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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Nyala, South Darfur, Sudan, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Nyala, South Darfur, Sudan, Africa

Nyala is the capital city of the state of South Darfur in the southwestern part of the Northeastern African country, Sudan. It is situated around 1100 km southwest of the national capital, Khartoum. Nyala is relatively an upgraded city with all major facilities such as banks (branches of the People’s Cooperative Bank and the Agricultural Bank of Sudan), a university, the Nyala University. Nyala is also noted for industrial sector with many food and textile manufacturing centres. For tourists, Nyala offers many cultural centres and distinct manmade structures. Nyala is located around 670 meters above sea level and coordinates with 12°2′11″ N latitude and 24°52′37″ E longitude.

History of Nyala:

Nyala served as the capital of the Daju Empire in the past. During the British rule in Sudan, Nyala was chosen for the establishment of the British Administration Headquarters in Darfur in 1932 with the assistance of then Sultan Adam Suleiman.

How to reach Nyala?

Nyala is home to a domestic airport, served by Badr Airlines, Nova Airways, Sudan Airways and Tarco Airlines with scheduled flights from the national capital, Khartoum. The distance of 10 km from the airport to the city centre of Nyala can be crossed by minibus and taxi service.

Nyala is also linked to the country capital Khartoum by train that takes around 5 hours. Nyala is also reachable by bus from Khartoum but that is time consuming. Among these, the better and convenient option is airway. The local transportation of Nyala is catered by minibuses, rental cars and bikes.

Food and Shopping in Nyala:

Though shops and restaurants less in number in Nyala, it is not an issue to experience the genuine Sudanese shopping experience in Nyala. Food corners in Nyala are also well versed in serving visitors with traditional Sudanese dishes.

Things to do in Nyala:

City tours
Shopping
Walking

Tourist Attractions in Nyala:

Nyala University:

The Nyala University is one of the prominent universities of Sudan, gained place on the list of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World and the Association of African Universities. The university is located within the city limit.

Nyala Airport:

The Nyala Airport is one of the important airports of Sudan, with regular flight services from/to the country capital Khartoum. The airport is situated around 10 km east of the heart of Nyala city. The airport features nice location and pleasant environment, which attracts visitors coming to the city.

Al-Fashir:

Al-Fashir is a city located on the highway connecting Sudan to Chad, around 190 km northeast of Nyala. The city is home to an university, an airport with connection from Nyala and many manmade and natural attractions. Buses are generally regular between Al-Fashir and Nyala.

List of other places of interest near Nyala include:

Sudan National Museum
Jebel Barkal
Pyramids of Meroe
Al Kabir Mosque
WWII Cemetery
Sudan Art Diwan
Temple of Amun
Pyramids of Gebel Barkal
Khartoum War Cemetery
Tuti Island
University of Khartoum
Jabal al-Awliya’ Dam
Nile Street in Khartoum

When to visit Nyala?

The best and most preferred time to visit Nyala is from December to march, when the weather remains dry and pleasant and supportive for outdoor activities.

Hotels in Nyala:

Since upgraded hotels are difficult to find in Nyala, here is listed hotels in the national capital, Khartoum for visitors’ convenience. Buses are probably few but flights can help visitors to travel between Nyala and Khartoum in short time.

Kabri Touristic Hotel
Kanon Hotel
Lisamin Safari Hotel
Grand Holiday Villa Khartoum
5M Hotel
Kanon Hotel Suites
Bougainvilla Guesthouse
Corinthia Hotel Khartoum
Acropole Hotel
Al Salam Rotana Hotel
Coral Khartoum
Taka Hotel
Rosa Park
Green Village Hotel
Dandas Hotel

Kosti Tourist Places to Visit in Kosti, Sudan, Africa

Kosti Tourist Places to Visit in Kosti, Sudan, Africa

Kosti, also called Kusti, is a city belonging to the White Nile state of Sudan, located around 380 meters above sea level. It is located in the opposite direction of the state capital Rabak on the bank of the River White Nile and these cities are linked by a bridge. Kosti is geographically positioned between 13°10′ N latitude and 32°40′ E longitude, around 310 km south of the national capital, Khartoum.

Kosti features a very dry climate and the hottest month of the year is November, when temperature crosses 100 degrees. Kosti houses a major railway station, Kosti Railway Station and a university named the El Imam El Mahdi University.

How to reach Kosti?

There is an airport near Kosti, in Rabak, but flights are not scheduled. The nearest year round functioning airport to Kosti is Khartoum International Airport. This airport is situated around 320 km north of Kosti and operates flights from many Middle Eastern and African cities, including Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Cairo.

Kosti is accessible by bus services from Khartoum, served by many prominent Sudanese bus companies. Visitors are advised to hire a car at the local travel agency of Kosti or at the nearby Rabak city for local travel, intercity travel and sightseeing purposes.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Kosti:

The El Imam El Mahdi University is the focal point of Kosti’s culture with the organization of regular cultural events showcasing Kosi’s culture and history.

Kosti also houses many nice restaurants, mainly traditional options. Kosti is also famous for its traditional shops with colorful handicraft products, bags and baskets.

