12 Southern Sudan

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism in Southern Sudan, Dr. Daniel Wani, threw the doors wide open for potential investors in the sector last week, following the successful independence referendum. In details availed from Juba, he was quoted to have said that his ministry was seeking an immediate investment volume of US$150 million from private sector investors in the aviation, hospitality, and safari sectors, while also encouraging private-public partnerships in the wildlife sector. The wildlife sector also presently has only one partially-functioning lodge on offer in Nimule National Park, while the other 5 national parks require investments to open them up to tourists. Initially this is thought to be rolled out through mobile or semi-permanent tented camps, the classic traditional "safari style." while undoubtedly the construction of more permanent lodges in key positions across those parks will also get underway. Already connected very well by air from Nairobi with daily flights for Juba – other neighboring countries like Uganda and Ethiopia now also operate daily scheduled flights from their own main international gateways to Juba. Southern is arguably Africa’s last frontier being opened up for exploration, and the migration of the white-eared kobs, second only to the Serengeti migration in terms of numbers, will be a huge magnet for visitors

Will be interesting when the Sudan opens up to safari hunting.