. Once checked into the best hotel in Juba you may relax by the pool or have a massage. We will meet in the early evening for a briefing about our upcoming adventure before we head out to a secret gem of a restaurant along the Blue Nile!
Accommodations: 4 star D
Day 2, Jan 29, 2024
Rise early for breakfast.
Let the adventure begin as we hop in our safari vehicles and head out to the famous cattle camps of the Mundari!! We will have time to settle in before the camp comes to life that Afternoon.
This is the dry season when the mass cattle camps are located along the banks of the White Nile. As the sun begins to drop streams of smoke will begin to float across the camp as the livestock is brought in from grazing. The evening rituals begin with the men massaging their cattle with ash to mitigate the insect bites. The ropes are prepared to tie up their cattle while other members of the group set up the beds where they will spend the night with their cattle. The dense atmospheric scene is indescribable and the photographic opportunities are incredible; an experience to never be forgotten!
Accommodations: Private mobile tent camp– Mundari B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 3&4, Jan 30 & 31, 2024
Coffee, tea, and biscuits will be available before sunrise.
Work begins before dawn in the large cattle camps of the Mundari along the banks of the White Nile. The young boys ensure the fires are going; smoke and dust fill the air making it appear as if the Mundari cattle just fade into the mist of the morning. The men have a deep symbolic bond with their cattle. The cattle are massaged and covered in ash to protect them against tsetse flies and mosquitoes. The ash-covered boys wandering through the scene creates an ethereal atmosphere, which is almost biblical. Unlike many of the cattle camps of other tribes where being in the camps is a stage towards manhood, these boys may spend their whole lives in these camps. Mid-morning the cattle are released out to the fields for grazing and they return back in the late afternoon. This ritual is repeated each day.
Accommodations: Private tent camp at Mundari cattle camp –B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 5 Feb 1, 2024
Coffee, tea, and biscuits will be available before sunrise. We will have one last magical morning in the cattle camp. After a relaxing breakfast we will pack up and head back to Juba. You will have the afternoon to relax or visit the Konyo Konyo market.
This evening we will enjoy one last group dinner at Da Vinci restaurant along the White Nile River
Accommodations: 4 star
Day 6 Feb 2, 2024
Rise early for breakfast.
The landscape will change drastically today as we take a private charter to the south and enter the unique tranquil mountainous region of the Larim Tribe. The traditional huts of the Larim are architecturally fascinating. Even more interesting is their nose piercings with beautiful chains much like you see across India, to say nothing of some of the most beautiful body scarification imaginable. Our private mobile camp is set up in the heart of this community. Once settled into our camp, along the foothills, we will begin exploring these unique villages.
Accommodations: Private tent camp – Larim–B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 7 & 8 Feb 3 & 4 2024
Once again we will rise early for coffee/tea and biscuit before heading to a village for sunrise. To make the most of our time with this tribe our private camp is set up in the heart of this community, giving you more personal time in the villages, and allowing you to freely return back to camp at your leisure.
Accommodations: Private tent camp – Larim –B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 9 Feb 5, 2024
We will have one last sunrise visit in the village.
After breakfast we will continue our adventure into the heart of the Toposa tribe territory. In the afternoon we will begin exploring the villages of the Toposa. The pristine huts are dramatically tall and their storage huts are built high on stilts similar to the Daasanach who live at the top of the delta’s boarding Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. The women’s leather and beading is similar to the Nyangatom in the Omo Valley, but is much more exquisite.
Accommodations: Private mobile tent camp – Toposa–B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 10&11 Feb 6 & 7, 2024
We will rise before dawn for coffee, tea, and biscuits before heading up to the Toposa villages at sunrise and you will be able to wander back to camp at your leisure.
Late morning we will enjoy our breakfast. During mid-day you will have time to relax, download image, or socialize with the tribe. We will spend the late afternoon and early evening in the villages of the Toposa
Accommodations: Private mobile tent camp – Toposa –B,L,D, All Beverages
Day 12 Feb 8, 2024
We will have one last early morning village visit. After breakfast we will board a private charter to Juba. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the International Airport to catch your flights home. Flights should be booked at least after 5:00 PM.
*Should you need an overnight we will be happy to make those arrangements for you.
B & L
Important Details
Included in the trip
All in-country travel in 4X4 Air-conditioned vehicles
All accommodation as specified on the itinerary
All meals as listed on the itinerary. B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, beginning with Dinner on January 28th,2024 through Lunchon February 8th, 2024
Drinks- coffee, soda, beer, wine, bottled water in the private mobile tent camps
Limited laundry service is included in the mobile tent camps
All entrance fees to villages and village activities as listed on the itinerary
All photography fees and permits
Private transfers on the departure date of the itinerary
Two Charter flights in South Sudan
VAT, local taxes, and all required legal permits and documents
African Cultural anthropologist, one English speaking local guide who speaks the tribal language – in Sudan
Contributions to the community
NOT Included in the trip
- International airfare and/or between your home and South Sudan
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Personal purchases (including shopping, spirits, laundry at hotels, telephone calls etc.)
- Gratuities for our main guide, drivers, and camp staff
- Optional extra activities not included on the itinerary
- Pre- and Post- expeditions tours or airport transfer
The Cost
The cost of this exciting South Sudan adventure is $11,995.00 per person based on shared accommodation.
If you would prefer a private room (not share the cost and accommodations) the private accommodation supplement is $495.00.
If a solo guest wishes to share a room, we will do our best to match them with another guest of the same gender. If we cannot match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the single supplement of USD$495.00 will be charged.
***The cost of this safari is based on a minimum of 7 participants. If there are less than 7 participants a small supplement group fee of $995.00 will apply.
Payment Terms
USD $4,000 on-refundable deposit to confirm your place on this trip
2nd Payment of USD 4,500 is due May 30, 2023
Final payment/Balance due Oct 1, 2023
We HIGHLY recommend trip cancellation insurance.
REGISTRATION AND DEPOSIT
- If you are excited to join this safari now is the time to secure your spot. Use the buttons below to fill out your online e-registration form and to make your deposit. We must receive both your completed registration form and your deposit/s to confirm your spot.Registration form –
- We HIGHLY recommend using chrome browser or another browsers other than safari if you are using apple products. Please complete all the required fields. At the end of the form you will be asked to confirm your email address, which will complete the registration. A copy of your registration will be emailed to you and to Piper Mackay Photo Safaris.Deposit–
Click the deposit button, under the registration button, to make your deposit. You do not need to have a Paypal account to use this payment service. You may make more than one deposit at a time by changing the quantity on the purchase details that will come up once you click the deposit button.
