Sudan Country Profile

 

Sudan National Flag

Discovering Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It shares borders with Egypt in the north, the Red Sea in the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia in the east, Kenya and Uganda in the southeast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic in the southwest, Chad in the west and Libya in the northwest.
With an area of 2,505,810 sq km, Sudan is the largest African country with dominantly flat plains, punctuated by several mountain ranges with the Jebel Marra in the west as the most pronounced and the highest range. Several others ranges are distributed all over the country for instance; in the south is Mount Kinyeti Imatong (3,187 m) near the border with Uganda; in the east are the Red Sea Hills. Jebel Barkal Mountain in Nubia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The capital is Khartoum and is a multifunctional city. Omdurman is the country’s largest city. The country has a population of 42 million people. Sunni Islam is the official and largest religion. Arabic and English are the official languages.
Sudan is an abundantly gifted nation. It has several dams on the Blue and White Niles. Among them are the Sennar and Roseires on the Blue Nile, and Jebel Aulia Dam on the White Nile. There is also Lake Nubia on the Sudanese-Egyptian border.
Much as most of the country’s wildlife potential is not extensively exploited, Sudan ahs amazing wildlife especially desert animals. But of much concern it is widely threatened by hunting. The most endangered species include: the waldrapp, Northern White Rhinoceros, Tora Hartebeest, Slender-horned Gazelle, and hawksbill turtle. The Sahara Oryx has become extinct in the wild.

Sudan Women

CAUTION!
Those interested in world wildlife and ecology should desist from transactions involving wild meat, stuffed crocodiles, ivory goods, and purses made from crocodile skin. Animals are being massacred in large numbers to provide these goods, and they are unfortunately on sale throughout the country and in Africa.

Jebel Barkal

For the ardent shoppers on travel, ebony carvings are in plenty for sale here especially in the souqs at Omdurman and Khartoum as well as gold jewellery. In the town of Mellit in the west shoppers are exposed to attractive carpets and gorgeously designed pottery.
Visitors should have less accommodation worries. Major Cheap Sudan Hotels are in the Khartoum Area ready to host you.
Cultural tours and events are also gaining popularity; for instance during the holy celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr, it is typical to find Sudanese entertainment bands performing in cities and towns. Sudanese music is an enticing blend of Arabian and African, listening can be a pleasant experience.
When to Go
Weather in Sudan ranges from hot and dry to tropical for most time of the year. The best time to go to Sudan in between September and April. Rains subside from July to late August but present few troubles for people travelling to the northern regions save to the possible devastation that may occur on the roads from the Nuba Mountains.
Places of Interest
- The pyramids of Meroe found north of Khartoum
- Jebel Barkal – a sandstone monolith
- Dinder National Park – renowned to host several bushbucks, crane, antelope, giraffe  and hundreds of   pelican species.
- River Nile
- The Red Sea