SUDAN

Location - North east Africa; Capital - Khartoum; Population - 31 million; Currency - Sudanese Pound

There's several sights to take in at Karima including pyramids, ancient tombs with hieroglyphics as well as the Nile - December 2012. MORE SUDAN

The Sudanese Pound replaced the Dinar in 2007 following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with South Sudan

Climb Jebel Barkal for a glorious view of Karima set against the blue waters of the Nile

You can even make out the pyramids at Nuri a few kilometres away. It also highlights how lush green the land is close to the Nile - Karima

A couple make their way down Jebel Barkal's rocky 'path' - Karima

There's also a bird's eye view of the high class Nubian Rest House from the mountain - Karima

On the opposite side of Jebel Barkal are several pyramids on the edge of the Nubian Desert - Karima

The Napata pyramids are a royal cemetery chosen after Nuri was abandoned, before moving on to Meroe - Karima

The Napatan pyramids date to around the 3rd century BC - Karima

The Kushite empire and was also known as the 25th Dynasty of Egypt or the Nubian Dynasty and Napata was its capital - Karima

The avenue of sphinxes leads to the 15th century BC Temple of Amun in the shadow of Jebel Barkal - Karima

A full moon rises between pillars of the 15th century BC Temple of Mut, built by King Taharqa - Karima

Mut was an Egyptian goddess and bride of Amun - Karima

A silhouette of Jebel Barkal's southern edge at sunset - Karima

Pay a visit to the sumptuous Nubian Rest House and take in the views of Jebel Barkal - Karima

The grounds of the beautiful Italian-run Nubian Rest House - Karima

The ghaffir leads us to one of two Kushite royal cemetery tombs open to the public at El Kurru, a short drive from Karima

Inside the tomb of Tanwetamani, successor to Taharqa, who died in the 7th century BC - El Kurru

Hieropglyphics inside Tanwetamani's tomb - El Kurru

The second tomb belongs to Tanwetamani's mother, Qalhata - El Kurru

These paintings inside the tomb depict Qalhata's death (left) followed by her movement to the afterlife (right) - El Kurru

Scattered around are several petrified trees (trees turned to stone) - El Kurru

Also a short drive from Karima is Nuri, home to a royal cemetery dating back to the 7th century BC

Nineteen kings were buried at Nuri

Taharqa's pyramid, arguably the most powerful pharoah in Sudanese history. He chose to be buried here, around 664BC, rather than at nearby El Kurru - Nuri

The crumbling pyramids of Nuri

Driving past the Red Sea Mountains in an air-conditioned coach from Atbara to Port Sudan

The best thing about Port Sudan is enjoying the lively evenings near the port where families and friends flock to eat, drink and chat - Port Sudan

Overlooking the Red Sea with coffee and a juice. Beware! Alcohol is illegal in Sudan - Port Sudan

Setting out restaurant tables and chairs - Port Sudan

I'm guessing these guys are local politicians - Port Sudan

Chicken police hunt and OMG Sudan - Posters in Port Sudan

It rains in Sudan? It certainly does, so the Coral Hotel's swimming pool was the perfect place to be - Port Sudan

Take a walk along the dockside boulevard - Port Sudan

Get used to cats appearing from nowhere when dining al fresco in Sudan - Port Sudan

Getting ready for a photo opportunity - Port Sudan

The ancient port town of Suakin is a 50 minute bus ride from Port Sudan

The main town is all hustle and bustle with market stalls aplenty - Suakin

Rickshaws imported from India are widespread in Sudan - Suakin

Suakin fell into disrepair following the construction of Port Sudan by the British at the beginning of the 20th century

But the town still ferries passengers to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. But not in this boat obviously.. Suakin

Men repair their boats on the causeway to Suakin Island. Maybe this one has already gone to boat heaven - Suakin

The main reason to visit is to see the coral-built ruins of tiny Suakin Island - Suakin

As you can see through the gateway, much of the island is in decay - Suakin

Khorshid Effendi's House was also the residence of the British army's Field Marshal Kitchener - Suakin

Khorshid Effendi's House was originally a trader's home - Suakin

The demonic cats of Suakin - legend has it the cats are possessed, though this one just looked sleepy - Suakin

