Suggestion to slowly explore the north of Sudan?

[roamingyak]

I managed to get a 2 month visa for Sudan, and with breaking news on the possible opening of the road from Waidi Halfa to Aswan in a few months, it seems like a good plan to slowly explore the deserts of Sudan, at least in the north, to see what develops.

I entered from Ethiopia, went east to Kassala, Erkowit, Suakin and Port Sudan. Then back on the road via Atbara and Shendi, doing all the temples and pyramids to Khartoum. I have the Bradt guidebook with all the basic ruins/temple info in there.

So heading north from Khartoum, towards Waidi Halfa, can anybody suggest good routes other than the two sealed roads? I was thinking of leaving Khartoum by trying to follow the Nile on the west bank if possible?

Any info on the Bayuda desert for example?

Any suggestions for good desert routes (gps info?) or nice places to hang out welcomed (I'm in a landy with roof tent etc).

Cheers, Darrin

[itchyfeet38]

Meroe, Jebel Barkal, El Kurru, Karima were all good. The archeology was amazing. You get the feeling they have uncovered a tiny proportion of what's there. Though the best for me was just pulling off the road and camping in amongst the rocks. Abri especially had some nice scenery to camp in.

Here's a link with a few pix.

http://off2africa.synthasite.com/sudan.php

We only had the two week visa and it was stinking hot in August. If I was there at this time of year I'd go down to the coast (Port Sudan, Suakin). If you dive/snorkel I hear it's like the Egyptian coast but pristine.

[roro]

I've already asked this in another thread but without any reply:


"Just one (important) question:
What about security problems between South Sudan an North Sudan?
RR"

May be you have info about this point?

RR.

[itchyfeet38]

Not really sorry. We were there just a few weeks after South Sudan came into existence last year and tensions were still quite high so we had no plans to head out that way.

[ursula]

hi Darrin

on my Flickr site there are 2 sets with pictures of north sudan
"Nile" and "Desert"

Flickr: ursulazrich's Photostream

its quite some years ago since I was there - but the pistes along the Nile and through the Bayuda haven't changed I am sure!

all the best
Ursula

[silver G]

Originally Posted by ursula

hi Darrin

on my Flickr site there are 2 sets with pictures of north sudan
"Nile" and "Desert"

Flickr: ursulazrich's Photostream

its quite some years ago since I was there - but the pistes along the Nile and through the Bayuda haven't changed I am sure!

all the best
Ursula

You should have warned him about the crocodiles

[ursula]

you are not joking -
there were some in Wawa when we crossed the Nile to visit a temple on the Westbank of the Nile

[ursula]

[roamingyak]

Thanks, I am guest of (dis)honour at a wedding for the next two days, after which there is a day of relaxation planned, including swimming in the Nile where "there aren't many crocodiles, usually". Huh!

Anyway, back to my question (please, no more thread hijacking ;-)

"the pistes along the Nile and through the Bayuda"

Niether t4a or OSM have anything much at all. Hence my question, if I follow the Nile from Kahrtoum on the +west+ bank, what would make the most interesting route to Waid Halfa?

I'm aware of things such as Jebel Barkel, covered in my guide book, but would really like things like:
- some piste gps tracks or waypoints of interesting or beautiful areas
- suggestions for where to switch between the east and east banks
- pistes or areas to avoid
- things to see such as the Bayuda (or Baiyuda) Volcanic field.

I have a month to muck around exploring etc....

[ursula]

During my absolut great 4 Sudantrips we made the only bad experience at the 6th cataract, great
landscape but aggressive people asking for money. Otherwise I never had such a warm welcome
everywhere we passed in Northern Sudan! even in Omdurman!

If you can switch to the westbank depends also on the Nile water, the ferry and if the captain
is in town.... we crossed at

- Amara when the captain after half a day was ready
- Delgo idem
- Dongola has now a bridge
- Old Dongola almost without waiting ;-))
- Merowe has now a bridge
- Ed Damer/Atbara has now a bridge

The ferry in Delgo was longtime broken and onother year the water was too low

From Amara you can drive on the westbank southwards on a very dusty piste till Abu Dom and
then north again to Merowe if you like to cross the Bayuda.
It was quite difficult to find the beginning of this piste leading to the fantastic volcanos
18 36.820
32 02.770

later there was a village "Sani" with a public well where we took water
18 30.050
32 34.132

the crater where women are collecting natrun
18 24.181
32 30.996
you have to park your car on top and then you must walk down

I could always cry when I read or hear "how can I pass Sudan as quick as possible?" -
such a wonderful country with so charming people - enjoy it!!!

Ursula

[roro]

Hi Ursula,

I've just seen you know Sudan very well.
When you've been there?
It's just because I have an important (for me) question to you:

What about security problems between South Sudan an North Sudan?

RR"

[ursula]

roro - I do not know, I never was in the south.
The best thing to do is asking the french embassy in Khartum.

In the north there have been serious troubles near the 4th and 3rd cataract because the governement plans to build - or has already built - dams and therefore local people were displaced by force.

As a tourist I never was in danger, we were just not allowed to drive further north than Nuri.

[roamingyak]

Many thanks Ursula ;-)

I'm not sure how long niceness lasts when mass tourism arrives. I have found Khartoum a little difficult when it comes to anything money related, Im guessing at least partially to do with the influx of foreign oil workers etc.

Thanks for the waypoints, anybody else's appreciated.

From Khartoum I have been told it is not really possible to follow the Nile up to Shendi on the west back, would need to use the main road on the east bank and then cross the bridge at Shendi etc.