Ez Zeraf Game Reserve

Ez Zeraf covers a block of the Sudd swamp along the Zeraf river, papyrus, floodplain and seasonal grassland, and it holds the Nile lechwe, an antelope found only in these wetlands and almost nowhere else on earth, along with shoebill, sitatunga, hippo and very heavy waterbird numbers. Access is by river through the swamp and there is no infrastructure at all. The Nile lechwe population here is one of only two known anywhere, the other being in the Machar marshes.

What you actually see

• The Nile lechwe - the antelope found only in these wetlands.
• The shoebill - the bird specialists come to the Sudd for.
• The papyrus swamp - the habitat covering most of the reserve.
• The floodplain grass - the seasonal grazing the animals depend on.

When to go

December to March is the dry season and the practical window. The rains from April flood the reserve entirely. Wildlife concentrates as water recedes.

Honest expectations

There is no management or infrastructure and access is by river only, arranged well in advance. Mosquitoes in the Sudd are extreme. Wildlife sightings depend entirely on water levels and where the herds are.

Nearby

Malakal is north, and the Sudd spreads in every direction.