Sudan Tourist Information and Tourism

(Sudan, SD, North-East Africa)

Even after being divided into northern and southern regions following a nationwide referendum in July 2011, Sudan (the northern portion) remains one of the largest and least visited of all the countries in Africa. Foreign tourists should be aware that civil wars around portions of the borders are still ongoing and it is advised that travellers avoid visiting the states of Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile, at least until travel restrictions ease.

Tourism in Sudan is at its best and safest around Khartoum (the capital city), Omdurman and throughout the Northern State, where numerous places of interest await tourists. Many of the ancient sites remain quite deserted and when you visit these attractions, it is not unusual to be completely alone, without another tourist anywhere to be seen.

The whole tourist scene in Sudan is that of a burgeoning one and even within the main towns and cities, visitors can be something of a rarity, although the friendly Sudanese locals will certainly go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Khartoum is a sensible place to start any Sudanese adventure and being fairly centrally located within the country, it does serve as a good base for expeditions outside of the capital. A number of useful travel agents are located within Khartoum, along al-Jamhurya Street, where tourist information and general travel advice is easiest to come by.

Sudan Tourist Information and Tourism: Top Sights

Much of the interest for tourists in Sudan tends to relate to the country's history and architecture, as well as its national parks. In Khartoum, both the Al Kabir Mosque on Gamhoria Street and the Presidential Palace on Nile Avenue stand out, for all the right reasons. Also located on Nile Street is the Al Mogran Family Park, which is to be found close to the point where the Blue Nile meets with the White Nile. Mahdi's Tomb, the Khartoum War Cemetery and the Malik II, an old ship that was once used by Field Marshal Kitchener himself, are further attractions sited within Khartoum. If you are planning to venture out of Sudan's capital city to see some of the country's untouched natural landscapes, then the Dinder National Park, on the south-easterly side of the country, is definitely a good place to start. At Dinder's park you can spot everything from gazelle and cheetahs, to elephants, rhinos and even ostriches. More information about Sudan Tourist Attractions.

If you are on holiday in Sudan and looking to see a few of its oldest and most important ancient sites, then you will need to head outside of Khartoum to find some of the best. The famous Pyramids of Meroe are quite unmissable and these well-preserved Nubian relics of the past date all the way back to the 8th century. Elsewhere is the ruined 3rd-century Meroitic temple complex named the Musawwrat es Sufra, as well as the Temple of the God of Amun from the 13th century. Close to Khartoum, Tuti Island is well worth exploring and offers a tranquil spot away from busy city life, while a cruise down the Nile will take you to the Sabaloka Gorge. An excursion to see the Jabal al-Awliya' Dam will certainly be a memorable one and from the very top of the dam, the views of the Nile are really quite special. More information about Sudan Landmarks and Monuments.

The majority of the principal museums and galleries, as you would likely expect, are very much concentrated within Sudan's capital. Khartoum is where you will find the National Museum of Sudan, with its endless information about the nation's past civilisations and plentiful archaeological relics, the oldest of which are Egyptian in origin and date back close to 4,000 years. A trip to the Presidential Palace Museum is one to pencil in and tourists will find that this attraction offers a real taste of opulence, displaying many of the official presidential gifts from over the years. Located at El-Fasher, the Sultan Ali Dinar Palace Museum is also of note and houses some interesting collections of weaponry, flags, paintings and valuable items belonging to the sultan. More information about Sudan Museums.

Being such a large country, there is much to see in Sudan and so it makes sense to plan a few excursions and outings during your stay. Wherever you are planning to go, it is important that you consider your travel options carefully, particularly if you are intending to cross any borders. There are some spectacular national parks in South Sudan, where Juba is the capital city. Ethiopia is sited to the south-east, Eritrea to the east and Egypt to the north, with Aswan being the closest Egyptian tourist destination. There is much to see in Egypt, such as its Giza pyramids and sphinx, the mosques of Old Cairo, and the superb beaches and scuba diving opportunities around the busy coastal resort of Sharm el Sheikh. More information about Sudan Attractions Nearby.

More Sudan Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Continent: Africa (north-east)
• Location: next to Egypt and the Red Sea
• Capital city: Khartoum
• Largest city: Omdurman
• Area: approximately 728,200 square miles / 1.89 million square kilometres
• Population: approximately 31 million
• Language: Arabic and English
• Currency: Sudanese Pound (SDG)
• Time zone: East Africa Time (UTC / GMT +3)
• Country dialling code: +249
• International dialling code: 00
• Average daily Sudan January temperature: 31°C / 88°F
• Average daily Sudan July temperature: 38°C / 100°F