Things to Do in South Sudan in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in South Sudan
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season transition means you'll catch the tail end of better road conditions before the heavy rains arrive in April - this is actually your last reliable window for overland travel to places like Boma National Park before routes become impassable
- Wildlife viewing peaks as animals congregate around shrinking water sources, particularly in the Sudd wetlands where you'll see concentrated populations of Nile lechwe, tiang antelope, and massive shoebill stork colonies
- The Nile is at manageable levels for boat travel between Juba and Bor, typically taking 6-8 hours downstream with reliable departure schedules, compared to the unpredictable high-water chaos of rainy season
- Temperatures hover in the manageable range before the brutal pre-rain heat of late April kicks in - you're looking at warm but not punishing conditions for walking around Juba's markets or visiting cultural sites
Considerations
- March sits in an awkward transition period where dust storms from the dry season can still roll through Juba with zero warning, cutting visibility and coating everything in fine red dust that gets into cameras, phones, and lungs
- Those 10 rainy days tend to be scattered and unpredictable - you might get three days of clear skies then sudden afternoon downpours that turn Juba's unpaved roads into mud rivers within 30 minutes, stranding you wherever you happen to be
- This is actually one of the more expensive months for flights into Juba as aid organizations and NGOs ramp up operations before rainy season limits their mobility - expect ticket prices 20-30% higher than January or February
Best Activities in March
Sudd Wetlands Wildlife Expeditions
March is legitimately the sweet spot for accessing the Sudd, the world's second-largest wetland system. Water levels are dropping but channels remain navigable, concentrating wildlife into viewable areas. You'll see shoebill storks at their most active, plus hippo pods and Nile lechwe in numbers that won't happen again until next dry season. The humidity makes early morning departures essential - think 5:30am starts to catch animals before midday heat sends everything into shade.
Juba Market Cultural Immersion
Konyo Konyo Market and the riverside Juba Market are at their most vibrant in March before the rains disrupt supply chains. You'll find dry season produce at peak variety - tamarind, okra, and the prized white sorghum that locals prefer for asida porridge. The 70% humidity is actually manageable in early morning hours between 7-9am when vendors are setting up and you can navigate the narrow passages without the crushing midday crowds. This is when you'll get the most genuine interactions before the heat makes everyone irritable.
Nile River Boat Journeys
The White Nile between Juba and Bor is actually navigable and reliable in March, which isn't a given for much of the year. Commercial boats run on relatively fixed schedules, departing Juba's main port typically Wednesday and Saturday mornings. You're looking at 6-8 hours downstream, stopping at riverside villages where you'll see daily life that hasn't changed much in generations - women washing clothes on the banks, fishermen checking basket traps, kids swimming near moored boats. The variable weather means you might get sudden cloud cover that actually makes the journey more comfortable than blazing sun.
Boma National Park Overland Expeditions
This is literally your last chance before rainy season makes the 380 km (236 mile) drive from Juba completely impractical. March roads are still passable but deteriorating - expect 12-14 hour drives each way in 4x4 vehicles. What you get is access to one of Africa's largest wildlife migrations that almost nobody sees - an estimated 1.3 million white-eared kob, tiang, and mongalla gazelle moving through the park. The isolation is extreme and genuine. You won't see other tourists because there basically aren't any. The warm humid conditions mean animals are active near water sources dawn and dusk.
Traditional Wrestling Event Attendance
March falls during the dry season wrestling circuit when Dinka and Nuer communities hold traditional wrestling competitions that serve as both sport and social bonding. These happen on weekend afternoons in villages within 30-50 km (18-31 miles) of Juba. You're watching a genuine cultural practice, not a tourist show - young men compete for prestige and marriage prospects while entire communities gather. The warm conditions mean events start later, around 3-4pm, running until sunset. The humidity actually doesn't matter much since you're sitting in open areas with decent airflow.
Nimule National Park Border Region Exploration
Located 200 km (124 miles) south of Juba near the Uganda border, Nimule offers the most accessible wildlife viewing in South Sudan. March conditions mean the park's limited road network is still navigable before rains turn everything to mud. You'll see Uganda kob, buffalo, and occasionally elephants that cross from Uganda. The Nile rapids here are spectacular and worth the visit alone. The variable weather actually helps - cloud cover makes midday game drives more tolerable than they'd be in pure dry season heat.
March Events & Festivals
Dry Season Wrestling Tournaments
Traditional wrestling competitions occur throughout March in Dinka and Nuer communities as the dry season social calendar peaks before agricultural work resumes with the rains. These aren't scheduled tourist events - they're genuine community gatherings where young men compete for status and marriage prospects. Matches follow traditional rules passed down through generations, with entire villages turning out to watch, bet, and socialize. Access requires going with someone who has community connections and understanding that you're a guest at a cultural practice, not a spectator at a show.