Things to do in Kosti:

Exploring river bank
Visiting university
City tours
Traditional shopping

Tourist Attractions in Kosti:

White Nile:

The White Nile is one of the two major tributaries of the world’s longest river, the Nile (other is the Blue Nile), while the city of Kosti is located on the western bank of it and over it, a bridge is constructed to connect Kosti with Rabak. The river bank is a site for different water sport activities and sightseeing.

El Imam El Mahdi University:

Established in 1994, the El Imam El Mahdi University is a public university headquartered in Kosti. The university is named in the remembrance of Muhammad Ahmad, a prominent ruler of Sudan, who was recognized for his prominence during the Mahdia revolution from 1895 to 1898.

Rabak:

Rabak is the provincial capital and a nearby city of Kosti, situated on the other side of the White Nile River’s bank, opposite of Kosti. It is mainly an industrial city, home to many oil refineries and sugar factories. There are also some historical attractions can be seen in Rabak.

List of other places of interest near Kosti (in Khartoum) include:

Bombed Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory
Souq Omdurman
Sudan National Museum
Sudan Ethnographic Museum
Convergence of the Blue and White Nile
The Khalifa’s House
Sudan Presidential Palace Museum:
Nile Street in Khartoum
Tuti Bridge
Corinthia Hotel Khartoum

Best time to visit Kosti:

Throughout the year is best, especially during the summer months between December and March is ideal to visit Kosti in Sudan.

Hotels in and around Kosti:

Like most Sudanese cities, Kosti also lacks well facilitated hotels, which has forced visitors to drive towards the national capital Khartoum, which is also recommended for those who want to experience healthy and genuine Sudanese hospitality services. The below list includes hotels in Khartoum (around 310 km from Kosti):

Corinthia Hotel Khartoum
Acropole Hotel
Al Salam Rotana Hotel
5M Hotel
Kanon Hotel Suites
Bougainvilla Guesthouse
Coral Khartoum
Kanon Hotel
Lisamin Safari Hotel
Grand Holiday Villa Khartoum
Taka Hotel
Rosa Park
Green Village Hotel
Dandas Hotel
Kabri Touristic Hotel

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Khartoum, Sudan, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Khartoum, Sudan, Africa

Khartoum is the capital as well as the 2^nd largest city of the African country Sudan. Administratively, Khartoum falls under the Khartoum State and is situated at the convergence of the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers. The Khartoum Metropolitan Area is the state of three urban areas, Khartoum city itself, Omdurman (the largest city of Sudan) and Khartoum North. Khartoum is a city with a proper mix and emergence of culture, education, infrastructure, tourism, shopping and entertainment, which has been geared up Khartoum towards getting place in the developed cities of Africa in recent years. The geographical coordinates of Khartoum measure 15°38′ N 032°32′ E.

History of Khartoum:

There is no certain theory about the origin of the name Khartoum, though one theory says the name Khartoum may be came from the Arabic term ‘kharṭūm’, which means trunk. According to the historical records, the son of the ruler of Egypt Muhammad Ali Pasha, Ibrahim Pasha, was the founder of Khartoum, founded in 1824 as an outpost for the Egyptian Army. Khartoum witnessed the summits of the Organization of African Unity in 1978 and Arab League in 2006.

Getting Khartoum:

Khartoum is the site of the most important airport of Sudan, Khartoum International Airport. The airport is located around 11 km north of the centre of Khartoum and covers many global cities such as Sharjah, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Riyadh and Cairo.

Except southern part of Sudan, Khartoum is well linked by bus to all the major Sudanese cities, including Port Sudan, Wad Medani, and Kassala. Khartoum is also connected by train to Wadi Halfa and Port Sudan and Atbara. To move within Khartoum, taxis generally cost between SDG 10 and 20.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Khartoum:

Like country, Khartoum is largely Muslim populated city, though it is diverse, with many cultural clubs, especially that of Germans, Greeks and Indians.

Undoubtedly, the Souq Omdurman is the ideal spot for traditional shopping in Khartoum. Restaurants are abundant in number in Khartoum, spread up all around the city.

What to do in Khartoum?

Sufi dancing
Watching movies
Festival celebrations

Must see in Khartoum:

Corinthia Hotel Khartoum:

The Corinthia Hotel Khartoum is a five star hotel and one of the identities of Khartoum. Situated on the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers, this oval shaped hotel holds many specialties are that of its shape nearly matching Burj Al Arab (7 star hotel) in Dubai and it is funded by Libya, for which it is popularly called “Gaddafi’s Egg”.

Tuti Bridge:

The Tuti Bridge is a recent construction built to connect Khartoum to the nearby Tuti Island. It is the first suspension bridge to be built in Sudan and one of the first in Africa. It is also a great viewpoint.

Nile Street:

The Nile Street is probably the best and beautiful street in Khartoum. The street moves along with many palatial colonial buildings, administrative offices, shopping centres and grandly built star rated hotels. The Nile Street is highlighted by the Presidential Palace and the National Museum of Sudan.

