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Lantoto National Park

A savanna and forest park on the Congolese border in the southwest.

Updated 21 October 2026

WhereCentral Equatoria
Nearest cityYei
Best seasonDecember to March
Time to allowSeveral days
Getting thereIn the southwest near the Congolese border; rough tracks, arrangements required
EntryPermit and guide fees

Lantoto National Park sits in South Sudan's southwest on the Congolese border, a block of savanna woodland and gallery forest that adjoins Garamba across the frontier, and it held elephant, buffalo and antelope alongside the forest species of the gallery strips. It is one of the country's less known parks and has had no functioning management for a long time. The park covers around 760 square kilometres, its highest point Jabal Mbangi, and adjoins protected forest on the Congolese side. It was declared in 1986 and has had almost no active management since.

Highlights

  • The savanna woodland - the habitat across most of the park.
  • The gallery forest - the tree cover along the watercourses.
  • The Garamba link - the protected ground continuous across the border.
  • The border position - the park at the southwestern edge of the country.

When to go

December to March is the dry season and the practical window. The rains from April make the tracks impassable. Wildlife concentrates near water in the dry.

What to expect

There is no functioning management, no infrastructure and no visitor arrangement. Wildlife has been heavily reduced. Access requires serious expedition planning.

Nearby

Yei is northeast, and the Congolese border is south.

Key facts

Area760 km² (293 sq mi)
Location4.5000° N, 29.9000° E · map

Source: Wikidata, item Q6487628, read on 18 October 2026.

What to pack for Lantoto National Park

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  • Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
  • Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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