Category: Sudan Top List Travel
Source: https://top-list.co/top-things-to-know-before-traveling-to-sudan-v11222.html
- Is Sudan a safe place to visit?
- The best time to visit Sudan
- Visa
- Getting around
- Cost of travel
- Language
- People in Sudan
- What to pack
- Transportation
- Food Specialty
- Traditional Festivals in Sudan
Is Sudan a safe place to visit?
One of the things to know before traveling to Sudan is the safety of this country. The tourist part of Sudan is one of the safest places in Africa, with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. However, tribal conflicts exist in Darfur province (west) and near the South Sudan border. This violence is located far away from tourist routes, and even if you were to get close enough, the violence would never target foreigners. Although Darfur remains in conflict, the rest of Sudan is peaceful and safe to visit. The no-go zone is located quite far from the most popular tourist attractions. In fact, traveling in Sudan is a breeze, with no tourist touts or haggling to contend with. However, be aware of the regular demonstrations in Khartoum.
People who have visited Sudan say it is one of the safest countries in Africa, and Sudan is home to some of the world’s warmest and most hospitable people.
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The best time to visit Sudan
Sudan is one of the world’s hottest countries. If you truly want to enjoy your trip to Sudan, it is better for you to visit this country between November and February. In fact, winter is the best time to visit Sudan because the temperatures are pleasant for exploring and the risk of malaria is at its lowest.
The desert climate in Sudan causes a significant thermal difference between day and night in the winter. The temperature ranges between 77-86°F (25-30°C) during the day and 40-53°F (5-12°C) at night. Summer temperatures in Sudan can reach 113°F (45°C) from the months of June to September. That is the reason why many people said that summer is not the ideal time to travel to Sudan. From October to April is the tourist season. Daytime temperatures range from 86-100°F (30-38°C) to nighttime temperatures of 53-64°F (12-18°C). This is absolutely one of the things that you should remember before traveling to this country!
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Visa
Visa is one of the things to know before traveling to Sudan that Toplist has compiled for you. To enter Sudan, most nationalities require a tourist visa. The process of obtaining a visa for Sudan does not end once you have one, as there are a few more steps to take once you arrive in Sudan. Getting a Sudanese visa is not difficult if you follow all of the necessary steps, but there is some paperwork to complete. To apply for a visa at your nearest embassy, you will need a letter of invitation (LOI). Most tour operators can assist you in obtaining a visa on arrival if you do not have a Sudanese embassy in your home country.
You must register your visa within three days of arriving in Sudan. This is done at a Sudanese Police Station, and your tour guide can take care of it for you. A photography permit is no longer required, but you must avoid photographing government buildings.
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Getting around
People who have backpacked Sudan shared that bus travel between all major towns is fairly easy and comfortable for those who want to travel to Sudan independently. In general, large coaches can transport you from one city to another. Bus travel is inexpensive (around 10 SDP for a four-hour ride) and available seven days a week, though if you have a long journey ahead of you, you are recommended to leave early in the morning. Prepare to spend some time navigating the streets of Khartoum due to the heavy traffic.
By hailing a taxi or using the Tirhal app, you can get a taxi for a reasonable price. It is similar to Uber, but it only accepts cash. If you do not speak Arabic, it will come in handy. This is one of the things to know before traveling to Sudan that you need to remember if you are planning on this country.
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Cost of travel
The cost of travel is the next thing you should know before traveling to Sudan. For most travelers, Sudan is a low-cost destination. For those on a tight budget, accommodation, transportation, and food can easily cost $15-20 per day. In other words, one could easily travel in Sudan for less than $20 per day.
A twin room in a 3-star hotel will set you back around $20-40 per night. Sudan has few hostels, which are usually simple guesthouses known as “lokanda”. These are usually simple accommodations with only a bed (and no sheets) and no other amenities. They range in price from $2 to $10 per night. In addition, Sudanese food is very inexpensive. A restaurant meal, including drinks, usually costs less than US$8. Expect to pay around $1-2 per dish for a simple dish of foul or shawarma. If you go to a restaurant and order a whole fish, you will not pay more than $5.
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Language
One of the things to know before traveling to Sudan is the language. “What is the language spoken in Sudan?”. If you have this question, the answer for you is here. The official language in Sudan is Arabic. Sudanese Arabic is essentially Arabic with a smattering of vocabulary borrowed from local languages. It’s only found in Sudan, and it reflects the country’s beautiful blend of African and Arab cultures.
