Badingilo National Park

Badingilo National Park in South Sudan is an integral component of a larger 200,000 km2 ecosystem that stretches east through the Jonglei corridor to Boma National Park and north to the Sudd.

Badingilo National Park in South Sudan is an integral component of a larger 200,000 km2 ecosystem that stretches east through the Jonglei corridor to Boma National Park and north to the Sudd, an inland delta bordering the White Nile, one of two primary tributaries of the Nile River. This area contains the second largest land mammal migration in Africa, where each year hundreds of thousands of white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, tiang and reedbuck merge in Badingilo in the wet season for breeding before migrating north and east to towards the Sudd and Boma National Park and across the border to Gambella National Park in Ethiopia. After the wildebeest migration of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, these herds are the largest concentrations of large mammals left on the planet.

Badingilo spans 8,935 km2 and was established in 1986 initially for the conservation of black rhino, which today is locally extinct, and was once renowned for its richness of large mammals. Continuous armed conflict has severely impacted the lives of communities in and around protected areas in South Sudan, and as such, has resulted in significant pressure on the country’s wildlife and its habitats, including Badingilo. In order to ensure the long-term ecological, social, and economic sustainability of this globally important park, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan signed a 10-year agreement with African Parks on 25 August, 2022. Badingilo and Boma National Parks are the first to join the African Parks portfolio in South Sudan and bring the total number of parks under our management to 22 in 12 countries across Africa.

Badingilo Highlights

• Badingilo supports part of the second-largest land-mammal migration in Africa, where hundreds of thousands of white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, tiang and reedbuck utilize the park for breeding on an annual basis before moving on to the Sudd and Boma National Park.
• The park is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an Important Bird Area (IBA).
• In addition to white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, tiang and reedbuck, the park also supports and important population of critically endangered Nubian giraffe (sub-species of northern giraffe) which in 2010 was estimated at 670 individuals and would account for 25% of the worldwide population at that time.
• Badingilo has a significant number of people living on its boundary who are composed of different ethnic groups, including the Dinka, Mundari, Pari, Lopit, Bari, Lokoya, Murle and others. Each of these groups have distinct traditions, culture, and livelihood activities.

On the Horizon

In Badingilo an opportunity exists to protect and develop the park to support both people and wildlife. Through effective management, infrastructure, law enforcement and engagement with local communities, the park has the potential to become a premier tourism destination for South Sudan. 

Partners

On 25 August, 2022, African Parks signed a 10-year management agreement with the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism to restore and develop Badingilo National Park, to become one of the leading wildlife sanctuaries in South Sudan. 

Giraffe in Bandigalo National Park. It is uncertain which sub-species of Giraffe exists in South Sudan. There is debate it could be the Rothchild’s, Nubian or Kordofan sub-species. South Sudan is the intersection of these three sub-species. All three sub-species are low in total population numbers: Kordofan- 2500, Rothchild’s- 670 and Nubian- 250. More reserach is required.

In the start of the the wet season April, May, the herds are migrating into Bandigalo National Park from Boma National Park, stay in the park June, July August and then start to migrate out in September and October. See our home page of this web site for an animated map of the migration movement. The major animals that migrate in and out of the park, are white-eared kob antelope, Tiang antelope, Mongalla gazelle and Elephant. The animals congregate in this park during the European Summer vacation time, making it an excellent time to see wildlife in South Sudan.

Bandigalo (also known as Bandingilo or Badingilo) National Park has changed size and absorbed Mongalla Game Reserve with changing requirements to preserve a larger area and protect the animals present and the migration. Roughly the park is now 8000 square kilometers (800,000 hectares or 1,976,000 acres) in size.

White-eared Kob. The darker individuals are males, the tan individuals are females. It is estimated that there are 800,000 to 1 million of these animals in the migration between Boma and Bandingalo. They are present in the park in the wet season.

There are additionally Giraffe, Nile Buffalo, Hippo, Zebra, Hyaena, Olive Baboon, Wild Dog, Caracal, Eland, lelwel Hartebeest, Cheetah and considerable bird life all year.

If you come into the park with us during the wet or rainy season there are days of rain and days of no rain. Road conditions will be muddy, but there will be a lot animals to view.