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Places to Visit in Dongola, Sudan, North Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Dongola, Sudan, North Africa, Africa

Dongola, also written Dunqulah, is a city and the capital of the Northern state of Sudan. It is situated in the northern-central part of the nation between 19°10′11.37″ N latitude and 30°28′29.62″ E longitude. Located on the banks of the River Nile, Dongola is located around 530 km northwest of the national capital, Khartoum. Dongola houses a public university, the University of Dongola.

History of Dongola:

According to the archeological remains dating from Islamic and Makurian times, Dongola was a central point of Nubian civilization. Dongola came under the reign of the Makuria kingdom, later as a part of Egypt and finally under the colonial rule of the British in the 19^th and 20^th century. Dongola also witnessed a battle fought by General Herbert Kitchener during the British colonial rule against Mahdist tribes in the year 1896.

How to reach Dongola?

Dongola has an airport with flight services from Wadi Halfa, catered by Sudan Airways. Wadi Halfa is in the extreme north of Sudan and around 400 km north of Dongola. Those coming via Khartoum International Airport (around 520 southeast of Dongola) can board bus at Khartoum Bus Station after getting down at Khartoum International Airport.

The local transportation of Dongola is served by minibuses, rental cars and bikes.

Food and Shopping in Dongola:

Dongola has a traditional market and also many upgraded shops and restaurants. Credit card is not in largely practice in Dongola, so keeping some local currency in pocket would be better.

Things to do in Dongola:

Visiting university
Shopping
Walking

Tourist Attractions in Dongola:

Nile River:

The Nile River is the longest river in the world with a maximum flow of 6,650 km. Dongola is one of the cities in Sudan situated on the bank of Nile, where visitors involve themselves in different water sport activities.

University of Dongola:

The University of Dongola is one of the identities of Dongola. Apart from offering latest courses and providing quality education, the university is also well known for organizing events on Sudanese culture and history.

Dongola Airport:

Although not being a famous tourist destination, the Dongola Airport draws visitors coming to the city for its pleasant location. The airport is situated around 5 km away from the city centre, can be reached by rental car.

List of other places of interest near Dongola include:

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

Best time to visit Dongola:

Throughout the year is best, especially during the dry season between December and March is ideal to visit Dongola in Sudan.

Hotels in and around Dongola:

Candaca Nubian Guesthouse and Lord Hotel are the two major hotels in Dongola serving visitors coming to the city from time to time. For more options, tourists can consider hotels in Atbara (around 450 km from Dongola) and Khartoum (around 530 km from Dongola) that are listed below:

Nile Hotel in Atbara
Al-Asfia A Hotel in Atbara
Grand Holiday Villa Khartoum
Green Village Hotel in Khartoum
Dandas Hotel in Khartoum
Corinthia Hotel Khartoum
Acropole Hotel in Khartoum
Al Salam Rotana Hotel in Khartoum
5M Hotel in Khartoum
Kabri Touristic Hotel in Khartoum
Kanon Hotel Suites in Khartoum
Bougainvilla Guesthouse in Khartoum
Coral Khartoum
Kanon Hotel in Khartoum
Lisamin Safari Hotel in Khartoum

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Atbara, Sudan, Khartoum, North Africa, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Atbara, Sudan, North Africa, Africa

Atbarah is a town situated in River Nile State in the northeastern part of the Northeastern African country, Sudan, at the confluence of the rivers of Nile and Atbarah. It is popularly called the ‘Railway City’ as it headquarters The National Railway Company. Atbarah is geographically positioned between 17°43′ N latitude and 33°59′ E longitude, around 330 km northeast of the national capital, Khartoum. The town of Atbarah comprises five districts such as Umbukole district, the Railway District, Alsawdana, Almatar and Almurabaat.

History of Atbarah:

Atbarah was the site of the ‘Battle of Atbara’ fought between Anglo-Egyptian army and the Mahdist forces on 8 April 1898. This war was won by the Anglo-Egyptian army, led by Lord Kitchener.

How to reach Atbarah?

Atbara Airport is situated around 10 km east of the heart of the Atbarah town. The airport receives scheduled flights from Khartoum, served by African Trans.

Sudan’s most important airport, Khartoum International Airport, is located around 320 km southwest of Atbara with scheduled flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Sharjah, Doha and many other global destinations.

Being located between Khartoum and Prt Sudan, Atbara can be reached by train from both these cities. Atbara has also good road connectivity to all around the country, including national capital Khartoum.

Food and Shopping in Atbarah:

Being a commercial city, Atbarah houses many modernized restaurants and shops but most shops don’t accept plastic money so visitors are advised to bring local currency before entering.

