Tourism in Sudan

Sudan is considered one of the few countries which enjoy a variety of tourism resources.
These resources are represented in the Red Sea Coast which extends for more than 700 kilometers and is characterized by many tourist attractions, including diving and under-water photography, besides boat rowing and water skiing.

The Red Sea Coast enjoys many gulfs and coral reefs as the area is free from contamination which plague many seas and tourist areas in the world.

Sudan also enjoys an ancient heritage in the field of civilizations and antiquities representing a great attraction for tourists both from within and outside the country. This heritage is centred in the Northern areas including Al-Naga', Al-Musawarat, Karima, Al-Berkal, Merwie, Dongola and others.
These areas and others saw ancient civilizations proved by the remains of the pyramids and temples, with a great part of them still lying unearthed. These areas attract many experts and researchers in this field. In addition, they are considered archaeological sites not experiencing any toursit leap before, despite the availability of huge resources in them.

Jebel Marra:
Jebel Marra lies in western Sudan, one of the most distinct places in Darfur region. It stretches for several hundred miles from the small town of Kas in the South up to the outskirts of AI Fasher in the North, covering an area of almost 12800 square kilometres. Jabal Marra is 10,000 ft above sea level, the second highest in the country.

It consists of a range of mountains 240- km long and 80 km. wide, with waterfalls, volcanic lakes in an outstanding scenic beauty.
The climate of the mountain is mild and of Mediterranean nature, where it rains almost the whole year round and that allows for the growth of abundant vegetation of citrus, apples and clusters of dense forest trees. Jebel Marra's heavy rainfall and numerous gorges supply vast arable lands with a continuous flow of water turning it into ideal soil for the cultivation of sorghum, millet, vegetables and a wide variety of orchard trees.

 

Museums in Sudan

Sudan National Museum:This museum lies on the

Nile Avenue

in Khartoum overlooking the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile at Al-Mugran area. It was built in 1965. Visitors to the museum find the relics of the various civilizations of Sudan from the First Stone Age to the era of the Al Saltana Al-Zarqa' "black sultanate." The National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums undertook the re-construction of temples that had been transferred during the process of saving relics of the Sudanese Nubia area from being covered by waters of the High Dam. These temples have been reconstructed in the yard of the museum and an artificial lake was dug to symbolize the original site of the temples.

The Ethnography Museum:

This museum is located on

Al-Gama'a Street

in Khartoum.

In 1955 the buildings of the British army club were affiliated to the antiquities department at that time. The department then started the organization and presentation of the ethnographical groups, which had remained in warhouses since 1945, in this museum. The museum was opened in December 1956. The exhibits of the museum have been organized and arranged in such a way that gives a vivid live history of the various Sudanese tribes and their customs and traditions.

Al-Khalifa House Museum:This museum is located in Omdurman near Al-Mahdi's Tomb. It derived its name from the Khalifa Abdellah Al-Ta'aishi, the successor of Imam Mohamed Ahmed Al-Mahdi, who was officially residing at the very same place. This museum was established in 1928 and contains relics of the Mahdist period, Sultan Ali Dinar and Gordon Pasha when he was governor of Sudan.

Sheikan Museum:
This museum was built in Al-Obeid town in Kordofan and was opened in November 1965. It was given the name from sheikan Valley, the site of a battle between Al-Mahdi's forces and hicks Pasha army in 1883. The battle was won by Mahdi forces and the museum took on the name in memory of the battle. The museum reflects relics dating back to the Mahdist era, besides other archaeological works of art representing all the successive eras of Sudan. The museum further contains some ethnographical collections.

Sultan Ali Dinar Palace Museum in Al-Fashir:
This museum was once a place of residence for the sultan as well as a government office for him. When the sultan died, the palace went into the hands of Al-Fashir governor and was next made a house for the commissioner of the province till 1971. After that, its ownership was transferred to the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museum which transformed it into a museum. The museum exhibits antiquities collections which represent the various historical periods of Sudan from the time of the Stone Age to the era of Christianity.

The museum also shows some of the materials used by the sultan and members of his family. There are also some relics which represent the civilization of Darfur area.

