Northern Africa · Africa

Sudan

Discover Sudan - home to more pyramids than Egypt, the confluence of the Blue and White Nile, and civilizations that shaped northeast Africa for millennia.

Where Is Sudan?

Sudan is a country in Northern Africa. Its capital is Khartoum.

Where Sudan isNorthern Africa · Capital Khartoum

Capital Khartoum
Population 51.7M
Area 1,886,068 km²

Sudan is a country that most people think they know but almost nobody actually does. Mention it and minds jump to conflict headlines, but this is also the land where the Blue and White Nile converge in one of geography's great spectacles, where ancient Nubian kingdoms built more pyramids than Egypt ever did, and where the Sahara gradually yields to savanna in a landscape of staggering scale. At nearly 1.9 million square kilometers, it remains Africa's third-largest country even after South Sudan's separation in 2011.

The history here predates much of what the ancient world considered old. The Kingdom of Kush rivaled Egypt, Meroitic script remains only partially deciphered, and the ruins at Jebel Barkal have been sacred for over 3,000 years. Modern Sudan sits at a cultural crossroads where Arab and African identities blend in ways that are uniquely Sudanese - visible in everything from the coffee ceremonies borrowed from Ethiopian neighbors to the toub fabric that Sudanese women drape with unmistakable elegance. Despite its challenges, Sudanese hospitality is legendary, and visitors routinely describe it as one of the friendliest places they have ever been.

At a glance

Language

Arabic & English

Currency

Sudanese Pound (SDG)

Calling Code

+249

Drives On

Right

Internet

.sd

Timezone

CAT (UTC+2)

Script

Arabic & Latin

Government

Transitional Government

Independence

1956

By population

Largest cities in Sudan

Khartoum

Capital city sitting at the exact confluence of the Blue and White Nile, a sprawling metropolis that is really three cities in one

6,000,000

Omdurman

Cultural heart of Sudan across the river from Khartoum, home to the largest souk in Africa and the tomb of the Mahdi

3,200,000

Port Sudan

Sudan's main seaport on the Red Sea, gateway to some of the world's best-preserved coral reefs

550,000

Kassala

Eastern city framed by the dramatic Taka Mountains, known for its Rashayda and Beja cultures and fruit orchards

450,000

Wad Madani

Capital of Gezira state on the Blue Nile, center of one of the world's largest irrigation schemes

400,000

People

Famous people from Sudan

Tayeb Salih
Literature
Author of Season of Migration to the North, widely considered the most important Arabic novel of the 20th century
Mo Ibrahim
Business
Billionaire telecoms entrepreneur who founded the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and its prize for good governance in Africa
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
Politics
First woman elected to Sudan's parliament in 1965 and a lifelong champion of women's rights across the Arab world
Mohammed Wardi
Music
Legendary Nubian singer known as the Golden Throat, whose protest songs made him a symbol of Sudanese resistance
Alek Wek
Fashion
Supermodel from South Sudan (before independence) who broke barriers in the fashion industry and appeared on the cover of Elle

Food

Traditional cuisine of Sudan

Ful Medames: Slow-cooked fava beans mashed with sesame oil, lemon, and spices - the undisputed king of Sudanese breakfast
Kisra: Thin fermented sorghum flatbread that serves as the base for most Sudanese meals, torn and used to scoop stews
Mulah: Rich peanut butter-based stew served over kisra, the cornerstone of Sudanese home cooking with countless regional variations
Elmaraara: Raw minced lamb liver mixed with peanut butter, onions, and spices - a traditional delicacy served at celebrations
Shaiyah: Grilled lamb or fish seasoned with a spice blend, often served alongside salads and tahini at special occasions

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Sudan

Confluence of the NilesRiver: The spot in Khartoum where the Blue Nile from Ethiopia meets the White Nile from Uganda, visibly different colors merging together
Jebel BarkalLandmark: Sacred flat-topped mountain and UNESCO World Heritage Site near Karima, a religious center for over 3,000 years of Nubian and Egyptian worship
Meroë PyramidsLandmark: Over 200 ancient Nubian pyramids in the eastern desert, steeper and more numerous than their Egyptian counterparts
Sanganeb Marine National ParkNational Park: Pristine coral reef atoll in the Red Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the most untouched diving in the world
Dinder National ParkNational Park: Biosphere reserve along the Ethiopian border with savanna grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and populations of lions and elephants

Sport

Sports in Sudan

Football: One of Africa's oldest football traditions, Sudan hosted the first Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and won the title in 1970
Athletics: Growing middle-distance running talent, with athletes competing at Olympic and World Championship level
Wrestling: Nuba wrestling is a centuries-old tradition in the Nuba Mountains, combining sport, ceremony, and cultural identity

Facts

Did you know?

Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt - over 200 ancient Nubian pyramids stand in the deserts near Meroë and Nuri
The confluence of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum is visible from space, with two distinct colors merging into one
Sudan hosted the very first Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in 1957 and won the title in 1970
Sudanese coffee ceremonies are elaborate social rituals that can last hours, involving incense, roasting, and multiple rounds
The ancient Kingdom of Kush at one point conquered and ruled Egypt, establishing its own dynasty of pharaohs
Port Sudan sits on the Red Sea coast with coral reefs so pristine that Jacques Cousteau once rated them among the world's best
Sudan is Africa's third-largest country by area, roughly five times the size of Germany