Things to see and do Khartoum الخرطوم

It is not the Cairo Museum or the British Museum, but at its modest level (the largest museum in the country), it is an obligation for tourists and all lovers of archaeology. And Sudan is not a poor land in this area. Built at the hinge of the years 1960-1970, the museum is designed to allow the visitor to browse the long Sudanese chronology, from Prehistory to Islamic times.

On the ground floor, at the entrance, a huge map of the country draws attention. It presents the archaeological sites and the ancient kingdoms of the region. In the sense of a watch, you travel between windows, maps and statues, gathered according to time and with comments. For the prehistoric period, the museum exhibits a beautiful amount of jewellery (bracelets, earrings, necklaces) and figurines. The period of Kerma is illustrated by a rich collection of pottery, for which the first sub-Saharan civilization was very famous. Koushite history continues by Napata and, of course, Merowe. Among the most beautiful pieces of the museum are the sarcophagus of the sovereign napatéen Anlamani, but also a statue of the representative. He was one of the close kushites kings of the Black Pharaohs, at a time when the kingdom of Kush was experiencing turbulent times. In the méroïtique period, objects with multiple influences are the most significant. The King Archer statue, the centrepiece of the exhibition "Merowe, an empire on the Nile", in the Louvre in 2010, will have to return to the National Museum of Khartoum, as well as several dozen other hand loaned to the French museum.

On the floor, a rather dark room probably exposes the most beautiful parts of the Middle Ages in Nubia. More than a dozen frescoes, including the cathedral of Faras, a former religious capital sunk under the waters of Lake Nasser, testify to the finesse and beauty of the Nubian pictorial art of that era. The round of saints or the representation of bishops, angels, Christ or the Virgin are particularly striking. The same room also features several objects dating from the Muslim period, to the Sultanate Founj. For photos, think of bringing a foot (the flash is forbidden).

Outside, don't miss the reconstructions (serre) of the temples of Semna, Kumma and Bouhen, little brothers of Abu Simbel, saved, like their prestigious counterpart, from the rise of the waters of Nassero-Nubian lake by UNESCO in the late 1960 s. Egyptian constructions, these temples were to ensure the visibility of Egyptian control over these remote lands in the Middle Empire. The garden of the museum is also adorned with colonnades and bélier statues, symbols of Amun, from the temple dedicated to this god in Kawa.

There is a small cafeteria-cafeteria, very good with large heat.

The Goethe-Institut in Sudan is a training center located in Khartoum. The Goethe-Institut aims to promote knowledge of the German language abroad and to foster international cultural cooperation. Despite its closure, it offers an online multimedia magazine called RUYA. However, please note that these timetables may be subject to change due to the current situation.

Built by the Chinese, it very often hosts exhibitions, conferences, and sometimes international summits. Events can be very "select" so.

The antenna of the French-based French research centre based in Cairo focuses on the study of the contemporary Sudan. It has an interesting documentary base if you want to know more about the country.

It's not necessarily the place to go to go, but you'd be wrong to deprive yourself of it. This university is a historic site for intellectual and political reflection in the country. Since independence, the University of Khartoum has been the heir to Gordon Memorial College, founded in 1902 by the English. It is the oldest and most prestigious university in the country. The main campus, on the banks of the Nile, hosts green and shady gardens. You'll even find some monkeys who chapardent what students want to leave them between two courses. The buildings are colonial style, in fact the British style, but built with local sandstone of course. The main building is thus superb with its clock tower (without clock) characteristic and its latérales latérales. A small perfume of Nilotic England…

Located in a beautiful disused Anglican church, the museum recounts, with strong illustrations, portraits and comments, the road travelled by the Sudan from foreign invasions and the struggle for independence to the present. A lot of space is devoted to the objects relating to the supreme function, especially the gifts offered to the various presidents. Special mention for the Nixon gift, which enjoyed us well. The museum also exhibits a small collection of presidential cars, especially Rolls, used on major occasions, such as reception of foreign heads of state or national festivals.

