Overview

Sudan, located in northeastern Africa, is the largest country in Africa and the Arab world. The major countries bordering Sudan are the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, and Uganda.

The regions of North Sudan and South Sudan are quite different in terms of climate, culture, and even geography. North Sudan is home to expansive deserts such as the Libyan and the Nubian deserts, stretching up to Khartoum. These desert lands are mostly arid and barren, but are beautifully punctuated by the Nile River and dotted with oases. The steppes grasslands begin from this region and culminate in the savannahs in the south. The grasslands are also present as flat lands in the east and plateau lands in the south and west. Agriculture is scanty in Sudan. There is a 46,332 square miles wide marshland basin known as the Sudd.

Activities & Attractions

Recently, the country has been innovated and upgraded with various amenities to draw tourist attention to visit this fabulous place. Although, the capital Khartoum is well developed, but outside Khartoum, there is a lack of proper communication facilities. Khartoum is a beautiful city where the White and Blue Niles meet to form the Nile River. Some things that must not be missed in Khartoum include the Arabian souk, the National Museum, and the Omdurman Camel Market. Other significant historical and archeological sites to visit include Bajrawiya, Meroe, and Naga.

The Dinder National Park, on the Ethiopian border is one of the largest parks in the world, and is home to numerous species of wild animals. The Red Sea with its variety of fish in the transparent water, the charming marine gardens and coral reefs is one of Sudan's main attractions. The Red Sea coast offers many water activities for tourists such as swimming, fishing, and scuba diving.

Lodging

Khartoum and Port Sudan offer many five star luxury hotels and motels for the tourists. International hotels such as the Hilton, Meridien, and Grand Holiday Villa are available in the country's capital. Most towns in Sudan have at least one laconda, which is a hotel aimed at locals. Lacondas provide only beds, mattresses, and sheets to sleep. There are usually 10 or more beds in a room serving as a dormitory.

Transportation

Publicly operated bus services in Khartoum are quite unreliable due to their irregular services. Therefore, private busses and minibuses known as boks or bakassi are a better option. Most of the buses ply between towns and the market areas. The market lorries, locally known as souk lorries, are abundant and can transport you around inexpensively, but they are not meant for a luxury traveler. You can hail taxicabs from the street. There are no meter rules and the driver and the passenger mutually decide on a fare before hiring. The most convenient way is to hire a car from the place of accommodation, but it is relatively expensive.