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 here belong to the Sudd population, by far the largest, with smaller groups only in the Machar marshes and Ethiopia's Gambela.

Background

The reserve covers 8,000.0 square kilometres and lies within the Sudd Ramsar site. It was set aside in 1939, together with Fanikang Game Reserve, to protect the Nile lechwe and the sitatunga, and it is an IUCN Category VI site of mostly seasonally flooded grassland and woodland. Much of it lies on Zeraf Island, a seasonally flooded tract enclosed by the White Nile on its western side and the Bahr el Zeraf on its eastern side, so some sources name it the Zeraph Island Reserve, although the reserve also extends east of the island. Its name comes from the Bahr el Zeraf. The area is internationally important for its large concentrations of mammals.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ez Zeraf Game Reserve"

What you'll find

• The Nile lechwe - an antelope found almost nowhere but the Sudd.
• 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.

What to expect

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.

Key facts