From Kitchener, the famous Republican Palace (where Omar al-Bashir does not live) is just northwest on the Nile River. Photos are forbidden but you can see it on old shots at the museum, Bait al-Khalifa in Omdurman, or on the flip of the 10 SDG English ticket.

Closer to the Mek Pont Bridge, the little St Matthew Cathedral (Catholic this time) deserves to be stopped, especially on Sunday, of course, during offices of the African rite.

Tuti offers the opportunity to spend a afternoon relaxing, between promenade, picnic and, possibly, swimming (make sure to remain discreet, especially women who need to be more "covered" than in Europe). Still largely cultivated, the island hosts many irrigation pumps that draw in a Nile, which is easy to see in the seasons. In the wet season, there is in fact no more often than no beach… In the extreme north of the island, an old fortin (tabiya) rounded up date of the mahdiste period, but now does not defend much more.

To see the fusion of Blue Nile and White Nile waters, go to the tip of Mogran (literally the "confluence"), at the extreme northwest of Khartoum Centre. " Montaza Mogran "is a small park of green attractions (and paying) that makes it possible to have a significant view of this exceptional place in Africa. The photos are allowed but restricted. No need to photograph bridges… From May to August, the difference in flow and color is noticeable. Forget blue and white. But you'll surely notice that Blue makes much more sediment than White. You will also think of the frustration of Scottish explorer James Bruce, a European discoverer, in 1770, of Lake Tana, which he took for the unique source of the Nile. As it descended the river, the discovery of the confluence with another "Nile" the deprived of the pleasure to realize fully a dream of explorers dating from antiquity. We will still have to wait for nearly nine decades for Europe to discover the largest lake in Africa, christened by the British John Hanning Emancipation on behalf of the Queen of England: Victoria.

A last (more expensive) means of approaching the confluence is also the boat. You can rent one (more cost-effective if you are in group) at the foot of the Tuti Bridge, or that of Mek Nimir, the marina and the Blue Nile Sailing Club. You will also see Al-Malik, Lord Kitchener's old boat, rouillant for more than a century.

The cultural and religious home of Omdurman and, in a way, the country. The Mahdi, founder of the modern city of Omdurman, wanted to marginalize Khartoum, which he saw as a town built by invaders. It is therefore in the heart capital of the Sudanese that the winner of the English is based. Only a few months after were them from the confluence, in 1885, the Mahdi died of disease and was buried in great pomp in the city by his supporters. A tomb, with a pine shaped dome (typical of the Sheikh tombs in the region), later covered with silver dye, was set up in Omdurman. In the return of the English, they profanèrent the grave, too happy to be able to avenge the late Charles Gordon, a colonial hero killed during the seizure of Khartoum by the mahdistes. They threw the remains of the religious leader into the Nile and conservènt his skull. Which was, then, buried in Wadi Halfa. The tomb was rebuilt shortly before independence, with the British unwilling to alienate the mahdistes, which were not favourable to Egyptian guardianship on the Sudan. This tomb is today a place of pilgrimage for many Sudanese and a stronghold of the brotherhood of Des. The entrance is free, in the garden as in the building. Although the building (where one must déchausser) can be closed during your passage. You will notice the flags of the brotherhood of Des, recognizable by white trident on a black, red and green background (the colours of the national flag).

Just next door, there is the house where the direct successor of the Mahdi, but also Kitchener, lived for several months before it was set up in the current presidential palace. The house of Khalifa (Bait al-Khalifa; free entrance) houses a museum dedicated to this entire period of national history and highlights the characters of Ali Dinar or Osman Digna. Near the entrance, don't miss one of the first cars that drove in the Sudan or, later, the bathroom's bathroom, with manual feeding.

The Mahdi tomb (visible on Friday only, except for special events) and the Maison du Khalifa (closed on Friday, Monday and sometimes Saturday) cannot be visited at the same time.