| Sudan ((ar)السودان) | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | Khartoum |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 900 000 km² |
| Population | 32 000 000 hab. (2011) |
| Density | 16,84 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | federal Republic |
| Cash | Sudanese pound (SDG) |
| Electricity | 230 V/50 Hz, type D (3 cylindrical pins) and European plugs |
| Telephone prefix | 249 |
| Internet suffix | .sd |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 3 |
| Location | |
 15 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 32 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
the Sudan is the third largest country inAfrica after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Located in the region of Sahel, he is on the border ofEgypt to the north of the Libya to the north-west, from Chad to the west, from the Central African Republic to the southwest, from South sudan to the south ofEthiopia andEritrea to the East.
Sudan is a country resolutely located off the tourist trail. The political unrest that has hit it over the past thirty years (conflict with the South and then civil war in Darfur) and the instability that still prevails today have earned it a bad reputation enough to deter most travelers, even reckless, to come and visit these regions.
However, the country is of undeniable interest, not only because of its relative isolation, which makes it a land of adventure, but because Sudan truly has a very important and totally underestimated tourist potential: numerous archaeological sites, a valley. of the Nile remained largely intact in the north, very varied deserts.
Another significant advantage, the country is very safe over a large part of its (immense) territory (roughly the entire Nile valley and the east of the country) and offers a wide variety of points of interest that will make a stay in Sudan an unforgettable memory. At present, we can even say that Sudan is the only Sahelian country that can be visited without major risk.
Obviously, the country deserves the efforts that will have to be made, but the traveler can always count on the extraordinary hospitality of the inhabitants.
Understand
Geography
Weather
Story
Population
Holidays and public holidays
- January 1 (national holiday)
- aid al-fitr
- aid al-kabir
- mouloud an-nabi
- birthday of the Inqadh
Orientation
To date, there is no reliable map of the Sudanese road network, a fortiori a correct map of the main towns, or even of the tracks when it comes to moving away from paved roads. In addition, the network has evolved dramatically over the past ten years thanks to oil money: some tracks have become busy axes while others have fallen into disuse and are hardly maintained.
Most of the places mentioned have been, as far as possible, placed on Openstreetmap. The GPS coordinates are also mentioned in most cases and a downloadable file will eventually be created with all the data. In any case, as a tourist with or without a car, do not hesitate to bring a GPS before leaving.
When you leave the main axes of the country, it may be useful to equip yourself with the old English maps at 1: 250,000. They can be purchased in Khartoum from the Sudan Survey Department and are also mostly available online at the Durham University website (http://lewis.dur.ac.uk/apps/maps/Sudan250000/index.html)
Here are the main asphalt roads in the country:
- the road from Wadi Halfa (a lake port that serves as an entry point from Egypt) to Dongola, the capital of the northern state, via the east bank of the Nile. This is an excellent road, completed around 2010, which can be driven at a speed greater than 100 km / h (little traffic). With the construction of this road, the track directly crossing the Nubian desert, following the railway line (itself now unused ...) between Wadi Halfa and Abu Hamad, has completely fallen into disuse. Although it is still indicated on all maps of Sudan, even the most recent, it is strongly advised not to borrow it, except with full knowledge of the facts and with a minimum of preparation.
- In Dongola, a bridge crosses the Nile to join the asphalt road that goes to Ed Debah, on the west bank. Also in very good condition (100 km / h)
- At Ed Deba, the road goes in two directions: one goes towards Karima / Marawi, then through the Atbara desert, the other crosses the Bayuda desert to reach Khartoum. These roads are also in very good condition. It should be noted that the Marawi / Atbara portion does not have any petrol station.
- The road from Atbara to Khartoum is one of the main axes of Sudan, because it is a portion connecting the capital to the only major port of the country, Port-Sudan. The road is tired from heavy truck traffic and great caution is required.
- The road from Kassala to Port Sudan: For decades this road, via Wad Madani, Sennar and Gedaref, was the only way to reach Port Sudan. If the portion up to Kassala is still relatively busy, that between Kassala and Port-Sudan is now deserted and no longer maintained. Its northern third is therefore very difficult (large potholes). On the other hand, it presents sumptuous landscapes.
- The road from Khartoum to El Obeid via Kosti
Regions
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Cities
- 1 Khartoum – the capital
- 2 Wad madani
- 3 Kosti
- 4 Atbara
- 5 Abu Hamad
- 6 Wadi Halfa
- 7 Port Sudan
- Kassala
- Al-Qadarif
- Dongola
- Sennar
- Karima
Other destinations
The Bayouda Desert is located north of Khartoum in Sudan, west of Kadabas, north of the Nubian Desert. Together they form the eastern part of the Sahara. The Bayouda Desert, which lies in the loop of the Nile between the 4th and 6th cataracts, is characterized by its black basaltic rock from ancient volcanoes.
