Tourism
Hotels
Sites
Museums
Attractions
Hotels
GRAND HOLIDAY VILLA - KHARTOUM
* 140 guest rooms and suites.
* Telephone with IDD service.
* Television with satellite program.
* Safe deposit box, mini bar.
* Tea / coffee facilities (Rental per day basis upon request).
* 00:24hour – R ESTURANT and lounge.
* The Sizzler restaurant.
* Swimming pool/Swimming pool exclusively for ladies.
* Garden Terrace.
* Children's pool.
* 2 meeting rooms (120 persons).
* Ballroom (200 persons)/Grand Ballroom (600 persons).
* Karaoke rooms.
* Business centre.
* Gymnasium.
* Snooker.
* Spa, sauna, steam bath.
* Massage services.
* 24 hours room services .
* Laundry services.
* Shopping arcade.
* Travel agency.
* Hairdressing saloon.
* Barber shop.
* Book shop.
Tel.: 00249 -11 -774039
770352 - 773961
Fax: 00249 -11 - 773961
MERIDIAN KHARTOUM
* City center location.
* Spacious newly renovated rooms, with quality entertainment provided by our array of satellite channels.
* Three restaurants offering the best cuisine in town, Italian & International
QASR AVENUE KHARTOUM P.O.Box: 1716. TEL 775970. FAX 779087
The Archaeological Sites in the River Nile State
Of the most Important Archaeological Sites in the River Nile State that encourage Tourists to come around are those of the Meroitic Kingdom which flourished between the six century B.C. to the fourth century A.D. exemplified by the Royal City, Begrawwiya Pyramids, the Sun Temple, Wad Ben Naga, Naga and Muswwarat Essofra.
1. The Royal City of Meroe
The city of Meroe was known to the outside world since the Fifth Century B.C through the writings of the Greek Traveler Herodotus. The most important buildings in the Royal City are the Kings palaces, Temples and the Royal Bath. Amun Temple is the largest building and one of the largest temples in the Sudan with many rooms and courtyards built with sand - stone, red bricks and mud.
The high standard of Architecture of Meroe was clearly seen in the building of the Royal Pyramids, Temples, Palaces and the Meroitic Royal Bath. The wealth of Meroe was based on Iron Industry and Agricultural Development. Meroe was a religious centre as there are many temples around the Kings palaces.
2. Begrawwiya Pyramids
The famous pyramids of the Meroitic Kings and queens, are erected above the Royal Temples about 4 K.M. to the East of the City of Meroe. But it is unfortunate that most of them were demolished in the 19th century by the Treasure Hunter Adventurer, Ferline
3. The Sun Temple
The Sun Temple which is of a unique type was found between the Royal City of Meroe and the Royal Pyramids. It was a religious and political temple where the Meroites used to celebrate their victories.
4. Wad Ben Naga: 127 KM North Khartoum
Wad Ben Naga was located at the confluence of the Nile and Wadi Awatib within 600 kilometers to the south of the Royal City of Meroe. The most impor¬tant building is the palace of Meroitic Queen Amanishakhete who ruled during the first Century B.C.
5. Naga: 40 K.M. East Wad Benaga
There are many temples but the most important of which are the Lion Temple, Amun Temple, Meroitic Kiosk and Temples of Queen Shanakadakhete. The Lion and Amun Temples were built by King Natakamani and his wife queen Amanitare in the period between the First Century B.C. to the First Century A.D. The Lion Temple is a typical Meroitic temple for the Merotic God Apedemak. The Meroitic Kiosk, in front of the Lion Temple was built by King Natakamani.
6. Musawwaat - Es-Sofra
This site located at Wadi el Banat 30 K.M. from the Nile, 20 K.M. North Naga The main buildings of the site are the Lion Temple and the great Enclosure which include a group of temples, alleys, ramps and squares. Most of the walls of the Great Enclosure are covered by graffiti of wild and domestic animals, hunting and war scenes, and religious symbols. The Great Enclosure probably accommodated a pilgrim's centre, residence of a Meroitic ruler for hunting animals, a teaching cen¬tre and a place for racing and training of war ani¬mals. The Lion Temple built by King Amekhamani at the end of the Third Century B.C, was the earli¬est temple erected for the worship of the Meroitic God Apedemak.