Sudanese Natural resources:
Sudanese Red SeaOne of the most attractive natural areas of Sudan are its Red Sea coastlines. In fact presently, Sudan is biggest attraction to tourists, especially sea lovers, and has gained an excellent reputation throughout the World.

The Geological characteristics of the Red Sea:The Red Sea is a long, narrow marine basin, with a total length of about 1900- km it extends northwards from the strait of Baab El Mandab in Yemen to the southern tip of the

The maximum depth of the Red Sea is 3040 m. off Port Sudan. The Red Sea is unique in the several aspects; among them is its uniform temperature distribution at the surface and at the different depths. At the surface near Port Sudan the temperature range is 26.2-30. 5 degrees Celsius; at a depth of 150 m. the range is still 23. 9-25. 0 degrees.

Moreover, itshigh degree of transparency reaches up to 46 m. These characteristics have made the Red Sea an ideal place for snorkels, divers and photographers; it is comfortably warm, one could float nicely and the visibility is better than in most other places. The Sudanese coast is 650 km long as the crow flies; numerous embayments and gulfs make it 750 km long.

Marine life

Surrounding the reefs and complimenting them in creating a breath- taking sight, is the wide spectrum of marine life. The Red Sea is famous for its plants and animals; many of which are related to those of the Indian Ocean, but some of which are exclusively found in the Red Sea.

It has two prominent features; coastal lagoons, locally called marsas, and reefs, called shia"ab in Arabic. The marsas may be protected embayments of the sea, or may be cut into the coastal plain, well beyond the general coastline. In marsas, despite the heavy fresh water influx during the short rainy season, corals grow and build coral knobs (tens of centimeters to meters in size) and the patch reefs (meters to tens of meters in size). As for the reefs, they are distinguished according to their shapes and positioning. There are the fringing reefs, which are immediately at the cost. They line the entire Sudanese coast, with the exception of the marsas and the Tokar Delta in the south. The fringing reefs are usually 1000 m wide and could extend up to 3000 m.

Then there are the barrier reefs, which are generally separated from the coast and the fringing reefs by a ship
channel. The barriers range from narrow discontinuous reef walls, only several tens to a few hundred meters wide, to platforms of up to 14- km in width. Finally there are the atolls, which are reef platforms located furthest offshore, several hundreds of meters to a few kilometers in width and surrounded by waters. Examples of these are the Senganeeb Island and Shia 'ab Rumi. All these types of reef provide shelter to a diversity of marine life.

Among the common fish in the Red Sea are the Tarpon, Giant Herring, Salmon Herring or milkfish, Soldier fish, Goggle Eye and Rock Cod.

There are also more than 320 species of sharks, among them such veracious predators as the Tiger Shark and Hammer Shark. It should be noted, however, that unless irritated or attracted by blood, sharks are peaceful animals and, generally speaking shark attacks along the Red Sea coast are very rare.

In addition, several species of whales also find home in the Red Sea, namely the Blue Whale, a 15 m-long giant which feeds on plankton, and the killer Whale, which poses no threat < to humans, but scares off sharks. The Whale Shark, 8 to 10m in length, is a jolly, plankton- eating whale that befriends fishermen.

Recreational Activities
All these characteristics and many they make the Red Sea an attractive location for vacations and relaxation. This is especially true for those who love the Sea and enjoy its offerings. Fans of scuba diving, snorkeling, yachting and various water sports will find the necessary conditions on the Sudanese Red Sea to pursue these activities to their ultimate satisfaction.

The most important archaeological sites lying between the North and the South of the country, are: SaiSai island lies to the south of the second cataract. It contains many antiquities including temples, monuments and cemeteries which almost represent all the cultural periods of the first stone age. They also represent the Pharaohnic period till the advent of the Ottoman Rule.
Sadinga
It contained some temples which represent the Pharaohnic period, besides some other cemeteries concerning Nabta and Merwie

Soleb
It contained a temple that dates back to the Pharaohnic period and other antiquities of Egyptian and Merwatic origins.

Tumbus
Egyptian writings have been found in this area inscribed on rocks lying near the third cataract and a statue which dates back to the Merwatic period.