To go
There is only one travel agency specializing in Sudan, whose skills are recognized but whose price is high: Italian Tourism CO. Ltd [1]
Formalities
 | Visa restrictions: Entry will be refused to citizens ofIsrael and those who present entry or exit stamps and / or visas from Israel. The same generally applies to people wearing an Egyptian or Jordanian entry stamp indicating travel to Israel (for example, the stamp you get when passing between Israel and Egypt by land). Nationals of countries eligible for the visa waiver program for United States who are traveling to Sudan will no longer be eligible for this program and must obtain a United States visa from a United States Embassy to visit that country at a later date. |
Obtaining a visa for Sudan is an uncertain and often lengthy process. The conditions and deadlines will vary according to the embassies and the periods, without any rule being able to be established.
In France, counting a month to obtain the precious sesame seems prudent.
Beyond that, it seems that there are two ways to get a visa (almost) for sure:
- In Wadi Halfa, arriving from Egypt by boat, it seems that the police issue a visa (a priori transit) in a few tens of minutes
- By reserving a room at the Acropole Hotel (see Khartoum), one can request the visa services of the establishment, which seems particularly reliable. In principle, in a few days, the hotel will be able to send you a fax guaranteeing that a tourist visa will be waiting for you on arrival at the airport, which is essential for the airline to let you board. Naturally, the services of the Acropolis are chargeable (in addition to the price of the room). On arrival, a tax of US $ 100 will still have to be paid. In all, count 300 US $. The same process may exist for other upscale hotels (Rotana and Corinthia).
- Sudan
- Exemption from Visa
- Visa on arrival
By plane
The only international airport is Khartoum, apart from two lines connecting Port Sudan to Cairo and Dubai.
It is served by several companies from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The cities served non-stop are Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways), Amsterdam (Air France-KLM), Nairobi (Kenya Airlines), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia Airlines), Cairo (Egypt Air), Frankfurt (Privat Air) ), Dubai (Emirates, Dubair Airways), Manama (Gulf Air), Beirut (BMI), Asmara (Nas Air), Sana'a (Yemenia), Damascus and Aleppo (Syrian Air) and Amman (Royal Jordanian).
The national company Sudan Airways [2] serves several African capitals (Cairo, Addis Ababa, Djouba, Ndjamena) from Khartoum, as well as the main cities of the country (Port-Sudan, Dongola, Wadi Halfa, El Obeid, Nyala, El Facher). Its reputation is, however, tarnished by the fact that it has been placed, like all other Sudanese companies, on the European Union's blacklist.
On a boat
There are only two boat lines in Sudan:
- between Aswan (Egypt) and Wadi Halfa
- Between Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Suakin (on the Red Sea, south of Port Sudan)
By train
- The train leaves from Khartoum but does not serve any city abroad. However, it seems that passenger traffic between Khartoum and Wadi Halfa, after a few years of interruption, would have resumed around 2014. From Wadi Halfa, it is possible to take a boat to Aswan.
By bus
- The road between Khartoum and the Egyptian border, on the west bank, is finally completed and the border post opened. As a result, buses have linked directly since the beginning of 2016 Cairo to Khartoum, a priori in about 24 h (presumably 12 h between Cairo and Aswan, and 12 h between Aswan and Khartoum.
By car
Circulate
The "Travel Permits"
- Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife
, Mashtal Street, Riyadh
By plane
There are a large number of domestic lines.
- Marsland connects Khartoum to El Facher, Nyala, El Obeid
On a boat
There have been no inland river lines since the 1990s. Until 2012, you could still admire the wrecks of the steamers in Karima and Kosti.
By train
There are no more passenger train lines since 2010-2011.
By bus
By car
- Traffic and other local driving habits
- Tendency not to stay straight in a queue, row or no row
- Lots of very slow vehicles, even in unexplained ways
- Unclear priorities
- Many vehicles parked or broken down on the road
- Car rental
It costs a little more than the average in Africa. Count around 50 € for a Toyota Corolla and 70 € for a 4x4 (with obligatory driver).
However if you want to head off in to the desert the costs mount further, as the 100 km is standard, and then its 1 SDG per additional kilometer, hence a trip to the Meroe pyramids adds 400 SDG to your costs.
"Limousine" is the local term for car rental companies.
- An idea of the times to reach the main cities of Sudan with a good car:
- Khartoum-Dongola: 5 h (500 km)
- Dongola-Wadi Halfa: 6 h ** Khartoum-Port-Sudan: between 10 and 12 h (1 200 km)
- Khartoum-Kosti: 4 h ** Khartoum-Wad Madani: 3 h ** Wad Madani-Qedaref: 3 h ** Khartoum-Qedaref: 6 h ** Qedaref-Kassala: 3 h ** Kosti-El Obeid: 6 h
There are tolls on the road. We pay for up to our destination. The sums are very low (20 SDG, i.e. less than 2,5 €, for Khartoum-Kassala).
