Sudan, Republic in Northeast Africa
Sudan is a republic in northeastern Africa that extends between Egypt and South Sudan, encompassing Saharan desert in the north and savanna with marshlands toward the south. The Red Sea forms the eastern boundary with a coastline of roughly 530 miles, while mountain ranges such as the Nuba Mountains and Jebel Marra interrupt the flatter terrain.
Ancient kingdoms such as Kerma and Kush governed these territories from around 2500 BCE, constructing pyramids along the Nile. Christian Nubian kingdoms emerged in the sixth century before Islamic expansion arrived in the 14th century, while British-Egyptian colonial administration lasted from 1899 until independence in 1956.
Islamic observance shapes daily life across most regions, with mosques serving as the center of each neighborhood. Craft traditions such as leather working and pottery follow methods developed over centuries, while Sufi music represents a particular form of spiritual expression.
Khartoum sits at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile rivers and serves as the main transportation hub with an international airport. Temperatures often exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit during summer months from June through August, while November through March offers milder weather, and cash is necessary for most transactions outside the capital.
More than 200 pyramids stand in the northern regions, exceeding the number in Egypt, though these receive less international attention. The archaeological site of Meroë contains 40 of these pyramids in a single field, with these Nubian burial structures differing through steeper angles and smaller base dimensions than their Egyptian counterparts.
Inception: January 1, 1956
Capital city: Khartoum
Part of: North Africa, Africa
Shares border with: South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Bir Tawil, Middle East
Website: http://sudan.gov.sd/index.php/en
GPS coordinates: 14.58444,29.49177
Latest update: December 4, 2025 17:20
Sudan offers photographers a substantial mix of ancient monuments, desert formations and river landscapes. The country contains more than 200 pyramids at Meroe, Nuri and El-Kurru that differ markedly from their Egyptian counterparts. These Nubian structures rise from the desert with few visitors present, allowing unobstructed shooting. The National Museum of Sudan in Khartoum and the museums at Kerma and Karima display artifacts from the kingdoms of Kush and Meroe. Archaeological sites including Jebel Barkal, Soleb Temple, Naqa and Al-Musawwarat es-Sufra document the region's historical position as a crossroads of African and Mediterranean cultures. The confluence of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum creates a distinct dividing line between differently colored waters. Tuti Island and Sabaloka Gorge provide perspectives on the river environment. The Nubian Desert, Bayuda Desert with its volcanic cones and the Kassala Mountains present different desert settings. At the Red Sea port of Suakin, 19th-century coral stone buildings slowly deteriorate, while Sanganeb National Park gives access to coral reefs. The markets of Omdurman and Kassala, along with the Sufi shrine at Sheikh Hamad-al Nil, record contemporary Sudanese life. These locations provide substantial photographic opportunities in a country that receives considerably fewer tourists than its neighbors.
Meroë
525.9 km
Kerma
566.9 km
Jebel Barkal
505.6 km
Kerma kingdom
566.9 km
Buhen
837.9 km
Pyramids of Meroe
526 km
Marrah Mountains
585.8 km
Continental Shelf Station Two
1030.5 km
South Darfur State
630 km
Old Dongola
426.5 km
Naqa
447.2 km
The Mahdi's tomb
342.8 km
Temple of Amun, Jebel Barkal
505.6 km
El-Kurru
490.3 km
National Museum of Sudan
343.5 km
Jebel Uweinat
944.1 km
Throne Hall of Dongola
426.8 km
Presidential Palace in Khartoum
345.6 km
Musawarat
458.7 km
Tuti Island
343.8 km
Soleb
657.2 km
Faras Cathedral
871.8 km
Tombos
577.3 km
Sanganeb Marine National Park
1020.5 km
Shambat Bridge
344.7 km
Sedeinga
651.7 km
Masjid Al-Nilin
341.9 km
Kerma Museum
566.9 kmReviews
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