Karma
It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Sudan. It enjoys huge buildings made of unbaked bricks and is known as "Al-Duafoofah", which dates back to the 203rd century B.C.

Tabo
This site is found on Argo Island, south of the Third Cataract and contains a Koshite temple and antiquities that date back to the Merwatic and Christian periods.

Kawa
This site has a number of temples of Egyptian origin as it also represents the Kush era.

Old Dongola
This is the capital of the lower Christian Nubia Kingdom (Mayuria). It was a church which has now been changed into a mosque. There are also houses, palaces and cemetries in this area.

Jabal Al-Barka
It is regarded as the religious capital of Nabta Kingdom. It lies near the Fourth Cataract and contains some antiquities including temples, palaces, pyramids and cemeteries which date back to different periods since the time of the Pharaohnic era, Nabta and Merwie.
Nuri This site contains pyramids and royal cemeteries as a number of members of the ruling dynasty had been buried there during Nabta era.

Al-Kuru
This location is famous for a group of cemeteries inscribed on rocks with ornaments that date back to the era of Nabta's first kings.

New Merowe
The new town of Merowe now lies near the Fourth Cataract and enshrines cemeteries which dates back to the era of Nabta. Yet, no excavation work has been conducted there.

Al-Ghazali
This site is an oasis in Bayoudah desert, a few kilometers away from Merowe town. Al-Ghazali contains relics of the Christian era.
MeroweThis is the capital of Kosh Kingdom (Old Merowe). It enshrines some pyramids, temples and relics of a royal town.

Yellow Musawarat
This area represents a religious centre that dates back to the Merwatic period. It contains temples with remarkable inscriptions and a great building made of sand stones which is called the great yard.

Al-Nagaa
This site is similar to yellow Musawarat; it represents a religious centre lying in Al-Butana region (in the central part of the country). It contains many ornamented and inscribed temples, besides cemetries and relics of a town.

Wadi Nagaa
It represents the remains of Merowe town and contains relics of a royal palace and many other relics.

East Soba
Here there are relics of a church, palaces, houses and cemeteries.

Sawakin
This site comprises relics of beautiful buildings made of coral rocks of special Islamic architectural style.
Sennar
It contains antiquities of an Islamic town, but work has not been completed to determine the size of those relics. Sudan has a vast and various stock of antiquities and national heritage which represents promising resources for investment if it is utilized in the best way. The previous period saw the rehabilitation of some antiquities sites in the areas of Al-Fiqh, Yellow Musawarat and Al-Bejrawia in Nahr El-Nile State, besides Al-Barkel Museum in the Northern State. Sawakin has also been rehabilitated to protect the Islamic heritage. In Darfur, the Sultan Palace and cemetries of the Sultans in the area has also been rehabilitated and maintained.

There are a number of archaeological missions in Wadi Hor area, Jabal Marrah and Kordofan. Sheikan Museum has also been rehabilitated. In Khartoum State, there are investment projects intended to rehabilitate Sudan National Museum and add some tourist aspects. In Western Sudan, Jabal Marrah represents a unique tourist area with its splendid natural scenery, captivating water falls, mineral water, moderate climatic conditions, besides the folklore, heritage and popular arts of the area.

The Nuba Mountains

Located in the rich rainy Savannah Belt of Southern Kordofan and shouldering the rich tropics and lakes of Bahr El Jebel, the Nuba mountains are amongst the wonders that are fascinating and capturing for the visitors and travelers.

Vast ranges of great hills, whose up-lands, some furred with woods are traversed by clean crystal rivulets gorges, broad level plains, narrow steep valleys and lush green meadows.

The multi Nuba tribes are indigenous people of modern Sudan, whose folk heritage and ritual traditions by far exceed any other ethnic group. One of the most interesting aspects of Nuba people, who count to more than fifty ethnic tribal groups, are their social and spiritual rituals that engulf every feature of their role in the enrichment and diversity of modern Sudanese society. The Nuba mountains are among the Sudan's most naturally preserved regions.

This is clear from the wide variety of rare vegetation watered by heavy showers of summer rainfall, mountain gorges, and rivulets. The animal life in the Nuba mountains is amazingly rich as expounded by the ubiquitously green land and water flow.