Things to do in Atbarah:

Exploring river bank
City tour
Walking

Places of interest in Atbarah:

Atbarah River:

The Atbarah River originates in northwest Ethiopia and merges with Nile River in Atbarah. The river is a great relaxation point as well as site for recreation for visitors coming to the city of Atbarah.

Atbara Airport:

Located at an altitude of 360 meters, the Atbara Airport is situated 10 km away from the heart of Atbara city. The airport is popular among visitors not only as a travel point but also as a tourist attraction with pleasant location and surrounding environment.

The National Railway Company:

The National Railway Company is the major employer in Atbarah, produces railroad equipments. Visitors are allowed with a permission to know about manufacturing processes.

Khartoum:

Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan, situated around 330 km from Atbarah with numerous renowned manmade tourist attractions like Sudan Ethnographic Museum, Sudan Presidential Palace Museum and The Khalifa’s House. Buses and trains are regular between Atbarah and Khartoum.

List of other places of interest near Atbarah (in Khartoum) includes:

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

When to visit Atbarah?

The best time to visit Atbarah depends on visitors’ interest, though the most preferred time is from December to March.

Hotels in Atbarah:

Nile Hotel is one of the major accommodation centres in Atbarah, located in the city centre with hot water, AC and both traditional Sudanese and international food. Another recommendable hotel in Atbara is Al-Asfia A Hotel, which is situated in the southern part of the city with AC and internet facilities. If visitors found Atbarah’s hotels not meeting their expectations, then they can drive towards the capital Khartoum, where all sorts of modernized hotels can be found. The major hotels in Khartoum (around 330 km from Atbara) include:

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

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Sudan, Khartoum, North Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Sudan, Khartoum, North Africa, Africa

Sudan is a North African country situated in the Nile Valley, sharing borders with South Sudan towards the south, Egypt to the north, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Red Sea to the east, while Libya borders Sudan in the northwest, Chad towards the west and the Central African Republic in the southwest. Khartoum is the capital and Omdurman is the largest city of Sudan. Sudan is the 16^th largest country in terms of area in the world (around 1,886,068 sq. km).

Sudan is one of the member nations of the African Union, the United Nations, the Arab League and many other international organizations. Sudan offers a wide range of different attractions for tourists, ranging from world heritage sites to natural attractions to palatial annual entertainment events.

History of Sudan:

The name Sudan is an Arabic origin term ‘bilād as-sūdān’, which means ‘land of the Blacks’. The history of Sudan is very long and broad, which starts with the reign of the Nubian kingdoms around 3500 BC and since then it was continually ruled by many regional and European powers, particularly by the British, whose colonization began over Sudan in the second half of the 19^th century and that ended up with the independence of Sudan on 1 January 1956. Another most noted event happened in Sudan’s history is South Sudan carved out from indiscrete Sudan in 2011 becoming an independent country.

Connectivity to Sudan:

Khartoum International Airport is the primary airport of Sudan, situated around 11 km north of the heart of the national capital Khartoum. It operates flights from Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Sharjah, Doha and many other Middle Eastern and African cities.

Sudan has a public railway system that is limited to few Sudanese cities from the capital Khartoum. Buses and minibuses are mainly used for intercity travel in Sudan.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Sudan:

Sudanese are predominately Muslims, while Arabic is their mother language. Athletics and football are widely popular sports in Sudan. Sudanese pound is the currency of Sudan since 2007, replacing Sudanese dinar. For the best experience of Sudanese traditional shopping, Souq Omdurman in the capital Khartoum is a perfect spot. A main dish consumed by Sudanese is Foul.

Must see in Sudan:

National Museum of Sudan:

The National Museum of Sudan is situated on El Neel Avenue in the capital city Khartoum. Established in 1971, the museum covers the complete history of Sudan from the ancient Nubian Kingdoms to modern Sudan. The Egyptian temples of Buhen Temple and Semna Temple placed in the museum garden are also very much famous among visitors.

Sudan Presidential Palace Museum:

The Sudan Presidential Palace Museum is a place where visitors can get valid information of Sudan’s political history that is interesting and very informative and information is exhibited through relics and pieces. Collections include paintings of Sir Gordon Pasha and cars of presidents. It is situated within the premise of the Presidential Palace.

Dinder National Park:

The Dinder National Park is located on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in the eastern part of Sudan. Established in 1935, the park is home to many typical African animals including tora hartebeest, African elephant and black rhinoceros hippopotamus. It is situated around 400 kilometers from the capital Khartoum.

