Flights and Travel Guide to Sudan

Firstly, it is important to understand that Sudan is a strong Muslim country where Islam is the state religion and English and Arabic are the national languages. Sudan is the tenth largest country in the world, and the largest in Northeastern Africa. After an age long civil war and rebellions that still haunt its towns and streets, the country still manages to retain the true flavor of its culture, the true color of its heritage and the true spectrum of its beauty.

Geography

Sudan being the largest country in Africa has a wide neighborhood consisting of about eight countries enveloping its borders.

• East: Ethiopia
• West: Chad
• North: Egypt
• Northeast: Red Sea
• Northwest: Libya
• Southwest: DR Congo and Cetral African Republic
• Southeast: Kenya and Uganda

Climate / Weather in Sudan

A country that large definitely has a variety of climates that change with the varying regions and topography.

• Summer: May-October
• Winter: November to February
• Rainfall: July to September

Best time to Visit Sudan

From November to April is a better time to visit Sudan when weather is calmer and pleasant. However the day temperatures remain high throughout the year.

Getting In Sudan

Getting in Sudan required the following information at hand.

Passport / Visa Information for Sudan

As the political situation in Sudan is not very satisfactory, therefore it is better to get a Sudanese visa prior to travel and not leave it to the last minute. One should contact the nearest Sudanese consulate or embassy to pursue it however, it has been noted that holders of Israeli passport or those who have been to the country recently face difficulty in getting Sudanese Visa or Travel Documents.

A six month valid passport with 3 blank pages is recommended to carry your journey, if you are exempted from visa or already have obtained it.

Capital City of Sudan

The famous capital of Sudan is Khartoum. The city has all basic amenities available and it also acts as the gateway for International arrival and departures.

Other Cities of Sudan

Other than the capital, the famous cities of Sudan include:

• Juba
• Port Sudan
• Kassala
• Malakal
• Meroe
• Nyala

Airports in Sudan

There are two prominent airports in Sudan that cater to the international arrivals.

• Khartoum: Khartoum International Airport (KRT)
• port Sudan: Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU)

Airline to / from Sudan

There are many International airlines that operate flights to/from Sudan however most carriers only operate between Khartoum and International Airport of Departure. The top airline that offer flights to Khartoum from London Heathrow and other European Airports include:

• British Airways
• Etihad Airways
• Gulf Air
• Qatar Airways
• Emirates Airline
• Royal Jordanian Airline
• Turkish Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airline
• Kenya Airways
• Lufthansa Airline
• Ethiopian Airline

Hotels and Accommodations in Sudan

Following is a list of the top accommodations in and around the most visited cities of Sudan.

• Burj Al Fateh Hotel, Nile Road, Khartoum
• Grand Holiday Villa Khartoum
• Regency Hotel Khartoum, Qasr Avenue Khartoum
• Shams Alam Beach Resort Port Sudan
• Paradise Hotel Marsa Alam Port Sudan
• Iberotel Aswan, Aswan
• Sol Y Mar Dolphin House, Marsa al `Alam

Getting Around in Sudan

If you are aiming to follow the fco/state department advice about the safe and no-go areas in Sudan, you sure can have a great time while staying safe and enjoying yourself.

Infrastructure / Transport in Sudan

The roads in the city centre and near the port are developed however driving in Sudan is rough and tough for a western driver. Therefore, if you are planning on getting a hired car or taking your own vehicle to Sudan, you should get services of a local driver.

Other than personal or rented car, using a taxi cab and/or local bus is also common means of transportation in Sudan.

Places to See in Sudan

There are plenty of places to see in Sudan, a list of the most visited locations is compiled below:

• Tuti Island: resting between the two arms of Nile, this Island is a great luxury in the midst of Sudan.
• Pyramids of Meroe: only hours away from the capital Pyramids of Merow are also a popular destination for travelers visiting Sudan.
• Naqa and Musawarat: these attractions are in close proximity with the pyramids and a must visit.
• Nile Dam at Jebel Aulia: Go fishing at the dam or just take in the pleasing views.
• New Red sea Resort: Explore the depths of the red sea and go diving at the Port Sudan
• Coral reefs of Red Sea: this rare sight makes sports like swimming or diving more ecstatic.
• Omdurman: this former capital has a tale of its own to tell.
• Gezira model farm: If you love to fish, you sure will visit the Gezira farm.
• Dinder National Park: In Africa but not seeing the wildlife? How can this be? So head on straight to the largest park Dinder.
• Red Sea: when going diving for the Coral Reef, why not explore the rest offered by the Red Sea.
• Jebel Marra Waterfalls: this gigantic and highest peak in the Darfur region is home to many waterfalls and volcanic attractions.