A local does a spot of fishing in the Red Sea - Suakin

A lot of work was going on constructing a new custom's office on the island. Presumably as part of the contract the mosques were also being renovated - Suakin

30km north of Port Sudan is the Sudan Red Sea Resort - Port Sudan

The resort offers diving but there's no beach to speak of and it's been a building site for a while - Port Sudan

It's a shame as the location has huge potential and the people are friendly. Try it out if you're going diving/snorkelling - Port Sudan

Love it! Posters on the bathroom walls explain how to use a western style toilet. Not sure what's wrong with top-right but haven't got a clue what's going on bottom-right. Is that a window?! Port Sudan

The bay waters surrounding the Sudan Red Sea Resort are very shallow making it easy to use fishing nets on foot - Port Sudan

Clouds float across the setting sun with the hazy Red Sea Mountains below - Port Sudan

There's not too many countries that could make better use of solar panels than Sudan, and there's plenty of them - Port Sudan

The Red Sea glistens under a full moon - Port Sudan

No speedometer (or any gauge for that matter), rusting floor exposing the tarmac below, a bonnet tied down with rope, cracked windscreen, massive oversteer, dashboard equipment fell off, no seatbelts. But the brakes worked, so we booked this driver several times.. Port Sudan

My favourite place in Sudan was the eastern city of Kassala, next to the Eritrean border

The huge, other-worldly granite boulders of the Taka Mountains - Kassala

At the base of the Taka Mountains is the 19th century Khatmiyah Mosque - Kassala

Followers of the Sufi order, and goats, congregate at the mosque - Kassala

Admiring the Khatmiyah Mosque - Kassala

Boulders and straw-roofed huts surround the mosque - Kassala

At the mosque were the most chilled and relaxed followers I've come across - Kassala

And the kids loved having their photo taken - Kassala

Close by are numerous cafes on the slopes of Jebel Toteil - Kassala

We came across more souvenirs here than anywhere else in the country besides Omdurman Souq - Kassala

It's a picturesque area and a great place to take a coffee while the sun goes down - Kassala

Thick Turkish-style coffee, popcorn and incense. A straw-like grass is placed in the coffee pot to filter - Kassala

Our taxi driver showed us this little gem of a spot - Kassala

Bovine curiosity at a roadside cafe - Kassala

Sudanese food rarely involves cutlery. Use the bread provided to soak up fuul (stewed beans, left) or combine bread with fingers to attack grilled chicken, rice and salad (right) - Kassala

Beja men chat at a drinks stall - Kassala

Minibuses, 4x4s and taxis at the local bus station - Kassala

Another reason to come to Kassala is the souq

The market sells everything from fruit and vegetables to car tyres. Tailors, mechanics and porters compete for space with mopeds, donkeys and horses - Kassala

The Beja are traditionally a nomadic people herding livestock and are found in Kassala, Atbara and along the coast. The men are recognisable by their curly hair and waistcoats. With a fearless warrior reputation, Rudyard Kipling called them the Fuzzy-Wuzzies - Kassala

Brightly clothed local women in the market - Kassala

A veiled woman in Kassala souq - Kassala

Beja men selling erm.. any ideas? Kassala Souq - Kassala

You'll come acrosss clay pots containing water for passers by. The water seeps through the clay (hence the slight moss covering) which somehow keeps the water cool - Kassala

Kassala Souq - Kassala

Donkeys live up to their name as the beasts of burden in Sudan - Kassala

The souq quietens down come nightfall - Kassala

Sunset over Kassala

A different take on a traffic jam. Well over a hundred camels block our coach to Wad Medani

The gardens of the Nile Hotel - Wad Medani

A coffee pot in a riverside park - Wad Medani

Relaxing at a cafe on the banks of the Nile - Wad Medani

Resting on the sandbanks - Wad Medani

A family day out on the opposite bank of the Nile - Wad Medani

A beautifully serene River Nile - Wad Medani

Tea lady outside the Continental Hotel - Wad Medani

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LINKS

www.sudan.net - Sudan info

www.lenditravel.com - Lendi Travel organises tours and on-arrival visas

www.sudantribune.com - online Sudan newspaper

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