Rivers do not just carry water - they carry life. Fishermen in South Sudan go out on the White Nile in wooden canoes every morning, pulling in Nile tilapia and catfish. Tilapia is a flat, silvery fish that is absolutely delicious grilled fresh on the riverbank.
The White Nile is also home to one of Africa's largest hippopotamus populations. Hippos spend the day cooling off in the river - you can spot their enormous ears and nostrils sticking above the surface. At night, they walk onto land to eat grass, sometimes covering several kilometres before dawn.
The river is the reason Juba, South Sudan's capital, grew up where it did. Boats carrying goods arrive and depart every day, and the city's waterfront is full of activity. Children swim in the river's calmer shallows near the banks.
Along the river's edges, African fish eagles perch in tall trees and watch for movement in the water. When they spot a fish near the surface, they dive with their talons out and grab it in a fraction of a second - one of Africa's most thrilling fishing tricks.

