Nimule
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WARNING: Many governments advise against all travel to South Sudan. See the warning at the South Sudan article for more information. |
Nimule is a remote place in South Sudan. You won't find traditional hotels or tourist areas. It's a small town in an out-of-the-way district. There are many refugee camps still functioning, and endless despair to match the infinite huts full of people.
Get in
From Kampala: To get in Nimule take the bus from Kampala to Juba. Nile Coach runs a daily service from Kampala (near Gateway bus in the city centre), departing at 03:00 with an overnight stop in Yumbe, arriving in Nimule the next morning. A second option is to take a bus to Gulu and arrange further transport to Nimule from there, but because of flooding in northern Uganda the road between Gulu and Nimule is terrible.
From Juba: Take the Juba to Kampala Nile Coach or a local minibus (4-6 hours). The Juba to Nimule portion takes 3-4 hours, but is improving with the USAID reconstruction and paving of the road. When paving is complete, the bus may take 2½-3 hours.
The Nimule to Kampala portion is largely unchanged: 8 hours or more southbound and 10-12 hours northbound (because of delays at the border.)
Get around
Bodaboda motortaxi
See
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Uganda's beers and spirits are the tradition of the day. South Sudanese forces enjoy good refreshment from imported drinks: soft drinks like Coca Cola and Pepsi, mango fruit juice and packaged milk.
Sleep
- Unity Lodge, 200 meters from the border. The place is OK, the manager is a bit strange, he may want to check your luggage for weapons.
- Juba Lodge, in the town center. Some like the place better than Unity lodge, friendly staff and food available.
- Horizon Guest Houst, at the main road just outside Nimule city and just before Paradise hotel. You pay 100 SSP for one room (2 persons) including breakfast. It is a clean bed with mosquito net, bathroom is fine (not too good), fans, power from around 19:00 until 01:00. The manager is friendly. Tel: +211995092533.
- Horizon Guest View Hotel: On the Nimule-Juba road, north of downtown Nimule. Self-contained bath. Electricity and water provided from sundown to 23:00. Well kept, secure, about US$50 per night for a double bed.
Another adjacent to Horizon View: similar to Horizon View.
- 1 Diamonds Hotel.