A similarly competitive situation appears to be developing over in southern Sudan, where Scandrol and Swanepoel Safaris have already announced their intention to begin offering safaris as soon as they can. Joining them in the rush to open this area is Angelo Dacey of Sudan Wildlife Safaris Co. Ltd. Dacey, of course, has worlds of experience there, as well as good contacts. We hope to have a report soon on his latest exploratory and his emerging plans to pry the southern part of this nation open again to safari hunting.
One hold-up to the development of hunting in Sudan is the current US embargo. It is illegal at present for US citizens to have any financial dealings with Sudanese nationals, though it is hoped that an exception will be made for Sudanese who live in the largely Christian/Animist African (as opposed to Arab) southern part of the country. The south is strongly pro-American. It's also rich in oil, and American oil companies are there, jockeying for position. The wild card is political stability. A peace accord between the Arab north and African south has been signed, but it is anyone's guess whether it will hold.
For certain, southern Sudan has a wealth of game. Opening the region will be a major development in African hunting. Our advice, though, is to be careful putting money down on a safari anywhere in Sudan right now. No matter what you hear, our State and Treasury departments have not ok'd American dealings there. As for non-Americans, it is worth remembering that the war in Sudan is Africa's oldest and bloodiest. It may not be over yet.
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