The Sudan National Museum
The Sudan National Museum was established in 1904 in a building which is actually a part of the University of Khartoum; it has been transferred to its present location in Almugran, Nile Avenue, in 1971.
It contains collections dating from prehistoric times to Islamic era. Exhibited object in this Museum are : ceramic containers; leather, iron and wooden objects, glass beads, personal ornaments and adornment objects, sculptures of every kind together with mural paintings representing the Christian period in the Sudan
The Garden also offers, an open museum where temples, monuments and sculptures are exhibited. They have been safeguarded from the water of the lake of Al Sad Alaali; they are arranged along a basin representing the Nile to show their original relative location. The temples are those of Semna west, Semna East, Buhen, ... There is also the tomb of prince Djeuti-hotep and the columns of the Cathedral of Faras.
* Entrance fees : 50 Sudanese dinars. The Museum is open every day from 8:30 am. to 8:30 pm. (except Mondays)
The Khalifa's House Museum
The Khalifa House was built in 1887 - 1891, It had been the official palace of the Khalife as well as his residence and the headquarters of the administration of the Mahadia State. The house has been transferred to a museum in 1928. The exhibited objects are historic antiquities dating to the period before, during and after the Mahadia. The building itself is considered as a part of the architecture of the period.
* Entrance fees : 25 Sudanese dinars. The Museum is open every day from 8:30 am. to 6.00 pm. (except Mondays)
Sultan Ali Dinar's Palace Museum - Al Fashir
Sultan Ali Dinar palace was built in 1911, the palace of Ali dinar who had reigned in Darfur from 1899 to 1916. The part occupied by the real museum consists of two storeys, and had served as the headquarters of the British officer then the province administration. It has been transferred to a museum in 1977. The visitor of the museum can see remains dating from palaeolithic times to the Islamic period, together with Folklore material from the state of "Great Darfur".
* Entrance fees : free. The Museum is open every day from 8:30 am. to 6.00 pm. (except Mondays)
The Museum of Sheikan - Al Obeid
The museum of Sheikan is located in the town of Al Obeid it composed of two exhibition galleries. The first one contains antiquities of all periods of Sudan's history, form prehistoric times to Islam. The other contains the remains of the famous battle of Sheikan which witnessed the victory of the Sudanese people, under the leadership of the Imam Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahadi, against the armies of Hicks Basha in 1883. This gallery contains also Folkloric objects from the region of Kordufan. The museum is, then, named in the memory of this battle.
* Entrance fees : free. The Museum is open every day from 8:30 am. to 6.00 pm. (except Mondays)
Sudan National Museum for Ethnography
After the independence of the Sudan in 1956, the building of the club of the British Army has been annexed to those of the administration of the Sudanese antiquities. The building has been reserved to the exhibition of Folkloric objects reflecting the life and the traditions of the Sudanese.
The museum was opened in December 1959. It has been re-organised several times; the last one being in 1997, exhibiting, also, objects to give a complete image of the life of Sudanese tribes; hence the Sudan is divided into 5 cultural zones. The idea and the philosophy of the exhibition is to illustrate the unity of the country and to reflect its cultural diversity.
* Entrance fees :: 25 Sudanese Dinars. Location Jamhoureya and Mak Nimir Avenues.The Museum is open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (except Mondays).
Attractions
Welcome to the Sudanese Red Sea! For many Sudanese and many visitors these are unknown treasures. In former times the splendor of our reefs was accessible only to a few daring diving pioneers.
Now, however, the steady stream of diving tourists to the Sudan and the number of Sudanese taking a look under the surface of the sea are increasing. Many people share the thrill and enthusiasm of this world full of life and full of colours in many combinations and patterns. And as it is now easier to see what is there, whether from a glass bottom boat, by goggling with a mask and snorkel, or by diving using compressed air - why not take a look for yourself? You are most welcome!.
CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE SUDANESE RED SEA COAST: MERSAS AND REEFS
The Sudanese coast has two prominent features: coastal lagoons, locally called mersas and reefs, called shaab in Arabic. The mersas may by protected embayments of the sea in the fringing reef, as for example Mersa Kuwei, or may cut into the coastal plain well beyond the gener¬al coastline, as for example Port Sudan . In mersas, in spite of heavy fresh water influx during the
short rainy season, corals grow and build coral knobs (tens of centimeters to meters is size) and patch reefs (meters to tens of meters in size). Reefs are distinguished according to their positions and shapes. There are fringing reefs. With the exception of the mersa entrances they line the entire coast. They are usually about 1000 m wide, but may be as wide as 3000 m. The most impressive coral growth and the richest fish life can be observed on the outside rim, but the protected inside also offers many interesting habitats and organism communities. Secondly, there are barrier reefs: these are separated from the coast and the fringing reef by a ship channel, generally about 100m, but locally up to 400 m deep, and 2-4 km wide. The barriers range from narrow discontin¬uous reef walls, only several tens to a few hundred meters wide to platforms of up to 14 km wide which are dotted with patch reefs and depressions of several tens of meters depth. Towartit and Wingate Reefs are examples of this reef type.
The third type of reefs are the atolls, reef platforms located offshore and surrounded by waters of several hundred meters depth The horizontal dimensions are hundred of meters to a few kilometers. Steep flanks rise to a very shallow reef rim which encloses lagoons several tens of meters deep. Sanganeb and Shaab Rumi are examples often visited.
All types of reefs offer shallow and/or protected areas for snorkelers and exciting sites for divers in close proximity.
Mangroves and Mangrove forests that harbor a diverse fauna, scattered along much of the Red Sea Coast are well represented in the Sudanese coast to the south of Port Sudan
SNORKELLING: THE EASY WAY TO AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE
In case your curiosity moves you to venture into the sea for a snorkeling trip, here are some practical hints which may help you avoid the mistakes beginners often make. Equipment: Many would be - snorkelers have been discouraged by permanently (leaking) mask - but what can a mask do if the face does not fit? A well fitting mask, covering eyes and nose, a separate snorkel consisting of a simple tube with a mouth piece and fins with a snug fit are prerequisites
Training: Start in the swimming pool or in knee - deep water of the fringing reef and learn to use your equipment well before venturing into depths where you cannot stand. Don't overestimate your ability.
Health: In general, good to perfect health is required. On a specific day, any slight cold, any discomfort due to seasickness or similar light symptoms are indications against a snorkeling trip.
Sun: In Sudanese latitudes the Sun is strong everywhere but at sea the reflection from the water and the sun-glass effect of water-films or droplets multiply its intensity, thus most snorkeling casualties are sun - burns. Use cloths for protection, especially on your back and the backs of your legs
Sea: The currents of the sea may take you away swiftly from the land or from your boat, check on then before you leave and snorkel up current, so that the current will return you to safety. Avoid the surf of the reef crest, it can easily toss you on reef - rock, which may result in more than a few scratches.
Marine Life: Many marine animals are potentially dangerous, the spectrum ranges from corals that cut your skin, fire corals that can burn you, to fire fish whose poison may knock you unconscious within minutes. Although the list is impressive, as a rule dangerous animals are defensive and you will avoid practically all trouble if you refrain form touching marine life in any form. So don't chase or catch any fish.... and keep well... away from any fish which starts to defend itself. And, considering that snorkelers generally swim, and do not wade or trample about, there is no danger of stepping on the well camouflaged creatures, such as they very poisonous stone-fish. And should any of those rare sharks appear, there is no need to grab his (or her) tail.
Basic rule: Never go alone! A partner can assist you in minor emergencies and go for help in bigger ones and, since the reefs of Sudan as a rule are very lonely places, one could easily be forgotten without a partner. However, choose your partner carefully (see above "Health" , "Equipment" , "Training" etc). Is snorkeling dangerous? Once basic precautions have been taken it is less dangerous than riding a bicycle: No technical failures occur and there are no reckless divers under water.