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Situated in northeast Africa, the Sudan is the largest country on the continent. It is bordered with Egypt to the north, Ethiopia and Eritrea to the southeast, Kenya, Uganda and Zaire to the south, the Central African Republic and Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest.

The greatest part of Sudan is vast plain traversed by the northward flowing Nile River and its tributaries. Widely separated mountain chains and many hilly areas reach a maximum altitude of 7,000ft. The northern area is mainly desert, with rock at or near the surface covered by thin soils of low fertility. The western undulating sandy wastes merge into the Red Sea Hills to the east.

The dominating geographical feature of Sudan is the Nile River, formed near Khartoum by the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile Rivers. There are natural harbours at Port Sudan and Sawakin on the Red Sea. The highest elevations are in the Marra Mountains, the main mountain range.

Places of Interest:

Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and a port at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers. Founded in 1821 as an Egyptian army camp, Khartoum developed as a trade center and slave market. The name Khartoum means 'Elephant's trunk'. The most interesting part for the visitor is the colonial downtown. Besides that there is not much to see although Khartoum is Sudan's second largest city and its administrative center. Food, beverages, cotton, gum, and oilseeds are processed in the city. Manufactures include cotton textiles, knitwear, glass, and tiles. Construction of an oil pipeline between Khartoum and Port Sudan was completed in 1977. Khartoum is a railroad hub and is connected by road to the heart of the adjacent cotton-growing region. The city also has an international airport.

Port Sudan
Port Sudan still is the seaport that takes care of most of Sudan's foreign trade. The British founded the seaport in 1906 and although it has lost most of its spirit due to the war, it is still possible to catch a glimpse of the glorious past. In the old days, Port Sudan was also a popular port for passenger traffic. Nowadays, one can only spot sailers from various countries setting off with ships filled with cotton and gum arabic. Port Sudan is a good base from which to embark on a diving trip.

Omdurman
Omdurman is the old city. It has a market that is well worth a visit. In 1998 spices were still piled in conical heaps but nowadays they are in polythene bags, though the market is no less colourful. You can buy the traditional incense, called al-bukhoor there, which even in its most ordinary form contains things like gum arabic, the local red seeds called 'eye of the bride', crystals that melt when the mixture is burnt. You can also buy the traditional black, red and yellow containers it is burnt in. Bukhoor acts as an insect repellent as well as scenting the air. The market has clothes, traditional Sudanese coffee pots, henna, jewellery, household goods, food, beautiful wooden carvings and all manner of other interesting things.

The tomb of the Mahdi is also in Omdurman. It isn't impressive architecturally, but the monument represents an important part of modern Sudanese history: the Mahdi led the Sudanese revolution in 1881. The best way to get there is by taxi.

Culture

Sudan is a miniature representation of Africa: a large country with geographic, extremes ranging from sandy desert to tropical forest. It has about 600 tribes who have Arabic as their common language, beside there are about 142 different languages. The cuisine is a melding of the many varied backgrounds of the people who live in the Sudan's land.

The ritual of hospitality is as important in the Sudan as it is in other Arab and African countries. And while there is a measure of similarity in all the Arab and African countries, each has its unique characteristics. For example, no other country prepares coffee as the Sudanese do, and if this country acquired culinary fame, it is for its Sudanese Jebena (Special made Sudanese Coffee).

The Sudanese fry their coffee beans in a special pot over charcoal and then grind it with cloves and certain spices. They steep it in hot water and serve it lovingly in tiny coffee cups after straining it through a special tresh grass sieve.

In Sudan, if you are an important guest, a sheep will be slaughtered in your honor. Many dishes will then be prepared, each more delicious than the last. Favorite meats are lamb and chicken. Rice is the staple starch. Breads are the Arabian Khubz, but the Sudanese also make Kisra, an omelette- like pancake which is part of the Sudanese dinner. Vegetables, fresh and cooked, are of infinite variety. The okra, is an important ingredient in a (Bamia dish)- Bamia is an okra lamb stew. You must try Maschi, a triple tomato dish stuffed with beef, as it is such fun to make. As in most Arabic countries, fruits are peeled and cut in small slices for dessert, but the Sudanese also love sweets and every housewife knows how to make Creme Caramela Custard. You will like their unusual teas which can be made quite simply. But if you prefer to serve coffee, make it a demitasse.

Places to see in Khartoum
Well Today khartoum is florishing with nice restaurants and coffe shops, one of the nice places to see is the Ozone park in khartoum 2, you will find english speaking servants mostly from thailand who will provide good meals and drinks, you can shop in afraa shopping mall, afraa shopping mall has worlds top designers and good frozen food as well as electric supplies, if you are a great fan of shisha and live music you can visit Beatles coffee shop although most of the servants in there are egyptions but the atomosphere is quite good, to enjoy sports and and swimming you can go to the international community club formely known as american club that has got a good swimming pool, baskteball court,tennis,squash with variety of meals in the menu, by the way there is many coffee shops that offer wire less internet my favourite is Solitaire in Aamart in khartoum.