Anderson, a former Assistant Game Warden, reported that in 1950 that the Southern National Park was spread over an area of 7,800 square miles (20,000 km2).

The Gel and Ibba Rivers, after flowing through the park, formed a flood plain which made the habitat swampy.

Hunting, fishing and honey collection were the common vocations of the people living in the park area.

Mammals reported to have been present in the park during Anderson's time in Southern Sudan were giant eland, waterbuck, kob, hartebeest, korrigum, African buffalo, Kordofan giraffe, oribi, northern white rhino, reedbuck, lion, colobus monkey, various galagos including the Senegal bushbaby, and giant forest hog.

Anderson also reported that marabou storks and pelicans were present in some regions of the park.