Sudan Presidential Palace Museum:

The Sudan Presidential Palace Museum is one of the recommended places to visit in Khartoum. Located in the premise of the Presidential Palace, the museum is housed inside the Palace Cathedral, which holds more than 100 years of history. The museum is mainly concentrated on showcasing the photographs and belongings of Sudanese presidents.

The Khalifa’s House:

The Khalifa’s House belonged to a Sudanese Ansar General and ruler, Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, who was being popular as ‘Khalifa’. The museum exhibits artifacts relating the history of Sudan, including about the Mahdists and the British rule. Entrance fee is 1SDG. It is worth a visit.

List of other places of interest in Khartoum includes:

Bombed Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory
Souq Omdurman
Sudan National Museum
Sudan Ethnographic Museum
Convergence of the Blue and White Nile

When to visit Khartoum?

Khartoum experiences a hot desert climate with precipitation only during the months of July and August. Probably the best time to visit Khartoum is from December to March.

Where to stay in Khartoum?

Khartoum is a city for all types of tourists, even for those who want to have an ultimate luxurious hospitality services. Advance booking is highly recommended for visitors who are planning to tour Khartoum as the city’s hotels fill up quickly during peak season. Here are some modernized hotels in Khartoum:

5M Hotel
Kanon Hotel Suites
Bougainvilla Guesthouse
Coral Khartoum
Kanon Hotel
Lisamin Safari Hotel
Grand Holiday Villa Khartoum
Taka Hotel
Rosa Park
Green Village Hotel
Dandas Hotel
Kabri Touristic Hotel
Corinthia Hotel Khartoum
Acropole Hotel
Al Salam Rotana Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Kassala, Sudan, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Kassala, Sudan, Africa

Kassala is a town and the capital of the Kassala State in Sudan, located in the eastern part of the country between 15°27′ N latitude and 36°24′ E longitude. It is situated on the Khartoum-Port Sudan highway, around 460 km east of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Kassala is a well known market town and is also popular for its fruit gardens. The Kassala University and Khatmiyya Hasan tomb are the two important landmarks of Kassala. Kassala is one of the noted tourist destinations of Sudan with many historic structures, traditional markets and natural attractions.

History of Kassala:

Kassala originated as a military camp for the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire in the year 1840. Kassala fell under the rule of the Mahdists in 1885 and later in 1894, the result of the Battle of Kassala made Kassala a part of the Italians. After three years of this incident, the Kingdom of Italy handed over Kassala to the Kingdom of Egypt. Kassala had also come under the British rule as a part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan from 1899 to 1956, when the independence of Sudan was declared from the fist of the British.

Connectivity to Kassala:

The Kassala Airport is served by Sudan Airways with scheduled flights from the country’s capital Khartoum and by Nova Airways from Khartoum and Asmara. The airport is situated around 11 km away from the city centre.

Kassala is also gettable by bus from Khartoum, which takes around 7 hours by standard buses.

One important advice for visitors is taking permit from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in the Khartoum city as it is necessary to visit Kassala. It is asked at the entrance of the city. Minibuses are mainly used for local travel in Kassala.

Food and Shopping in Kassala:

Coffee making equipments, mats, baskets and traditional costumes are worth a price in Kassala’s traditional markets.

Kassala’s restaurants are famous for serving visitors with a variety of mouthwatering Sudanese specialties, of which the most famous dishes are fuul, tagaliya and bamiya.

Things to do in Kassala:

Mountain climbing
Visiting surrounding villages
Shopping at traditional markets

Places of interest in Kassala:

Khatmiyya Hasan tomb:

The Khatmiyya Hasan tomb is one of the top tourist attractions of Kassala. It is overlooked by three mountain peaks Taka, Totil and Aweitila. The tomb is of a holy man Seyyid Hassan, who is buried in a roofless dome close to a partially ruined mosque. There is also a Qur’anic school for boys in the vicinity of tomb.

Jebel Totil:

The Jebel Totil is a peak overlooking the tomb of Khatmiyya Hasan. It can be climbed up, which would be a nice experience for visitors. One can taste the best coffee of Kassala at cafes near Jebel Totil.

Markets in Kassala:

Markets in Kassala are one of the best places in Sudan to buy genuine Sudanese handicrafts. The famous market is Souq an-Niswaan, where typical Sudanese products like mats, baskets, and coffee making equipments are specials. Souq ar-Rashaida is another popular market in Kassala, well known for colored jellabiyas and black robes (cloths).

List of other places of interest in and around Kassala include:

Gash River
The old railway quarter Sikka Hadiid
Sawagi Janubiyya (group of villages) with fruit gardens
Port Sudan
Sudan Art Diwan
Sudan National Museum
Jebel Barkal
Tuti Island
University of Khartoum
Jabal al-Awliya’ Dam
Pyramids of Meroe
Temple of Amun
Pyramids of Gebel Barkal
Khartoum War Cemetery

When to visit Kassala?

The best time to visit Kassala depends on visitors’ interest, although the most popular time is from December to March.

Hotels in Kassala:

Compared to other Sudanese cities, except the capital Khartoum, Kassala owns an upgraded hospitality industry with all sorts of modernized tourist favor hotels. Below are some recommended hotels to stay in Kassala: