Getting Around Yei
Yei is a small town in Central Equatoria, South Sudan, and the administrative center of Yei River County. It sits close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is connected by trade routes toward Uganda, which shapes how people and goods move in and out of the area. Visitors should plan for limited formal transport infrastructure and expect to rely on a small number of practical options.
Rail, Metro and Tram
There is no metro or tram network in Yei, and no rail service is available for visitors. Public transport across South Sudan is very limited nationwide, and Yei is no exception. Any suggestion of a rail, metro, or tram system in the city would be inaccurate.
Buses and Public Transport
Formal public transport in Yei is minimal. Nationwide, minibuses (often called matatus) operate informally, but this is not a reliable or recommended option for tourists due to safety and reliability concerns. In practice, visitors should not count on scheduled buses or a fixed-route public transport network within the town.
Intercity bus service does exist in South Sudan but is highly limited. Roads are poor, and many become impassable during the rainy season, roughly May to October. Dry-season travel is generally recommended. As an example of what intercity road travel looks like in the country, the route from Juba to the Ugandan border at Nimule takes about three to four hours in the dry season. If you are arriving from or departing to another town, check the current road and security situation before you travel.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the primary transport mode for visitors in South Sudan. There are no meters, so all fares must be negotiated in advance. Pricing is typically per trip rather than per kilometer. Hotel taxis cost more but are generally considered more reliable than hailing a random vehicle on the street.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt do not operate reliably in the country. The usual way to arrange trusted transport is through your hotel reception. Avoid hailing random vehicles after dark, and stick to hotel-arranged taxis or a trusted driver.
Walking
Walking is practical only within hotel compounds and their immediate surroundings, and only in daylight. Outside of that, extreme heat and security risks make walking a poor choice for getting around. Plan to use a vehicle for most trips.
Vehicle Rental
Renting a 4x4 with a driver is strongly recommended over self-driving, given road conditions and security requirements. This is considered essential for travel outside major towns. If you do arrange a vehicle, a driver is the safer and more practical choice.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Yei is served by the small Yei Airport, which has regular commercial flights from Entebbe International Airport operated by EagleAir Uganda. NGO and missionary personnel are also served by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), and charter services may be available from Kampala.
Once you land, arrange your transfer in advance through your hotel or a trusted operator, since there is no reliable ride-hailing or formal taxi rank system to fall back on. Because taxis in South Sudan operate on negotiated, per-trip fares rather than meters, agree on the price before you get in the vehicle.
Practical Tips
- Carry copies of your passport and visa where you can reach them easily; road checkpoints are common.
- Allow significantly more time than a map suggests, due to road conditions, checkpoints, and traffic.
- Keep emergency cash in US dollars; credit cards are not accepted in taxis or informal transport.
- Arrange transport through your hotel rather than hailing random vehicles, especially after dark.
- Check the current security situation before any travel, including along the Juba–Yei road, which has been affected by insecurity.
- If arriving by road from Uganda, the route from Kaya at the border has been repaired and takes roughly two to three hours, but many other roads are in bad shape.