Trip to South Sudan from 9 to 18 January 2027 / From 3,650€ Discover the highlights of this ethnographic trip to South Sudan
Lotuko Kingdom: ancestral authority and vernacular architecture
During this journey we will venture into the Lafit Mountains to meet the Lotuko people. This is a society that still preserves an essential part of its original culture. Although Italian missionaries arrived in the 1950s, the essence of their traditions remains alive. We will visit one of the Lotuko kingdoms and attend a traditional dance that expresses the group’s social cohesion. We will meet community leaders to understand their distinctive political system, based on the hereditary “rainmaker” figure and on age-set groups that renew every few decades. In addition, we will walk through villages that display some of the finest examples of vernacular architecture in East Africa, a central element for understanding cultural identity during this ethnographic trip to South Sudan.
Boya Hills and the Larim people: scarifications and intact traditions
After bidding farewell to Lotuko territory, the trip will head into the Boya Hills to meet the Larim people. Farmers and cattle herders, they maintain cultural links with the Murle nation and preserve tribal practices visible in dress and in facial and body scarifications. The Larim retain a deeper connection to ancient tribal customs. During the visit we will meet the council of elders and the paramount chief, walking through villages noted for their elaborate craftsmanship, including headrests, pipes, decorated spoons and ritual gourds. This stage of the ethnographic trip to South Sudan offers direct access to communities where missionary influence has been limited and traditions remain vibrant.
Toposa plains: cattle herders and warrior culture
The ethnographic trip to South Sudan continues towards Camp15 and Kapoeta, regional markets where Larim, Didinga, Dinka and Toposa meet, reflecting the country’s ethnic diversity. From there we will move to a remote area of the Toposa plains, one of the most traditional tribal territories in East Africa. The Toposa are cattle herders with a historical reputation linked to cattle raids and deeply conservative customs. During our stay we will walk through several villages, observing body scarifications and women’s dress made from goat skins adorned with beads. We will organise photographic sessions and attend traditional dances, making this phase one of the most intense moments of the trip.
Mundari cattle camps: the great icon of the ethnographic trip to South Sudan
The final stage of the ethnographic trip to South Sudan takes us to the Mundari cattle camps, considered one of the most striking ethnographic and visual settings on the African continent. For the Mundari, these camps are spaces of social formation where young people learn behavioural norms, spirituality and the management of sacred cattle. The long-horned white cows, known as Ankole, are regarded as intermediaries between humans and spirits. We will observe how elder men transmit knowledge to the younger generations until they reach sufficient maturity to undergo initiation rites that allow them to become respected members of the community. At dawn and dusk we will witness the chants, massages and ritual care of the cattle, as well as the intense atmosphere created by campfire smoke and drifting dust. This direct contact with Mundari life forms the climax of the ethnographic trip to South Sudan.
Mundari rituals and daily life in the camp
The ethnographic trip to South Sudan will allow us to spend two full days in the cattle camp, observing the daily dynamics of men, women and youths. We may witness baby-naming ceremonies if they coincide with our dates, as well as the rituals for cleaning both cattle and camp. These practices reflect a worldview in which cattle occupy a central role in social, spiritual and economic organisation. The experience offers exceptional photographic opportunities and a deep understanding of a culture still structured around ancestral pastoral values.
Other ethnic groups
A lo largo de este viaje es probable que nos encontremos con personas de otras tribus como los dinkas o los didingas.
Living vernacular architecture
South Sudan is home to some of the best examples of vernacular architecture in Africa. Tribal vernacular architecture, unlike the rest of the African continent, continues to thrive. This is due to the fact that most tribes still live far from the globalizing currents and economic changes that have affected most African societies.
© Photos by Jordi Zaragozà, Aníbal Bueno and Ana Robles taken during a trip to South Sudan.
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