Sudan Ethnographic Museum:

The Sudan Ethnographic Museum is a small but distinct museum, showcasing the diversity of people belonging to different ethnicities in Sudan. Models of traditional homes and a wide range of colorful traditional handicraft products shouldn’t be missed here. The museum is located in Khartoum.

Souq Omdurman:

Being one of the largest markets in Africa, the Souq Omdurman is one of the identities of Sudan. Located in Khartoum, it is a perfect place for those looking to buy genuine Sudanese handicraft products, clothes and food products.

List of other places of interest in Sudan include:

Jebel Barkal
Sudd
Pyramids of Meroe
Temple of Amun
Pyramids of Gebel Barkal

When to visit Sudan?

Sudan experiences diverse climatic conditions, mainly arid and tropical wet-and-dry climate. Like most African countries, from November to March is the best time to visit Sudan.

Where to stay in Sudan?

Sudan holds moderately developed hospitality industry with star rated hotels to mid range BB and inns to budget guest houses. Most top end hotels of Sudan are located in the capital Khartoum. Advance booking is also prevalent in Sudan. List of the prominent hotels in Sudan (Khartoum) include:

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

Siteki Tourist Places to Visit in Siteki, Lubombo, Swaziland, South Africa, Africa

Siteki Tourist Places in Siteki, Lubombo, Swaziland, South Africa, Africa

Siteki is a town and the administrative centre of the Lubombo district in Swaziland, located around 620 meters above sea level, between 26°27′ S latitude and 31°57′ E longitude. Siteki is one of the prominent tourist destinations of Swaziland, having nearness with five scenic attractions like Hlane National Park, Manzimyame Protected Landscape, Simunye Nature Reserve, Mbuluzi Conservancy and Mlawula Nature Reserve, of which except Manzimyame Protected Landscape, all are located towards the north of Siteki.

Siteki is located around 65 km east of the commercial capital Manzini, 90 km east of the royal capital Lobamba and 100 km southeast of the administrative capital of Swaziland, Mbabane.

Connectivity to Siteki:

Siteki is situated around 75 km east of the nearest and only public airport of the country, Matsapha Airport. The airport receives flights from/to Johannesburg in South Africa, served by Swaziland Airlink and Airlink. The Johannesburg Airport operates flights from all the important cities in the world, including London, Paris, Dubai and Mumbai.

For airport travel, sightseeing purpose and to move within Siteki, visitors can hire car on day or week basis.

Food and Shopping in Siteki:

Being a famous tourist destination, Siteki houses many nice shops and restaurants, of which most are specialized in offering a variety of traditional items for visitors, those are affordable and price worthy. It is advised for visitors to keep some local currency before entering shop or restaurant in Siteki as all shops don’t accept cards. R & B Restaurant is one of the recommended restaurants in Siteki.

Things to do in Siteki:

Game drives
Quad biking
Fishing
Hiking
Mountain biking

Must see in Siteki:

Hlane National Park:

The Hlane National Park is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Swaziland, situated around 25 km north of Siteki. Originally a private royal hunting area, the park attracts a substantial number of tourists year round, especially nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Thatched huts and cottages are the options for accommodation within the park.

Mlawula Nature Reserve:

The Mlawula Nature Reserve is a great destination for bird lovers as it houses around 350 bird species in the area of around 16,500 hectares. The reserve is also famous as a hiking point and is located around 30 km north of Siteki.

Mkhaya Game Reserve:

Located around 40 km southwest of Siteki, the Mkhaya Game Reserve was established in the year 1979. The reserve is rich in bird population, housing Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Pygmy Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, Purple-crested Turaco and many other indigenous and exotic bird species.

What else to see in and around Siteki?

Simunye Nature Reserve
Manzimyame Protected Landscape
Mantenga Nature Reserve
University of Swaziland
Indingilizi Gallery
National Museum of Swaziland
Mhlume Sugar Company
Mkhaya Game Reserve
Somhlolo National Stadium
King Sobhuza II Memorial Park
Grace Christian Fellowship International Church
Royal Swazi Sun Hotel
Hawane Nature Reserve
Blue Lagoon Leisure Park
Ezulwini Handicrafts Centre

When to travel Siteki?

Throughout the year is best, especially from June to August is considered as the ideal time to travel Siteki in Swaziland.

Accommodation options in Siteki:

There are hotels limited in number in Siteki, so visitors are advised to consider nearby towns’ hotels for accommodation if they don’t get hotels during peak season. Apart from facilities and services, hotels in and around Siteki serve visitors with a large menu of traditional and international dishes, that is really mouthwatering. Here are some nice hotels in and around Siteki in Swaziland: