Lendi Travel is proud to offer distinctive custom itineraries to help you experience the variety of cultures in this diverse region, with its unique customs, houses, languages and religion.
The north of Sudan, the land of Nubia, is our new exciting destination. Mother Nature and ancient civilizations together have crafted a magical, inspiring place like no other. While other global destinations march toward homogenization, Nubia inches along on its own timeless path. This will be an adventure like no other.
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+249 912874080
Sayed Abdul Rahman Street, Khartoum
info@lenditravel.com
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Travel Tips

The following information’s are prepared for clients traveling with us to Sudan.

We hope the info below addresses most of our client’s questions & needs to help better planning for the trip and answer general info about Sudan.

Please do not hesitate to ask us for any further questions, we will be pleased to answer all.

Sudan Entry Visa

A valid Sudanese entry visa is required for clients traveling on this program.

You will need also valid passports at least 6 months in order to apply and get the entry visa.

Visas on this program will be arranged by us as your local travel agent in Sudan, visas process options are as below:

  • Visa through the embassy, an invitation letter.
  • Airport visa on arrival to Khartoum airport.
  • Visa through the embassy, an invitation letter from the foreign ministry

A process that may require only a letter from us as your local agent to our embassy where you are residing or the closer Sudan embassy to your resident, for this letter we will require a copy of the first page of your passport, the page where you have your passport info and your photo placed in, please scan and email us this copy at least a month prior to your arrival to Sudan.

This is applied to most European nationalities. Visa process duration vary from embassy to another, we count on two weeks maximum to get your visa issued.

We offer this letter free of charge.

Very convenient for business travelers, a client who may be traveling and not residing at home, also if you live in a country where there is no Sudanese embassy.

A process requires also only a copy of your first page of the passport, takes with us few days, getting the visa authorized and issued, valid to use to for two months, we will email you this visa copy, you just need to print out this visa and have it in hand while checking in to Khartoum flight, on arrival you will be welcomed and assist on your visa sticker issuing by our airport representative.

You get two months staying visa starting from the day you arrive at Khartoum airport.

Airport immigration office, 24/hours, charges for issuing the visa sticker the fees of $100 for non-Americans & $150 for Americans.

We prefer to include you all this airport visa costs to our trip quote, on arrival you won’t need to pay for anything, you will get a smooth and relaxing check-in.

Please contact us to know our own visa service charge!

This visa is applied to clients who plan to arrive across Sudan borders in particular across our border with Ethiopia & Egypt.

For very few nationalities also depending on political treatment, an embassy where you are residing may ask for an authorized visa from both interior &foreign ministry, this visa process through us may take around 10 days maximum till we confirm the visa is in our requested Sudanese embassy where you are applying, to locate your visa we get a number from foreign ministry. Once the visa arrival is confirmed you suppose to get it issued in a couple of days.

A requirement for applying this visa is just a copy of your first page of the passport.

Sudan embassy will charge you for the visa sticker issuing, fees vary from embassy to another!

Please contact us to know our own visa service charge!

Note: Would be ideal if you do not have any Israeli stamps or entries on your passport, if so it is preferred if the gap of your Israel holiday and arrival here is at least 4 months.

You should contact your personal physician or a physician who specializes in travel medicine, prior to departure to review your personal medical requirements. If you haven’t had a physical examination recently, you should get one. Discuss you’re itinerary and describe your planned activities with your doctor if you have any questions about your fitness.

Important: If you have any medical condition that requires special care or medications, let us know.

Be sure to bring enough of the prescription and non-prescription medicines that you take regularly or may need during your trip. When you pack, make certain that you have them with you in your carry-on luggage, not your checked luggage. And don’t take just enough in your carry-on luggage for the flight, assuming that you will retrieve the rest when you get to your final destination. Occasionally, checked luggage is delayed, and you could find yourself without medication. Carry a written copy of the prescriptions for any such medication you need, given in its chemical (generic) name rather than a brand name.

If you have any special condition or allergy that might possibly require attention overseas, have your physician write a letter describing the nature of the condition and the treatment—send a copy to our office and carry the letter with you. Then if you should happen to need medical care while away from home, your temporary physician will be able to treat you more efficiently and effectively.

No vaccinations are required, also for malaria prophylactic, we recommend contacting your local health center to ask for advice.

During winter in the north of Sudan, there can be very few mosquitoes and the risk is very low.

Usually, malaria prophylactic might be recommended if you are traveling to areas other than the northern part in Sudan.

To get maximum benefit from the trip, you should expect to do a lot of walking. Of course, you can decide what to do and what not to do, but keep in mind that Sudan is largely desert and the monuments are expansive. If you expect to keep up you should get in shape now. Don’t wait until you arrive to see if you can do it. Your travels will be similar to playing a round of golf each day, on hilly terrain and lots of sand. There will be some opportunities to climb. If you want to participate in all of the scheduled activities, you will want to begin preparing now. If you can’t do a lot of walking or engage in strenuous activity: don’t worry, you will still enjoy the trip, but realize that there will be some things that you will miss.

As of this writing, the exchange rate of U.S Dollars to Sudanese Pounds is USD $1 / = 29 SDG at banks and exchange shops (SDG is the abbreviation for Sudanese Pound). The Sudanese pound is worth about 4 cents.

Please, you can always check the link below for the exchange rates of the central bank of Sudan for a better update:-

https://cbos.gov.sd/en/banks-and-exchange-prices

All group meals and activities are included in the cost of your program.

You will be responsible for covering the cost of tips for personal services. Bottled water usually costs approximately 5 SDG per almost a liter.

The dollar is still welcomed just about everywhere in Sudan. Traveler’s checks do not work at all in Sudan due to the economic embargo on the country since the mid of 90ties.

How much money you need will depend on whether or not you plan on making any purchases, but we generally recommend bringing $300 in cash, mostly in big bills. We do not recommend exchanging money prior to arrival in Sudan because the exchange rate will be better in Sudan.

Please check again the exchange rates once you arrive here.

Credit cards or travelers’ cheques are not accepted anywhere in Sudan, because of the economic sanctions imposed on the country since the mid of 90ties. You will have to rely on cash. There is a limit for bringing hard currency to Sudan, an amount that exceeds $10,000 must be declared to the custom but only when asked!

In Sudan, There are ATM machines but they work only for the local bank’s accounts?

Entry/Exit Restrictions

You may take the following into Sudan without incurring customs duty:

  • 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200g tobacco
  • Perfume for personal use
  • Gifts to the value of 500.00 SDG
  • Drugs, firearms, and raw cotton may not be brought into the country
  • The export of any antiquity or any item older than 100 years without a license is forbidden.

Please note alcohol is strictly prohibited in Sudan even for personal use.

Having an airport visa on arrival to Khartoum airport, our airport representative will meet you inside the arrival, immigration terminal ,with a sign either your name or the group name on it, he will, welcome you and collect your passport , process you the visa sticker issuing, it may take around 20 minutes or little more roughly, once the visa sticker is issued you do not need to stay online, you can go through custom and collect your luggage, after collecting your luggage and you are on your way out you will be asked to show your bags tag or receipt ,the small green tag you get while checking in to your Khartoum flight, just to make sure all got their right bags .

You may also be asked to have your bags manually checked by the airport custom officers. This is quite normal, they just need to be sure that there is nothing illegal for Sudan inside the luggage, like alcohol or other restricted items.

Our air port representative will stay with you till you walk outside and meet you with our representative.

Having your visa before arriving here, we will make sure also our representative meeting you inside the immigration terminal, please note there can be long queues or lines for the passport check, once you checked in, you walk through custom to collect your luggage, any further help or assist our air port representative will always be very close and assist when it is required, till walking you out to meet our representative.

Arrival and departure transfers within Sudan are included in the cost of your program. Please be sure to provide our office with a copy of your flight arrangements. Details on your transfers will be included in your final documents.

Sudan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC), 7 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 10 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Sudan uses a 220-/240 Volt electrical system. It is recommended that everything you bring is battery operated or 110/220 Volt operation. If you need to bring a 110-volt appliance, such as a hairdryer, you will need a plug adapter and a converter kit. If you bring a 110/220-volt appliance, you will still need a plug adapter for Sudan sockets. The plugs feature two round prongs about an inch apart. Most hotels have 110-volt sockets in the bathroom for razors and battery chargers, but these cannot be used for other appliances. Converter kits and adapters are available at luggage stores or larger airports.

While on the tour, camping or staying in basic accommodations, all meals will be arranged by our own cook, breakfast is served with eggs (fried or poached), sliced bread, white cheese, jam or honey, butter, pancakes, cornflakes or other cereal, coffee, tea, orange or grapefruit.

Launch at midday picnic style, vegetables, rice or pasta, salad, bread, tuna fish, fresh fruit, minced meat, kofta.

Dinners are hot dishes including, soups, salads, meat, fish, vegetables, rice or pasta, fruits & desert.

You will get the chance also for tasting the local food, a launch meal is served in one of the best local restaurants, our cook also will make sure to present you some local food.

The most common dish for breakfast is (full) beans served with white cheese and Sesame oil, locals used bread for having the full.

Tea & coffee have rich flavor here, they can be served with spices or mint as for the tea.

Tea, coffee and soft drinks like coca cola or Pepsi are also served most of the times, are included in the program quote.

Eat or drink only:

  • Cooked food, served while still hot
  • Bread
  • Fruits you peel yourself
  • Hot coffee or tea
  • Commercially packaged foods and drinks
  • Milk products at program hotels and riverboat

Do NOT consume:

  • Unbottled water, other drinks, OR ICE
  • Unpackaged milk products that are not at program hotels and riverboat (it may not be pasteurized).
  • Foods that are served cold or reheated, even if cooked earlier (sadly, this includes most desserts)
  • Anything from a street vendor, except sealed bottled beverages
  • Salads (they look wonderful, but just tell yourself that you’ll get plenty of vegetables in the hot portion of the meal).

You will have plenty to eat, but be careful. A day spent sick is a day lost.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you have any special dietary restrictions or requests, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

In our experience, Sudanese are honest people and the country has a very low crime rate. Violent crimes are rare. However, to minimize the risk of loss or theft, we recommend the following:

  • Make two photocopies of your passport: send one to our office and keep one in a safe place separate from your passport and other documents. This will provide a backup in case yours gets lost or stolen, and will make checking into hotels quicker and easier.
  • Make copies of the credit cards that you plan to take and keep the copies in a safe place.
  • Don’t bring any credit cards that you don’t need.
  • Don’t carry your wallet where it can easily be stolen (e.g. hip or rear pocket).
  • Don’t bring valuables on the trip. It is a good idea to travel with a cheap watch and leave any jewelry (except wedding rings) at home. The only thing of value you should have is your camera and you will keep that with you.

It doesn’t happen often, but problems can develop due to misunderstandings or dishonest vendors. Your tour staff will always help, but if you should find yourself alone and unable to resolve a problem, don’t hesitate to call for the Tourist Police. Tourism is important to the Sudan economy and they take problems seriously, there are excellent growing interests in developing tourism in Sudan nowadays, tourism become one of the real interests for the government nowadays and there is a good focus on it. They will generally be on your side, as they know abuse hurts tourism.

Tourism season in Sudan starts between the ends of September to the end of April the. Climate is very moderate, the temperature range between 25°C and 40°C during the day, at nights goes lower 12°-18°.

The coolest or lower temperature on this program may range from 5°-10°C at night and 25°-30°C during the day, this is during, December &January.

During these winter period it doesn’t rain in the north, no clouds, humidity fluctuations are between 20%-40%.

During February &March, occasionally and sometimes earlier, places like in the Nubian villages as in Soleb, Sai Island, Abri town, Tombus, there may be lots of small yellow flies, locally called as Nimitti, these are harmless flies, but can be extremely annoying, we will provide you with fly nets to wear over the face, we advise you also to wear long sleeves top. These flies locally are thought of helping in date palm trees fertilization, always with big quantity nearby the Nile and the greens.

As a foreigner, you will be forgiven most etiquette faux pas if you adhere to western codes of conduct, but it helps if you can respect local customs and standards of behavior.

Sudanese generally dress modestly. Sleeveless tops and tight-fitting clothes should be avoided. Women should not wear short shorts or short skirts.  Shorts below the knee and jeans are okay.

Personal space/relationships among members of the same sex will be much closer than is comfortable for most Americans and Europeans. Sudanese will tend to stand close to people of the same sex, and moving away may be seen as a sign of aloofness. On the other hand, men and women stand farther apart from each other than is the custom in the United States and Europe.

  • Only the right hand should be used for eating. Throughout most of the Middle East, the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene.
  • Try not to sit with your legs crossed. Showing the sole of your foot or shoe is considered an insult to another person.
  • Tapping the two index fingers together is considered a crude gesture.
  • Arabic is the official language in Sudan. English is widely spoken.
  • The Nubian language is widely used in the far north at the Nubian villages.
  • You may also wish to consult some online resources such as: http://wikitravel.org/en/Arabic_phrasebook

Tips or “IKRAMIA” are not yet a way of life in Sudan. You are not expected to tip for any service provided, and anything at all.

All small tips like at the airport, hotels, restaurants are managed by us the local operator here.

As tipping in Sudan is not yet common and requested by most, give what seems fair and reasonable only when you feel it worth, and don’t let anyone intimidate you.

Note:  Tips for the desert trip crew is not included in the program, this is preferred to be

We recommend that you travel with one carry-on and one small checked bag. If you carefully select your wardrobe and supplies, these two bags should provide adequate space.  If you are traveling with someone, it is a good idea to put half of your things in each other’s checked baggage for the trip. That way, if one bag gets delayed or lost (it can happen), you will still have half of your clothes.

Airline luggage allowance policies are set by individual airlines and can change without prior notice. Airlines may impose penalty fees for luggage in excess of the weight and/or a number of pieces of luggage included in the cost of your airfare. Excess luggage fees are the responsibility of the individual participant. We recommend that you contact your airline(s) for the current luggage allowance policy. The most current information can also be found on the airline’s website.

Carry-on:  The standard one carry-on bag must fit in an overhead compartment or under the seat. It should not exceed 9” x 15 ½” x 21 ½” and weigh no more than 18 lbs.  You must contact your airline directly prior to departure to confirm their carry-on allowance.

Checked bag: We recommend a carry-on style bag that has self-contained wheels. You should assume that your bag may be handled very roughly. You may wish to consider purchasing an inexpensive wheeled bag if you are especially fond of your existing luggage.  The baggage weight allowance for most international flights is one to two pieces of luggage weighing no more than 50 pounds each.  You must contact your airline directly prior to departure to confirm their luggage restrictions.

After you have selected your wardrobe, try to eliminate half of it. Smart, casual clothing that is modest and comfortable is ideal. Keep in mind that natural fiber clothing, such as cotton and linens, will keep you more comfortable than synthetic items.

Excellent laundry service will be available only in Khartoum & Karima, so you need to consider this.

Sudan can get rather cool in the evenings so be prepared to dress in layers for maximum comfort. Since you will be staying at nice hotels or camping in the desert for some night, you may want to bring one dressier outfit for a more special occasion like the farewell dinner, but this is strictly optional.

Now in every single archaeological site, they charge extra fees for filming with the video camera, fees of $20, please as paying in and getting your receipt may take some time, we prefer informing our local guide earlier in advance.

Most telescopes might not be allowed to the country; usually, the custom will issue you a receipt and you get it back on the departure from the customs office.

Same can go with professional lenses binocular.

Suggested Items to Bring

This type of wallet is a convenient way to carry your passport and money; it attaches to your belt. You may also use a holder that has a strap around your neck and is carried inside your shirt. It is highly recommended to bring some kind of wallet that can be securely carried.

If you use a camera, film and memory cards are expensive in Sudan and you should bring enough to last the entire program. Install fresh batteries prior to departure, as you may not be able to find replacements en route.

Photographing now in Sudan does not require a permit as like before; photographing in archaeological sites it is free.

The advice above regarding film and batteries for still cameras also applies to video cameras. To avoid disappointment, bring enough videotape and batteries for the entire trip.

A small flashlight is a “must have.”  A flashlight will greatly enhance your experience at monuments and sites that are not adequately lit. You will want to carry a small, preferably belt-mounted, flashlight at all times, basically, you will need this while camping at nights and while visiting the royal cemetery in Elkurru, going down stair to the tomb, a flashlight can be very helpful.

You will want to carry a minimum amount of guidebooks since they can be heavy and bulky. A detailed map of Sudan is highly recommended. You will also want to bring reading material for flights and to help pass the time during any unforeseen delays.

You may or may not want to keep a diary, but you should definitely consider keeping a photo log. By the time your pictures are developed, it can be difficult to remember exactly where they were taken.

If you bring U.S. appliances with you – see Electricity” for details.

Sudan is “all sand and water.” The sunlight is very bright so you will want to wear sunglasses.

If you plan to buy a significant amount of souvenirs or other goods, it’s a good idea to place an extra, foldable bag in the bottom of your checked baggage so you will have an extra bag in which to bring home your treasures. A small supply of bubble wrap, rubber bands, and tape would be useful for protecting delicate items.

Bring several zip-lock bags. They have many uses, from keeping your packed items separated to acting as sand-proof cases for your cameras and snacks if the wind suddenly picks up. Toiletry items, damp swimsuits and anything else that might possibly leak can also be kept in zip-lock bags inside your suitcase.

Accommodations

Hotels in Khartoum

Starts (5)

Nile Road.
Po Box 11042 Khartoum-Sudan
Tel: +249 187 155 555
Fax: +249 187 555 666

Starts (4)

Nile Road.
P.O. Box 316
Tel: +249 183 774039
Fax: +249 183 773961

Starts (4)

Nile Road.
P.O. Box 316
Tel: +249 183 774039
Fax: +249 183 773961

Starts (4)

Africa Street – Khartoum 1
Near The Canadian Embassy
Khartoum – Sudan
Phone: +249 (0) 183481919 – +249 1155212121

Starts (4)

Qasr Street.
P.O. Box 1716 Khartoum – Sudan.
Tel: +249-183-775971
Tel: +249-183-775972
Fax: +249-183-779087

Starts (3)

Zubeir Pasha Street
Tel: +249 (0) 183 772860
Tel: +249 (0) 183 772518 Or 778483
Fax: +249 (0) 183 770898
Postal Code: 11111

Starts (3)

Sayed Adbel Rahman Street
Tel: +249 (0) 183 792986

Hotels in Karima & Meroe Pyramids

Across the Nile To Karima. (10 Minutes to Jebel Barkal)
Tel: +249 0123401624

Other Accommodations

This mobile camp (bivouacs/wild camp) is carried on board of the vehicles.

Accommodation will be in igloo tents (2, 20 x 2, 20 x 1,60m), with 5 cm thick foam mattress, sheet, pillow, a blanket, a towel for every client, this stuff are taken to the laundry before every trip.

Your tour staff will be pleased to help to set your tent.

Folded tables & chairs for meals while camping or picnic launch on road.

All kitchen stuff is available. Meals, while camping or staying in basic accommodations, are all arranged by our excellent cooks, please refer to meals section for details about our desert tour cuisine.

Ice boxes are provided with mineral water open quantity for drinking, light, toilet papers & a toilet chair for your own comfort.

For big groups, a shelter as a dining room while camping.

Typical Nubian houses, in particular in villages like in SOLEB – KOSHA & TOMBUS as so far now hotels are not available in these areas, also camping options are not attracting but the only outskirt of Tombus.

Karima town we use the local houses near Jebel Barkal as an alternative to limited available hotels.

The idea is to change the atmosphere of camping, experience a bit of the local life, get the advantage of having electricity, shower & a better sleep on a decent bed.

Each house of the above consist maximum of 5 rooms, with verandas, in each room there can be 2-3 beds, verandas also can be used to place beds, now there is the public electricity in all those places.

Toilets are a western or long drop, a shower or bucket water.

While staying in these sorts of very basic accommodations, meals are prepared by our own cook. We use also our own pillow, sheets, towels & blankets.

