Sudan

A paradise on earth: One nation, thousand worlds

There are countless tourist attractions in Sudan, unmatched anywhere. There are the ancient civilizations sites, the colourful cultural, ethnic and climatic diversities, the beautiful fauna and flora that include rare animal and plant species, wildlife conservation parks like the Dinder Park, the Red Sea hill resorts -- all are great attractions for tourists, film-makers and investors. In the southern states of Sudan, there are the virgin tropical forests and many natural scenery and tourist villages. In the northern states there are many archaeological sites on the Nile banks, from Dongola up to Wadi Halfa in the extreme north, and at Bajarwia in the Nile State.

In Darfur State, there is the fascinating Jebel Marra mountain. In Khartoum State there are many places, including the historic confluence of the White and Blue Niles... a historic site for tourists. Apart from tourists, interested investors who wish to venture in this sector have many alternatives. They can promote the infrastructure of this sector by building tourist camps and villages, establishing fishing and diving centres on the Red Sea coast, providing services along the roads leading to major tourist areas.

For filmmakers, the scenery is second to none. For tourists, it is a paradise on earth. For tourists, taxis are available at the airports. Special limousine services and car rentals are also available. There are also train and bus services criss-crossing the country for the budget tourist. A cruise on the Nile can not be missed. Sudan, a land known for its sunrises and sunsets, ancient civilization and diverse geographical entities and wildlife and fauna is extending a sincere invitation to you.


KHARTOUM SIGHTSEEING
Khartoum state has three main towns, which are Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman, all joined by four bridges across.

One of the most exciting places to visit in Khartoum is the National Museum, which is the custodian of the rich historical heritage of Sudan. There is also the Ethnographical Museum, which reflects
the cultural life and traditional artifacts of the Sudanese people. The Museum of National History sheds light upon the diverse animal life of Sudan. A visitor can also enjoy Khartoum’s Botanical Garden, where he/she can enjoy the wonders of Sudan’s rich botanical variety.

SIGHTSEEING SAFARIS
One of the most famous game reserves in the country is Dinder Park, which is located some 585 km southeast of Khartoum. Our four-wheel-drive vehicles, which are prepared especially for such trips, cover this distance in 10 hours, passing on its way through the Gezira Scheme, regarded as the largest irrigated agricultural schemes under one administration in the world. Thereafter one could encounter the town of Sennar, the capita! of the first Islamic kingdom in Sudan (1504-1821). The town is home to Sennar water dam on the Blue Nile, which dates back to 1925 and irrigates the Gezira Scheme.

SEA LOVERS
The Sudanese Red Sea coast, which stretches for 750 km from Sudan’s northern borders with Egypt down to the southern boundary with Eritrea, is certainly unique and unrivalled in the world as to the purity and unexplored beauty of its beaches and water. The region is known internationally as an ideal place for snorkeling, diving, seafaring and large fish hunting. The marine life is rich and diverse with crystal clear waters, coral reefs and exotic colourful underwater life.

The Red Sea is looked upon as a huge lake that intercedes between the Mediterranean Sea from the north and the Indian Ocean to the south with fiords and small islands. Diving trips usually begin from Port Sudan aboard yachts of different sizes and fully equipped with diving equipment, with the availability of many diving locations.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL TOURS Early history of human life in Sudan dates back to about 25,000 years, as evidenced by the discovery of what is known as the relics of Singa man.

There are four main sites and some other small ones, whose history dates back from 750 BC to 500 AD. Temples and pyramids, which are restored and kept in good shape, stand witness to those great civilizations, which once prospered in the Sudan and influenced large parts of Africa.

Visits to the relics of Merowe Kingdom usually take two days and one night for the visitor to be fully acquainted with the many sites and relics. Further north of Merowe is Barkal, the Metropolis of the
Napatan kindgom, which lies some 400 km north of Khartoum.

Visitors will cross the Bayouda desert, a southern part of the western desert. It is a typical desert atmosphere scattered with sand dunes, thorny acacia trees and thick bushes.

Upon arrival at the massive Barkal Mount, the sacred and sanctimonious abode for the ancient Napatan kings, visitors will find our well equipped camp ready to accommodate their every need, Our camps are fully equipped and our guides well acquainted with the traces and sites of the greatest civilization ever to be found in Africa. The region abounds with pyramids, royal burial grounds, temples and lush greenery of palm date orchards along the river Nile.

Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt
and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Total: 2,505,810 sq km
Land: 2.376 million sq km
Water: 129,810 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:
Total: 7,687 km
Border countries:
Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273
km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km,
Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline:
853 km
Climate:
Tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies
by region (April to November)
Terrain:
Generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south,
northeast and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
Highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources:
Petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium
ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Geography :
Largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its
tributaries
Population:
41,236,378 (July 2006 est.)
Nationality:
Sudanese (singular and plural)
Ethnic groups:
Black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in
south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of
Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of «Arabization» in process
Country name:
Conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
Conventional short form: Sudan
Local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
Local short form: As-Sudan
Former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Government type:
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National
Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government
under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup
in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates
national elections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.
Capital:
Khartoum
Administrative divisions:
25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A’ali an Nil (Upper
Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes),
Al Jazirah (El Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif
(Gedaref), Al Wahdah (Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White
Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shamaliyah
(Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al
Istiwa’iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal
(Western Bahr al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur),
Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern
Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei), Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil
(Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal (Northern Bahr al Ghazal),
Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal Kurdufan
(Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa>iyah (Eastern
Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)
Independence:
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Currency :
Sudanese dinar (SDD)
Exchange rates:
Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 217.2 (2006), 243.61
(2005), 257.91 (2004), 260.98 (2003), 263.31 (2002)

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