Highlights
Pyramids of Meroë
Near the village of Bagrawiya, north-east of Khartoum, more than a hundred steep-sided pyramids of the Kushite kings and queens stand in clusters on desert ridges. Meroë was the royal capital of Kush for several centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jebel Barkal and Karima
A flat-topped sandstone mountain beside the Nile that ancient Egyptians and Kushites regarded as sacred. At its foot lie temples to Amun and a field of pyramids from the Napatan period, also on the UNESCO list.
Khartoum and Omdurman
The Blue Nile and White Nile meet at Khartoum before flowing north as one river. Across the water, Omdurman was known for its large souq and for the Friday gatherings of Sufi dervishes at the Hamed al-Nil tomb. Many buildings in the capital have been damaged in the conflict.
Nubian villages of the north
Along the Nile north of Dongola, villages of brightly painted mud-brick houses sit between palm groves and desert. Nubian hospitality and the ruins of medieval Christian Old Dongola are part of the region's character.
Suakin
An old Red Sea port of coral-stone buildings, now largely in ruins, that was for centuries an important harbour for pilgrims crossing to Arabia.
Sanganeb and Dungonab Bay
Two marine national parks off the Red Sea coast, inscribed together by UNESCO, with coral reefs, sharks, manta rays and dugongs. Before the conflict, diving here was mostly done from liveaboard boats.
Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra
Kushite temple sites in the desert south of Meroë. Naqa's Lion Temple has carved reliefs of the lion-headed god Apedemak, and Musawwarat has a large enclosure complex whose purpose is still debated.
Interesting facts about Sudan
- Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt, most of them built by the rulers of the Kingdom of Kush; the Kushite pyramids are smaller and steeper than Egypt's.
- Kushite pharaohs from what is now Sudan ruled Egypt as its 25th Dynasty in the 8th and 7th centuries BC.
- Sudan was the largest country in Africa by area until South Sudan became independent in 2011.
- The Meroitic script used in ancient Kush can be read phonetically, but the language it records is still only partly understood.
- The point where the Blue and White Nile meet at Khartoum is known as al-Mogran, and the two rivers can appear as different colours side by side.
Best time to visit
Sudan's climate is hot and mostly dry. The cooler months, from roughly November to February, have historically been the only comfortable time to visit the northern desert sites, with warm days and cool nights. From April to October temperatures are extremely high in the north, and the rainy season brings storms and flooding to the centre and south from about June to September. Haboob dust storms can occur in the hotter months. Any travel depends first on the security situation, which takes precedence over the seasons.
Practical information
| Capital | Khartoum (the government has operated largely from Port Sudan since 2023) |
|---|---|
| Currency | Sudanese pound (SDG) |
| Languages | Arabic, English |
| Plugs | Type C, D, G |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 999 police; services may be limited or unavailable during the conflict, so check locally |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Small tips for drivers, guides and hotel staff were customary and appreciated. |
Getting around
Before the conflict, most visitors explored with a local tour operator and a 4x4 with driver, since the archaeological sites are spread across desert with few signs and long distances between fuel stops. Paved highways linked Khartoum with Port Sudan, Karima and Dongola, and buses served the main towns. Travel permits were often required for movement outside the capital. Today, road travel, flights and border crossings are severely disrupted, and conditions change quickly, so follow official advice.
Staying connected in Sudan
Before 2023, mobile coverage was reasonable in Khartoum and larger towns and along main roads, with little or no signal across much of the desert. Since the conflict began, networks have suffered extensive damage and prolonged outages, and internet access has been cut in some regions for long periods. Power cuts are frequent. Anyone travelling, for example for humanitarian work, should not rely on mobile data and should plan for satellite communication. If networks are available on your route, install an eSIM before you travel and switch it on when you arrive, but treat it as a backup.
See Sudan eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Sudan
- Google Maps: Download offline maps before you travel, as data connections may be unavailable for long periods.
- Google Translate: Arabic translation, with the offline language pack downloaded in advance.
- WhatsApp: Widely used for messaging and calls when a connection is available.
- XE Currency: Reference exchange rates; note that rates on the ground may differ significantly.