South Sudan is located in the northern region of East Africa on the continent of Africa. It is often overlooked as a tourist destination however South Sudan has several national parks and other protected areas. These areas harbor some unique and fascinating wildlife species that should be added to your bucket list. Nimule National Park is surely one of the best and most interesting safari destinations in the country and the continent of Africa. Nimule National Park is located in southern South Sudan close to the border with Uganda. It was established during the 20th century by the Sudanese government which took over from the British colonialists. It was shortly before the colonial rule came to an end that the British colonialists used the park area for hunting which led to the killing of many wildlife in the park area.
However, in 1938 the Sudanese government established the park area as a game reserve after the colonial rule ended. The newly formed game reserve got a new turn in the 1960s when its boundaries were increased and elevated to a national park status. This followed the naming of the newly formed national park to Nimule National Park. However, tragedy struck in 1983-2005 when a civil war broke out in the entire country which led to the destruction and decimation of the park due to poaching. Several wildlife species were hunted down for bush meat and this left the park devastated. In 2008, stability slowly returned to the country and since then the park has been rebuilt.
In 2011, South Sudan got its independence from Sudan and since then the country has developed the park to showcase its beauty has been long kept in the dark. Nimule National Park is truly a treasure to the country with its abundant wildlife species beautiful landscapes and stunning sceneries. The vast area of the park of approximately 4,320 square kilometers hosts several flora and fauna species including lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes to mention but a few. Nimule National Park’s area is vast with large savannah khaki grasslands stretching to the horizon and dense forests that coat the plains and hills of the park. The park does not only stand as a conservation area but also is a source of revenue for the government of South Sudan and income for the surrounding communities around the park.
Nimule National Park is a true sign of hope and resilience that has stood the test of time given its history of tragedy and civil wars that almost took the best of the park. The park has, however, stood tall in the face of difficult times and lots of challenges to present the best there is in any tourism destination. Below are some of the things to see in Nimule National Park.
Wildlife
Nimule National Park lost a significant number of wildlife during its dark time of instability but several others thrived to abundance with the conservation efforts that were developed by the country. Several wildlife species call the park their home and have dwelled in the park premises for a very long time and can be spotted on a visit. Some of these wildlife species include lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes to mention but a few.
Vegetation
Although South Sudan as a country is situated in a semi-arid area, Nimule National Park has a fabulous green vegetation zone that is worth checking out. The vegetation zones in the park are scattered across the park from the rolling hills and valleys to the plains on the floor of the park. The different vegetation zones in the park include savannah grassland and woodland of acacia trees, baobab trees, and wildflowers.
Birdlife
Nimule National Park is a hub for birdlife harboring approximately 300 species. The different vegetation zones scattered across the park house the several bird species in the park. Nimule National Park hosts both migratory seasonal birds that occasionally visit the park and the endemic residents that are permanent in the park. The African fish eagle, Goliath heron, and grey crowned crane are some of the birds to look out for while you visit the park.
Several activities in the Nimule National Park area can be equated to the things expected to be seen in the park once on a visit. Some of these activities include the following.
Game drives
With the several wildlife species in Nimule National Park, game drives are ideal for spotting and encountering most of them. Game drives involve spotting wildlife out on the savannah in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Expected to encounter several species such as elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and in some cases lions as they go by with their daily chores of survival for the fittest.
Birding
Birding or birdwatching offers beautiful sights of the colorful bird species that decorate the skyline of the park. Experienced birding experts with plenty of knowledge of several bird species in the park accompany birding enthusiasts on a birding adventure experience like no other. This is on a deed to uncover the hidden birding areas to host beautiful birds while on the designated birding trails in the park.
Boat cruise
The White Nile runs through Nimule National Park and is the main source of water for the park. With the presence of the Nile in the park, aquatic life in the park is well catered for. The White Nile hosts animals like crocodiles and hippos which can be spotted on a boat cruise safari experience in the park. During the dry season when the temperatures are very humid, several other savannah species flock to the White Nile to quench their thirst and cool their bodies in the blazing hot sun of the day. Elephants, giraffes, and several antelopes are the common visitors of the Nile.
Guided nature walks
Seal off your safari adventure experience in Nimule National Park with a guided nature walk in the park. This is the best way to get close to the wildlife on foot and experience nature firsthand while led by an experienced arm professional range for your safety. Several designated trails crafted in the park bring you close to a round table with some of nature’s finest species and hunters.
The best season to travel to Nimule National Park
All that Nimule National Park has gone through, it is open all year round for visitation and to experience the hidden gems of this great destination. However, the park is best visited in the dry season when the wildlife species can easily be located along the remaining watering points like the Nile. During this season there is little rainfall which eases navigation across the park since the trails are dry. This season runs from December to February and June to September.
The wet season is also fit for visiting the park, especially for nature lovers and birding enthusiasts since the park is ever-green with an abundance of rainfall. This is the breeding season for most of the bird species. However, the grown vegetation cover hinders the visibility of the game during game-viewing safaris. Therefore, Nimule National Park can be visited all year round.