In case of a big group we plan booking two local or Nubian houses, we try as possible we can. SGL cannot be guaranteed.

Please ask us for more descriptions or photos!

The mobile phone network coverage is almost everywhere, except in remote places in deserts.

On your arrival you may want to buy a local sim card, we suggest you ZAIN mobile company as it is widespread and has better internet services.

You get the sim card with credit and you can buy the internet package that suits to you, please consult the mobile company office at the airport 24/hours, on your arrival, make sure you have unlocked mobile.

In all hotels mentioned above in the section of Khartoum hotels, WI-FI is available, you can check the password at the certain hotel reception.

Another possibility is also you can share the WI-FI of our tour staff mobiles phones internet.

We are committed to raising better awareness of tourism and it is ideal meanings of exchanging cultures, experiments, bringing and bridging our clients to the man of the country, for better humane globalization.

We are committed also keeping the man of the country away from traditional negative behaviors occurs by wrong practice as in begging or photos with money, etc like in other places.

We are also committed to protecting the environment & its resources, minimizing our use for any products that are non-disposable rubbish.

Supporting the local communities is one of our aims, we try to support schools, small clinics, families hosting our clients, we choose things like these, small but can make a difference in the lives of the locals, if you are willing or interested in showing your appreciation to the local communities, we advise you consult our local guide for what to offer as a present.

We carry on our cars our first aid kit, medics useful for wounds, traumas, fever etc, such as disinfectant, paracetamol (for fever), loperamide (for diarrhea), cicatrizer (for scar), Burn ointment, cream/balm for trauma treatment, Plasil – metoclopramide (against vomiting), bandage, sterile dressing, Band-Aid, absorbent cotton and thermometer.

Please regarding your own personal or generic medicines refer to the section of health and general health consideration.

All our guides are first aid trained.

Everybody traveling in Sudan must be covered by travel insurance.

Transportation

In Khartoum

This varies depending on your travel style, preferences and also how many clients we may have on the certain program.

If you are a couple or two persons, our offer varies from an air-conditioned taxi, spacious and in perfect condition or a saloon car, Hyundai accent latest models of 2013 up to 2017. If you are 3 people can offer you our 4×4 WD cars, the Toyota land cruisers, comfort with 4 seats.

If you are more than 4 people up to 18 persons we prefer to offer you the minibusses of 28 seats, as these are a lot better for comfort seating and sightseeing compared to small vans.

If you are more than 25 persons we prefer offering either two minibusses, we believe these are smarter and can move faster and smoothly even in the jammed traffic times in Khartoum.

If you are more than 25 persons and you prefer to stay in one transpiration mean, depending also on the nature of your visits we can offer you the big tourist buses of 45 seats of recent models, air conditioned.

Out of Khartoum (North)

We believe these are the ideal for long driving, stable on desert treks as we drive on our tours, offers good safety, excellent drivers!

Our quote is based on 4 persons on each car, seats are as follow,

The first row, the driver seat, another seat next to the driver, second row, there 3 seats as a bench seat or bucket.

The 3rd row is always emptied as we put luggage and other stuff inside instead.

We believe it is comfortable seating and it is spacious even for more than average sized people.

But please in case you need a window for every single client and more space, let us know and we can make you an offer for an extra Toyota land cruiser.

We use models of 2002 up to 2010, air-conditioned and in a perfect performance.

Also, similar types of these vehicles are Nissan Patrols.

We can also offer these, but we believe this truck can seat only 3 persons out of the driver, definitely not stable as the land cruisers especially when driving on desert treks, seats are as follow, first row the driver seat, another seat next to the driver one, second and last row there are 3 seats, we believe these can be comfortable only for two persons.

The pack of this truck is open, it is used for putting your luggage and tour stuff, we cover it with good fabric.

We use models from 2012 to 2015.

Important:

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought to the country because of the ISLAMIC rules.
Note also while departing the country it is strictly forbidden to take out of the country, fossils, sand, stones or any possible archaeological item, please avoid also any handcraft made of very old wood!
An (X-Ray) screening will be done on departure at the airport, such things can complicate and confuse you while departing.

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