western darfur & general instability
 

Hi,
been keeping one worried eye on events in western darfur & their possible implication for travel in northern sudan. I am shortly going to be passing thru the northern bit to khartoum (away from darfur via dongola along the nile)....just wondering whether anyone has crossed v.recently thru the northern sudanese region and experienced any spill-over problems from neighbouring darfur? Met a couple who crossed about a month ago with no related problems. would be good to get a more up-2-date account if anyone has crossed more recently..
George

no chance of over spill: check the scale on your map and you'll find sudan is almost as big as europe!

great people: enjoy!

Agree with Rich. just as you could pass through Northern Sudan without any sign of the war in the south same with the conflict in the West. Mainly due to geographical distance but also there is a lack of the mix of Arab / African Sudanese in northern Sudan unlike Western and Southern Sudan.

good news on sudan im setting off in a month to drive through to sudan from egypt..any recommendations of "must see..must do!" ..greatly looking forward to it

From our experiances of Sudan, it was more the people and the culture rather than any specific sites. Sounds a bit loose but other than Khartoum, it mixing with the locals.

Northern Sudan is ok, Khartoum being the southern end of the trip. Stay away not only from Darfur, but also from the south - the peace agreement is still a piece of paper, and local interest will cause some headache anytime - and the border region to Eritrea/Ethiopia.

The numbers of travellers keen on the East African route across the continent is growing in a way that "unfriendly incidents" seem to be a question of time.

Regards,
Peter

I've heard the pyramids at meroe (bout 250km north of khartoum I think) are pretty spectacular...not as big as the giza pyramids but more numerous (and without the constant hassle of camel rides and papyrus paper being thrust into your face!). It's only what I've read in the lonely planet...I'll be there in bout a week....
thanks for all the info on darfur - should be absolutely fine...having probs with the gits at the aswan customs and traffic police though....they've just made new 'rules' saying that tourists with cars need to get a piece of (worthless) paper from the traffic police saying that you have no fines to pay in egypt...of course they won't issue it in aswan & want me rather to go all the way back to saloum to get it (on the libyan border!!!!) - had to see the chief of police who won't issue the paper until he phones cairo tomorrow (when our ferry to wadi halfa is set to leave)...what a bloody hassle!!
George

Sudan, one of the most beautifull countries in Africa!

Highlights are:
- Pyramids of Meroe and Jebel Barkal (can be visited without the required permit if you are heading south)
- Waterhole and Egyptian temple Musawwarat (permit required, if you are heading south simply ignore the permits. The guards will prevent you from taking pictures here)
- Nile Route Wadi Halfa to Dongola & dessert section from Dongola to Atbara

Never been to the following myself but heard this was impressive as well:
- Mountains south of Port Sudan
- Diving around Port Sudan (you probably will have to bring your own stuff??)

Enjoy it!

Jan.

you can hire dive gear at Port Sudan. Rosie Frampton runs the Vanessa Condon dive boat

one for the future - the mountains in Darfur are supposed to be great!

Don't forget the Temple of Soleb, one of the most beautiful Egyptian temples. It's location is 20°26.140' 30°19.920', close to the city of Abri. As it is located on the West bank, it's not very easy to reach; the best way is to rent a boat in Abri. Then you see this temple and the island of Sai which is in the same area and is full of beautiful ruins, ranging from the Egyptian middle empire to the coptic times.

Damien