Major Tourist Attractions In Sudan

The towns of Karima and Meroe boast Egyptian archaeological sites in their proximity, including a well-preserved temple complex dedicated to Amun, pyramids and tombs.  

In Khartoum, the Ethnographical Museum (on Sharia al-Gama, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 8:30am to 1:30pm) is highly recommended for its well-documented exhibits on the amazing ethnic diversity of the Sudanese people. The National Museum, though badly-kept, is also worth it to see the reconstructed temples of Buhen and Semna that were some of the many monuments saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

There are also some exquisite examples of Meroitic jewellery on the ground floor. The Natural History Museum is much less impressive, unless one is keen on row upon row of stuffed animals and birds, insects, etc. Apart from museums, the site of English General Kitchener’s pitched battle of Omdurman against the Mahdi’s troops – the gunboat Melik – is a major attraction.

The center of Khartoum retains much of its colonial character and is pleasant to stroll around in, especially the corniche along the Blue Nile. The confluence of the Blue and White Niles, although nothing spectacular to look at, is worth seeing for sheer geographic significance. There is also a daily camel market worth visiting.

 Around the country, the town of Dongola is worth visiting for its famous palm groves and the ruins of the ancient Temple of Kawa. The cathedral in the town of El-Obeid (once the capital of the Mahdi’s Islamic State) is one of the largest in Africa. 

The offshore reef along Port Sudan offers some of the best snorkeling that the Red Sea contains. Suakin became something of a ghost town after the construction of Port Sudan, but is fascinating to visit today for the same reason.