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General Information
The nature of the visit determines the validity of the
permit. Photographing archeological sites requires a
permit from the Antiquities Authority and the Ministry
of Tourism (fees are charged). Filming on videotape
requires a permit from the Ministry of Tourism. Sce-
nic photography and photographing for media and
informational purpose requires a permit from the
General Secretary for External Information.
TRAVEL TO AND FROM SUDAN
Different means of transport are available to travel
to and from Sudan such as planes, bus, train and
boats. There are several land entrances linking Su-
dan with its neighboring countries.
Air Travel
Many foreign airliners fly to Khartoum, serving vari-
ous international destinations. Sudan Airways, the
local airline, is undergoing changes but still operates
in the country.
Land Entrance to Sudan
Travelling by land is one of the major means of get-
ting to Sudan, especially from neighbouring coun-
tries. Customs and immigration checkpoints on the
borders of Sudan facilitate the passage of travellers
and goods. The main land routes used presently are:
• Sudan to Central Africa: Um Dafoug in the
extreme south of Darfur is the main border
checkpoint for passage between Sudan and
Central Africa. From Um Dafoug a land track leads
to Nyala, the largest town in the region.
• Sudan to Chad: El Geneina on the Sudanese
side and Adri on the Chadian side are the
main passages between the two countries. They
are linked together by a land track. There is a
Sudanese customs checkpoint in El Geneina.
• Sudan to Eritrea: There are several land
entrances between Sudan and Eritrea of which
two main ones are Kassala and Garroara. Kassala
is joined to the Eritrean town of Tasanay by means
of a land route. There is a customs checkpoint at
Kassala. Garroara is a town on the northern
frontier divided into two sides, a Sudanese and
Eritrean one sharing the same name.
• Sudan to Libya: Mount Owaynat in north Darfur
represents the borderline between Sudan, Egypt
and Libya. It is connected to two major Sudanese
towns by land tracks. The first goes through
the desert to Dongola. The second one ends
in Khartoum. A Sudanese customs checkpoint is
located at 50 km from Owaynat.
• Sudan to Egypt: Halayiib is a Sudanese customs
checkpoint with a land route leading to the Suez
port in Egypt via Shalateen and Abu Ramad.
Halayiib is connected to Port Sudan by a land
track.
Travelling Inside Sudan
Due to the size of the country, all means of transport
whether by land, river, or by air are in use. Travelling
by land is easier nowadays thanks to the construc-
tion of thousands of kilometres of highways.
Also Sudan Airways has a network of domestic
flights covering a large area of Sudan. There is Su-
dan Rail with a network of railway lines extending to
most parts of the country covering 4,750 km.
Sudan Railways
The reason for the construction of railways fromWadi
to Halfa in the North to the interior of Sudan at the
turn of the last century was to facilitate the advance
of Anglo-Egyptian army. The railway route to Khar-
toum was completed before 1930. It was the first
mechanical means of transport introduced in Sudan.
After fulfilling its military missions, Sudan Railways
(SR) was turned into a civil government department
commuting passengers and freight. SR has made
substantial contributions in promoting income and
outcome trade via Port Sudan and the river berth of
Wadi Halfa. The cost of freight transport by railway
is much cheaper. Travellers may make their reserva-
tions at Khartoum, Atbara and Halfa railway stations.
Regular railway lines and towns covered are:
• Nyala–Ed Di’ein–Abuzabad–Kosti–Sennar–Mada-
ni–Khartoum
• Al Obeid–Kosti–Sennar–Medani–Khartoum (travel
duration 24 hours)
• Karima–Abu Hamad–Atbara–Shendi–Khartoum
(travel duration 30 hours)
• Port Sudan–Atbara–Shendi–Khartoum (travel
duration 24 hours)
• Wadi Halfa–Abu Hamad–Atbara–Shendi–Khar-
toum (travel duration 24 hrs).