Nonetheless, Sudan, like any other African country, is home to a diverse ethnic population that speaks its own language. Beja along the Red Sea, Tigre, Fur in (Darfur) in the west, and various Nubian languages along the Nile are all important languages in this country. A large portion of the population, particularly those with a higher level of education, speaks basic English. Although some people speak English as a second language but do not expect many locals to do so. When traveling in Sudan, communicating with people and asking for directions poses no real difficulties.
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People in Sudan
Traveling in Sudan is so rewarding because of the numerous, never-ending interactions with people whose kindness and hospitality are as much a part of their culture as their language. Sudan is home to 597 tribes that speak over 400 languages and dialects. Sudanese Arabs (70 percent) are Sudan’s largest ethnic group, and they are almost entirely Muslims. Nubians, Copts, and Beja are among the other ethnic groups.
Sudan has few tourist attractions, aside from a few archaeological sites. Sudan is about all the people you will meet and share untold cups of tea, coffee, and meals with, as well as the occasional invitation, to stay at their homes, especially in small villages. The Sudanese are warm and welcoming people who value hospitality above all else. Be aware, however, that Sudan is a religiously conservative society, with Sunni Islam as the predominant religion. If you truly want to enjoy and experience the best of people’s hospitality, you must respect their customs and rules.
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What to pack
“What to pack” is also one of the things you need to know before traveling to Sudan. Depending on where and when to go to Sudan, you should have a plan about what to bring. But wherever go choose to visit, it is important to dress conservatively regardless of the time of year you visit Sudan. Even in the summer, when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), you must cover your shoulders and knees.
You are recommended lightweight blouses and loose pants for women, which will keep you cool in the heat. To show respect in some areas, you may want to cover your head with a scarf. Bring a long-rimmed hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. In the winter, you will need a small jacket because it gets quite cold at night. The temperature ranges between 77-86°F (25-30°C) during the day and 40-53°F (5-12°C) at night.
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Transportation
One of the things you need to know before traveling to Sudan is transportation. Taking about public transportation in Sudan is relatively simple. Local minivans travel in all directions every day, throughout the day, from all cities. The prices are very low, and they only stay until they are completely full. The roads, by the way, are in excellent condition. Many tourists prefer to hire a private jeep driver. You can meet a few foreigners who were traveling this way, and if you can afford it, you should know that it is very convenient, as it allows you to visit many ruins deep in the desert.
Taxis are a convenient and inexpensive way to travel around Sudan’s cities. The local train system is a quick and inexpensive way to travel between cities. In addition, it is very simple to hitch a ride. Besides, because each direction has practically only one road, finding a vehicle traveling in the same direction as you is simple.
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Food Specialty
Sudanese cuisine is simple and similar to that of the Middle East. Fresh local produce such as tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, and yogurt are used in most meals. Sudanese staples include rice and pita bread.
Foul, a kind of black bean soup with a lot of peanut oil, is the national dish, and you will be eating it every day to the point where you will get sick of it! Surprisingly, if you are lucky, some places will top it with some sort of local cheese. You can tell the waiter, “Mafi Zed,” which means “without oil,” when your order foul. Shawarma, kofte, and grilled fish are also popular dishes in Sudan. You can also try some Sudanese food specialties, such as Kisra (a sorghum flour-based flatbread), Dura (a dish of cooked maize and millet served with a variety of vegetables), Elmaraara (a Sudanese dish made from the lungs, liver, and stomach of sheep), Kawal (a stew made with Cassia obtusifolia leaves that have been fermented), and Kuindiong (a traditional sweetened semolina dessert).
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Traditional Festivals in Sudan
Although there are a few exceptions, most Sudanese festivals are religious holidays that are celebrated privately with family and friends. Some of Sudan’s largest and most important festivals will be introduced to you in this article.
Many Muslim-majority countries celebrate Muhammad’s birth, the Mawlid an-Nabi festival, as a national holiday. Sufi Muslims in Sudan hold carnival-like festivals on the 12th day of the fifth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, where religious scholars give public lectures, stories about Muhammad’s life are told, and stalls sell food and sweets. In addition, every October, social hierarchies and ethnic differences are forgotten for this boisterous Sufi holiday, the Sufi Holiya Festival, commemorating the death of a saint. The festivities begin with a parade and end with an all-night celebration where revelers dance and sing songs while traditional music is played, attracting Sufi Muslims from all over the world. Besides, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are also some of the most famous festivals in this country.
Mawlid an-Nabi. Photo: en.people.cn
Sufi Holiya Festival. Photo: youtube.com