Things to Do in Sudan

Activates in Sudan include:

• Game Viewing
• Fishing
• Diving
• Swimming
• Boating
• Trekking
• Hiking
• Horse Riding

Food and Shopping in Sudan

The local food in Sudan is not very popular except for the variety of prawns freshly caught, cooked and served. As the majority is Muslim, the traditional and cultural sweets, Kebabs, Lamb chops, Kehwah (Black / Green tea) and recopies are based on fava beans, pulses, fresh vegetable and unleavened bread. Among the sweets, fresh fruit is common. As drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam, you will not have it here.

The main shopping items include handmade baskets, local handicrafts, fresh fruits and vegetables. These can be bought in Yaoundé and Khartoum.

Events and Festivals in Sudan

Drumming and dancing, as part of a Sufi (Darwash) ritual is worth seeing. A Sufi can continue to dance for hours and ware usually considered as spiritually connected with the higher up. This happens on Fridays and can also be seen at Sunset, in Khartoum and Omandurm.

Other national holidays and festivals in Sudan include:

• Independence Day – Jan 01
• Coptic Day (Christian Celebrations) – Jan 07
• Mouloud e Nabi (Islamic festival) – As per Hijri Calender
• Coptic Easter & Easter Monday – as per Christian calendar
• Lailat al-Miraj (Islamic festival) – As per Hijri Calender
• Revolution Day – June 30
• Eid ul Fitar (Islamic festival) – As per Hijri Calender
• Eid ul Adha (Islamic festival) – As per Hijri Calender
• Islamic New Year– As per Hijri Calender
• Christmas – December 25

Travel Advice for Sudan

If you only limit yourself to the safe areas, Sudan is a great destination to explore.

Travel Tips for Sudan

Fco advises against travel to certain areas of Sudan due to civil war. However, other dangers such as getting robbed, looting or physical torture by locals is rare occurring in Sudan, if ever. Following are the tips that might come handy when travelling to Sudan.

• Visiting regions outside the capital and larger cities i.e., Khartoum, Omdurman and the Northern State can be dangerous.
• Civil war still continues in regions of Southern Sudan and Darfur.
• Near the Sudanese Borders with Ethiopia and in the Upper Nile regions, there have been incidents of foreigner kidnappings. Therefore it is advised to limit your roaming to the larger cities only.
• Non-essential travel to Sudan is not recommended as per fco and US department of State.
• When you arrive in Sudan, you must register within 3 days of arrival
• Sudan has strict rules about Photography. For the reason a permit is required to photograph.
• Corruption, lawlessness and violence are the major problems faced by Sudan today; hence one must stay conscious and avoid involving in discussions about politics, religions and ethnicity at all costs.
• If a foreigner is found guilty of any crime s/he will be given local punishment and local punishments are as per Islamic law (Shariah) that can be severe.
• In the larger cities that are not victim to civil war, travelling around is easy and safe. Women are advised to dress up accordingly and cover their body properly.
• As it is an Islamic country drugs and Alcohol use is illegal.
• Sudan has strict laws regarding homosexuality and that can incur death sentence.
• The culture of Sudan exhibits respect for elders whether related or unrelated and pointing feet towards somebody is considered disrespectful.
• One must avoid directly conversing with local women unless invited in a conversation by them.
• Avoid getting into physical relationship with the locals as sleeping with anyone except your partner is considered an offense and punishable.
• You may need a Permit to travel, if you rent a car or have plans to drive in areas that require having a Travel Permit issued.
• Get vaccinated for Malaria, Yellow fever and get a travel insurance when travelling to any third world country.

Is it Safe to Travel to Sudan?

As per the recent FCO and State Department advises, travel to specific areas of Sudan is not recommended. The list of these specific areas includes borders and also Darfur area. However essential travel to other areas of Sudan is advisable.

*Please note the travel advice may change at any time according the circumstances therefore, it is advised to contact the state department or fco for up to date advice.