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Information of Sudan |
Capital: Khartoum
Official Language:Arabic
Currency: Dinar
Sudan situated in Northern Africa abounds in natural and archaeological splendor. Sudan is bounded by Egypt to the north, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest. The climate, culture and topography of Sudan are rich and varied with mountainous regions, flat plains, arid desert areas and some beautiful oases regions. Steppes cover the country with coarse grass, bushes and open savannah lands. There are equatorial forests and jungle clad mountains towards the south. The Red Sea dotted with gulfs and coral reefs offer exciting water sports facilities like boat rowing and water skiing. Sanganieb National Marine Reserve at the Red Sea coast area is the first Sudanese sea reserve and a place of great tourist entertainment. Arous Tourist Village nearby is also a fascinating place with numerous recreational facilities. Kindy Lake in Darfur state is the ornithological paradise of Sudan. Sudan also hosts many heritage sites bringing out the rich cultural and historical background of country.
Major Cities of Sudan
Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan. Other major cities of Sudan include Omdurman, Port Sudan, Kassala, Al Ubayyid, Nyala and Wad Medani. Khartoum located at the convergence of Blue and White Nile is a sprawling city and the main cultural and administrative center of Sudan. Some important places of visit in Khartoum are National
Museum, Ethnological Museum, Souq, Camel Market, Tomb of the Mahdi and Beit al-Khalifa. Various kinds of fashion jewelry and candlesticks made from ivory and ebony are popular product items that make brisk sales on Khartoum souks. Omdurman located in the western banks of Nile is a sprawling city and a major trade center. The Tomb of Mahdi is situated in Omdurman. Souq Omdurman is the largest Sudanese market selling typical Sudanese products. Almourada consists the remarkable fish market and many historical sites. Almourada Family Park, on the opposite of Souq Almourada is a wonderful modern park with unique recreational facilities. Port Sudan on the red Sea area is a major port city. The place offers unique Red Sea diving options with a fair number of hotels and dive shops. Kassala lies on the eastern Sudan on the bank of Gash River. It is a beautiful town bounded by exquisite natural sceneries. The place is the house of the nomadic Rashaida tribes and Saudi Arabian Bedouins.
Tourist Attractions of Sudan
Khartoum National Museum displays ancient Sudanese artifacts. The Museum's garden contains two ancient Nubian temples. Sawakin Island located in the south of Port Sudan is a major commercial center with some unique coral architecture. Al-Dinder National Tourist Park is located in the southeast of Khartoum on the Ethiopian border. One of the greatest game reserves in Africa this park houses many rare species of wild animals like lion, giraffe, leopard, kudu, antelope, and birds such as guinea fowl, vulture, pelican, stork, kingfisher and crown crane. Sennar and Sinja in the central Sudan houses ruins of Al-Funj Kingdom. The village of Khatmiya situated near Kassala is a favorite honeymoon haven. The water from the well of Kassala is said to usher in good luck and fertile married life. Dongola an old city in northern Sudan attracts tourists with its scenic views. Palm groves and the fruit and vegetable souqs are really wonderful. The Cushite Temple of Kawa deserves visit. Atbara located at the confluence of the Atbara tributary and the River Nile is a historic place witnessing the battle between the British and the Mahdists. The various colonial style buildings are worth seeing here. The Royal City of Meroe is located on the south of Atbara. The city hosts some splendid Egyptian sculptures and the residence of the Meroe kings. Jebel Marra Mountains is the highest peak in the Darfur region of western Sudan. It is offers enchanting natural views with waterfalls and volcanic lakes.
Getting Around Sudan
Khartoum International Airport is a major Sudanese airport. Sudan Airways is the country's main carrier. A new international airport is currently being built in Omdurman.
The railway system in the Sudan is well connected linking most of the major towns and cities. Sudanese railway offers three railway classes. First-class compartments carry six passengers. Second class compartments don't have any passenger limits while tthird class compartments are very crowded. The roads in the major cities are well paved but the interior parts have uneven roads that become worst during the rainy season. A paved highway persists between Khartoum and Port Sudan. Coach transport on paved roads is available between Khartoum, Kassala, Port Sudan, al-Gadarif, Atbara, Kosti, El-Obeid and the northern region. These boast air-conditioning and comfortable seating arrangements. Travel by both bus and lorry is slow, due to the poor condition of the roads and breakdowns en route. Toyota Hilux termed locally as boxes is a faster transport mode. Pick-up trucks are popular local transport between villages. Camels offer magnificent desert safari amidst the Sudan sands.
Travel Restrictions in Sudan
There are travel restrictions in much of the country due to the violence of separatist insurgents. The recent civil war in the southern parts of the country has led to the decline of Sudanese tourism industry. The after effects of the civil war has led to a severe shortage of medicines, trained doctors and hospital equipment in the Sudan. Outbreaks of severe diseases like malaria; meningitis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles, dysentery and glaucoma have been recorded in many war torn areas. All visitors are strongly recommended to acquire a good health insurance policy before traveling. Vaccinations against yellow fever, cholera, typhoid, meningitis and malaria are strongly recommended. Drinking water is not safe. Hence water should be boiled or purified with chlorine or other medicines prior drinking.
For further details and information on Sudan and its tourist destinations flip through the pages of Allwonderscountries
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