Western Bahr el Ghazal · South Sudan
Wau travel guide
Wau is a city in Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan, home to about 321,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- WUU3 km · Wau Airport
- Currency
- SSPSouth Sudanese pound
- Time zone
- Africa/Juba
- Language
- English
About
About Wau
Wau (Arabic: واو, romanized: Wāw; also known as Wau Town Payam) is a town, locally referred to as a city, in northwestern South Sudan on the western bank of the Jur River. It is the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal region in South Sudan.
Founded in the 19th centuary by slavetraders as a zariba, a small fortified base, it grew into an administrative centre during British rule. The city is not dominated by a single ethnic group; instead, its position as a commercial hub has drawn many different peoples from around the country. Over the last two decades, Wau has nearly doubled in size, from 84,000 in 1993 to 151,000 today. Temperatures stay in the mid-30s °C during most of the year. The dry season lasts from November to March, while the summer months see an increase in rainfall.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Wau
See
Wau has few attractions to see, wild hippos in the Jur river is however quite a sight and can be seen at times.
- Saint Mary Cathedral
Do
- Wau Stadium
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Wau to stay in
Hotels are generally expensive and often aimed at government officials and members of NGOs.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Wau
Wau has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 39 °C; August is the wettest, with about 228 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Wau: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Wau Airport (WUU), about 3.0 km from the city centre in a straight line.
WUU · Wau Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Wau
Stay safe
See the warning on the South Sudan article for information on the security situation.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Wau: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Wau?
Wau has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 39 °C; August is the wettest, with about 228 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Wau?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Wau Airport (WUU), about 3.0 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Wau?
South Sudanese pound (SSP).
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.