About Khartoum

Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan, and is one of the only safe places to visit in the country, offering a range of interesting attractions. Khartoum backpacking tours are a common addition to Sudan visits.

Khartoum Budget Travel

Khartoum budget travel is very easy with great value for money backpacking tours and fantastic highlights. Below is useful information on Khartoum to help you plan your budget holiday in Khartoum. We offer a variety of budget tours and backpacking advice in Khartoum.

Airports

Major Khartoum airports include the following:
• Khartoum International Airport

Birdlife

Kartoum birds are rich and abundant due to the Nile habitats alongside the desert areas. Key birding areas include Tuti Island, which is situated in the confluence of the White and the Blue Nile; The Sunt Forest, which lies on the east bank of the White Nile just south of its confluence with the Blue Nile; Sileetat Sewage Pools as well as the Jebel Aulia Dam, about 50 km south of Khartoum.

Conservation

Khartoum conservation is vital to ensure the protection and preservation of remaining habitats within the city and surrounds. Environmental concerns include the increase of ivory trade on the Khartoum markets, plus land threats such as desertification, land abuse, over-grazing, slash and burn agriculture and drought.

Culture

Khartoum cultures include the following:
• Music plays a key role in traditional cultures as well as modern influences
• Food and drink plays an important role in rituals and social gatherings
• Arts and crafts have a wide range of influences
• Traditions and customs have a strong Islamic influence
• Trade and farming play a key role in sustenance

Customs

Khartoum customs allows for free import of the following by passengers over 20 years:
• 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 1 lb. of tobacco
• Reasonable quantity of perfume and toiletries for personal use
• Reasonable quantity and amount of gifts
• Firearms: by special permission from the Ministry of Interior

Health

As a third world city in one of the most war ravaged countries in Africa, Khartoum health care is very below standard and travellers are advised to take basic health precautions to ensure a healthy and risk-free travel experience. Travel insurance is essential, and a first aid box with basic medicine and supplies is highly recommended.

AIDS

Khartoum HIV/AIDS precautions include the following:
• Don’t ever share needles or syringes
• Practice safe sex at all times
• Equipment should be sterilized
• If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
• Avoid tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing

Vaccinations

Khartoum inoculations include the following:
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Meningococcus
• Polio
• Tetanus-diphtheria Rabies
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• Typhoid

Languages

Khartoum languages include the following:
• Arabic (official)
• English (official)
• Nubian
• Ta Bedawie

Malaria

Khartoum malaria medication includes the following:
• Mefloquine (Lariam)
• Doxycycline
• Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

Money

Khartoum money and banking information is as follows:
• Sudan's currency is the Sudanese Pound (SDG) and qirush or piastres
• It is best to travel with US Dollars or local currency
• Banking hours are from Saturday to Thursday 08h30 to 12h00
• Keep receipts when you exchange currency and check receipts at shops and petrol stations
• Credit cards and travellers cheques are seldom accepted

People

Khartoum people include the following groups:
• Indigenous tribes 52%
• Arab 39%
• Beja 6%
• Foreigners 2%
• Other 1%

Phrase

Khartoum local phrases in Arabic include the following:
• Greeting (peace be with you) - As-salām alaykom
• How are you - Inta shadīd? (men) Inti shadīda? (women)
• I am well (praise God) - al-Hamdo lillāh
• How is the family? - Kēf al-usra?
• Yes - Ay

Vaccinations

Khartoum inoculations include the following:
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Meningococcus
• Polio
• Tetanus-diphtheria Rabies
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• Typhoid

Plants

With a high level of desertification plus over-grazing and land abuse, a large percentage of grasslands, forests, and shrublands have been destroyed in Khartoum, and very little plantlife can be found, except for areas along the Nile Rivers which are typically lush and green. A number of beautiful gardens including the national botanical gardens can be found within the city.

Religion

Khartoum religion includes the following groups:
• Islam
• Indigenous beliefs
• Christian

Safety Tips

• Khartoum is generally a safe and friendly city to visit
• Petty crime can occur however so take basic precautions and keep valuables safe and out of sight
• It is illegal to take photographs of airports, bridges, military, government buildings and many other landmarks ' you will face police charges and fines if you don’t obey these regulations
• Look out for the huge potholes and open sewer holes in the city ' especially when walking at night
• Travel outside of Khartoum is not recommended at all due to the conflict and war in Sudan

Transport

Khartoum local transport includes the following options:
• Car
• Taxi
• Bus
• Ferry

Travel Books

Khartoum recommended travel books include:
• Khartoum by Alan Caillou
• Uganda to Khartoum: Life and Adventure on the Upper Nile by Albert Bushnell Lloyd
• Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure
• Khartoum, and the Blue and White Niles by George Mellyby Michael Asher
• Towards Khartoum: The Story Of The Sudan War Of 1896 by A. Hilliard Atteridge

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in Sudan

What To Buy

• Backpack or soft luggage plus a decent moneybag for valuables
• Sleeping bag and camping mattress is you are overlanding
• Khartoum guide book and map plus Arabic phrasebook
• First aid box with basic supplies including malaria pills
• Travel kit with toilet paper, wet wipes, waterless hand-wash and a water bottle
• A torch with plenty of spare batteries

What To Pack

• Lightweight, long sleeved clothing in loose natural fabrics
• Long skirts, long sleeves or t-shirts as well as head scarves for women
• Comfortable walking shoes as well as sandals
• Sunhat, sunglasses and high factor sunscreen
• Camera, batteries and spare film or memory card (permit is needed for cameras)

When To Go

• September to April is the best time to visit
• Northern temperatures are the hottest from April to July
• The heaviest rain falls between July and August
• Haboob dust storms blow occasionally from July to August and November to January

Wildlife

Khartoum wildlife is mostly synonymous with desert habitats, and the city, like the rest of the country, has driven many species close to extinction. Jackal, sand cat, hyrax, rodents such as the Khartoum gerbil and a range of reptiles including snakes and lizards are just some of the animals found in and around Khartoum.