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At a glance

Capital: Khartoum

Official language: Arabic

Currency: Sudanese pound

Continent: North Africa

The sandy arcs of Nubia

Sudan is the largest country in Africa and yet receives very few visitors

Location

According to Countryaah, Sudan is a state in eastern Africa. Its area is something seven times that of Germany, which he of the largest state in Africa is. It has access to the Red Sea and has been independent from Great Britain since 1956. The state borders Egypt and Libya in the north, Chad and the Central African Republic in the west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya in the south, and Ethiopia and Eritrea in the east.

background

Today Sudan is on the territory of the legendary kingdom of Nubia. Many of the sites of this former empire are now covered by sand. Well-known ruins can be seen in Aswan, Kerma and Kawa. Travel to the so-called Kingdom of Kush is well organized and accessible from Egypt.

Security

Traveling on your own is not advisable in Sudan, especially in the Darfur region !

Important facts

Capital: Khartoum

Official language: Arabic

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

Sudanese pound (100 piastres)

ISO 4217 code

SDG / 938

Geography

Continent: Africa

Region: North

Geo coordinates: N 12 ° 51 ‘46.1 “E 30 ° 13’ 3.5”

Highest mountain: Kiyeti (3,187 m)

Total area: 2,505,810 km²

Mainland: 2,376,000 km²

National border: 7,687 km

Coastline: 853 km

Politics

Dependency: Egypt until 1956,
Great Britain until 1956

UN member since: 1956

Other political affiliation: Arab League

Form of government: Socialist republic

Economy

Export goods: Cotton, oil seeds

BSP: $ 27,876,300,000

GDP: $ 29,288,900,000

GDP purchasing power parity: $ 92.4 billion

Economic growth: 7.6%

Inflation rate: 9.3%

State budget revenue: $ 4294967295

State budget expenditure: $ 4294967295

National debt: 116.2%

Export: $ 8,684,000,000

Import: $ 7.274 billion

Foreign debt: $ 32.420 billion

Gold and currency reserves: $ 3,876,000,000

Electricity consumption: 3,879 million KWh

Gas reserves: 84,950 million m³

Oil reserves: 1,600 million m³

Oil production: 457,000 million m³

Oil consumption: 79,000 million m³

Cultivation area: 6.94%

Bovine: 39,066,000 pieces

Sheep: 47,700,000 pieces

Fishing: 67,000 t

Demographic data

Residents: 41,236,400

Residents in cities: 15,073,000

Average age: 18.3 years

0-14 years: 42.7%

15-64 years: 54.9%

> 65 years: 2.4%

Population growth: 2.55%

Birth rate: 34.53 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 8.97 / 1,000 residents

Migration: -0.02 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 1.02

Fertility: 4.72 children / woman

Infant mortality: 61.05 ‰

Life expectancy men: 57.69 years

Life expectancy women: 60.21 years

Country codes and abbreviations

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: SD

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: SDN

ISO 3166 numeric: 736

Top Level Domain: sd

IOC country code: SOUTH

UN / LOCODE: SD

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Communication

Telephone connections: 1,620,000

Cell Phones: 1,390,000

Radios: 20,040,000

TV: 16,530,000

Computer: 670,000

Internet users: 550,000

Transportation

Railway lines: 5,978 km

Paved roads: 6,683 km

Cars: 381,000

Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 2

Pipelines: 3,331

Health

Number of doctors: 6,390

Daily food intake: 2,320 kcal / resident

HIV- infected people: 440,000

Education

Illiteracy: 37%

History

Foundation: 3000 BC Chr.

Last sovereign since: -1956 BC Chr.

Religion

Main religious group: Muslims

Crime

Prison inmates: 13,300

Military

Armed forces (troop strength): 102,000

Defense Spending: $ 913,000,000

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

Sudan’s national airline is called Sudan Airways (SD) (Internet: www.sudanair.com).

Connections from Zurich and Vienna via Frankfurt / M. or London with Sudan Airways. Sudan is also served by Egypt Air (MS) via Cairo and Turkish Airlines (TK) via Istanbul.

Air passes

With the Middle East Airpass the Star Alliance can explore travelers up to ten flights, the countries Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. More information is available on the Star Alliance website, www.staralliance.com.

Departure fee

US $ 20, transit travelers are exempt (stay up to 24 hours).

Arrival by car

Travel by land to Egypt is possible again, but only via a single border crossing at Wadi Halfa on the waterway over the Aswan reservoir.

The border between Sudan and Chad is currently open. However, the border between Ethiopia and Sudan and Eritrea and Sudan as well as Libya and Sudan are closed. Changes are possible at any time. The routes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic are currently not passable for security reasons.

Current information on the security situation at the border crossings is available from the German Foreign Office.

Arrival by ship

The only ports in the country are Port Sudan and Suakin on the Red Sea.

A car ferry operates between Aswan (Egypt) and Wadi Halfa.

There is a risk of piracy off the coasts of Sudan.

ON THE GO

Traveling by plane

Sudan Airways (SD) flies to around 20 airports, including Dongola, Juba, Port Sudan and El Obeid. The most reliable connection is the route from Port Sudan to Khartoum. Twice a week air taxi connection from Khartoum to Nyala.

Airport fees : 600 sD.

On the way by car / bus

The road network covers around 50,000 km. Only the roads between Khartoum and Port Sudan, Atbara, Dongola and Gedarif are asphalted. Country roads are in poor condition, in the north they are often not passable during the rainy season (July – September). For longer journeys you should take enough spare parts with you and only use vehicles that are absolutely roadworthy. The risk of accidents when driving overland is high because of the poor roads, missing markings and the customary driving style. Driving at night should therefore be avoided entirely.

Long- distance bus: Between Khartoum, Kassala, Port Sudan and Gedarif there are buses that leave from the marketplaces. Only a few buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. Trucks are cheaper, if uncomfortable, means of transportation.

Taxis do not have a meter, so agree on the fare in advance.

Rental cars are available in larger cities as well as in hotels. The fees are high.

Documents: Carnet de Passage,Proof of funds and certificate from the Sudanese embassy that the vehicle is roadworthy. International driver’s license recommended. If you present your own driving license, the local authorities can issue you a temporary driving license. Women are allowed to drive in Sudan. Entry to caravans and vehicles under 1500 cc will be refused.

Traveling in the city

The public buses in Khartoum are unreliable and run irregularly. That is why there are more and more private Bakassi minibuses called Boks. They have no set stops. These companies are on the verge of legality and should be used with caution.

On the go by train

The rail network is extensive (approx. 5,500 km), but the trains are very slow and simply equipped. There are three classes and also a luxury class (Mumtaza). The 2nd and 3rd grades are often overcrowded. There are sleeping cars on the main routes from Khartoum to Wau / Nyala, Khartoum to Kassala / Wadi Halfa, Bur Sudan to Atbara, Khartoum to El Obeid and from Port Sudan to Khartoum. Some cars are air-conditioned, for which a surcharge is required.

Out and about by ship

All cities on the Nile are connected by river steamers, but most of them are not recommended for tourists. The schedule depends on the water level. It is advisable to bring food and water with you. Dongola, Karima, Kosti and Juba are among the ports of call.

A 320 km long navigable canal (jonglei) is currently being built in the south of the country.