Fuel is extremely inexpensive (June 2013: 20 cents per liter of diesel (1.8 SDG) and 31 cents per liter of gasoline (2.8 SDG)
To speak
The official language isArab. THE'English is only mastered by the most educated part of the population, therefore a minority, a fortiori outside Khartoum. It can be useful to provide yourself with a language method to learn rudiments of Arabic (classical or Egyptian dialect, very well understood by the Sudanese) in order to make your life easier.
Besides Arabic, the majority of the population speaks one of the country's many non-Arabic dialects. Let us quote in bulk: the Nubian (population north of Karima to the Egyptian border and beyond), the oven (in Darfur), the Hausa, the beja (in all of eastern Sudan), etc.
To buy
The currency of Sudan is the Sudanese pound (s £, sudan pounds, SDG)
Eat
Other than in the capital, you will have no choice but to experience Sudanese cuisine, the subtleties of which you will quickly learn.
Sudanese cuisine is pleasant but can seem a bit repetitive in the long run.
Coffee and tea in the street:
- jebbana: coffee
- bi dawa thagiil - with lots of ginger and cinnamon.
- bi dawa khafiif: with a little ginger
- saliiga - without ginger.
- shay: tea
- shay bi laban: tea with hot milk
- fawgu jumaada - with lumpy bits of milk (some people do ask for it!).
- shay faransi - literally "French tea", concretely milk tea
- karkaday: hibiscus infusion
The other meals :
- foul
- gosh
- sheyya
- kibda
- beid
- mulaah
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Sudan, outside the tourist trails, is not really famous for its hotel base. In addition, when the Sudanese move around their country themselves, they often call on their family network or friends to stay away from home.
In Khartoum, one can easily find a relatively complete range of establishments although, as often in Africa, the prices can seem rather high. One can also consider, if you are alone, to "couch surfer": many expatriates, but also young Sudanese eager to meet, offer to accommodate passing travelers.
Outside of Khartoum, there are several options depending on the area:
- high-end hotels: the only one outside the capital is in Port-Sudan (Corral Hotel)
- tourist-oriented hotels with international standards: the only two are run by the Italian Tourism travel company and are located in the two main tourist sites: Meroe and Karima. One exception, the Candaka guesthouse run by a Korean family in Dongola
- Sudanese hotels of average quality: in the main large cities such as Atbara, Kosti, Dongola, Kassala (rich in hotels as a popular destination for Sudanese honeymooners).
- in small towns (Karima, etc.), there are a priori lokanda
- camping, which is not a stopgap in Sudan but on the contrary a recommended option
- homestay accommodation
To learn
To work
Communicate
Telephone
Communications in Sudan are very inexpensive if you buy a local SIM card, even to make calls abroad. It will therefore be a question of bringing an unlocked phone (or to have it unlocked) and to go as quickly as possible to an agency of one of the three telephone companies: Sudani, Zain or MTN.
Sudani has a reputation for having the best coverage; Zain to be the most reliable network; and MTN to have the best rates for calls abroad.
Internet
Internet cafes are quite easy to find in Khartoum, a little more difficult in the major provincial towns (Kassala, Kosti, Port-Sudan, etc.) and not at all in the villages. If you plan to stay in Sudan for a while and have a mobile phone, it may be worth buying a 3G dongle: it is barely worth twenty euros in one of the three companies in Sudan and he purchase of a few Giga will cost you less than five euros.
If you have a smartphone, you can also buy a SIM card, activate 3G and buy credit to have your emails, all this for an unbeatable price.
Postal services
Security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:999 |
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
Sanitary conditions in Sudan are poor and it is therefore recommended to take out repatriation insurance. In Khartoum itself, the quality of care is considered poor. Outside the capital, there is no hospital structure worthy of the name.
Water in Khartoum is drinkable, but it is often laden with sand and dust, which makes even light filtration preferable. Bottled water is available everywhere in cities of a certain size, much rarer or even not found in rural areas.
The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory to enter Sudan, even if the international vaccination record is hardly ever requested when entering the country (here is the list of medical structures that can vaccinate the yellow fever: [3]).
Sudan is affected by other serious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes: malaria, the Chikungunya[4] and the crazy. Protect against mosquito bites (Culicidae) is essential. According to the Sudanese authorities the development of HIV AIDS is important.
The most reliable hospital in Khartoum is the Royal Care Hospital (Burri district - Tel: 249 1 56 55 01 50/51)
Respect
Ramadan date
Majority of Muslims insist on local sighting of the crescent moon to mark the start of Ramadan, but others insist on calculating the new moon or declaring it saudi to determine the start of the month. Since the first crescent after the new moon is not visible everywhere at the same time, the start and end dates of the month depend on what is visible in each location. Therefore, the dates vary from country to country, but usually only one day. |
