Not many get the opportunity to visit Sudan, but if you find yourself in the middle of the tripolitan capital – here is what you can do in and around Khartoum. First off, why is it called a tripolitan? Well, Khartoum is made up of three major cities: Khartoum, Om Durman and Bahari (literally meaning on the water side).

Is Khartoum safe for travel? The short answer is not right now. But life is much more complex than a simple answer. Yes, the current political situation in Sudan is unstable, but despite these political tensions you may still find yourself wandering in Khartoum as I did.

What you need to know before visiting Khartoum. Sudan has had a rough past. Just recently after the continent’s longest-running civil war – the region was split into two autonomous countries: Sudan and South Sudan. Visitors need to understand this past to comprehend the conditions of Sudan now. Sudan is a humble country, that is plagued by unfathomable poverty yet is one of the most hospitable places to visit. The Sudanese people are quite literally the kindest individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I only hope that your experience in Sudan is as delightful as mine was.

What to see in Khartoum?

Before venturing, make sure to download the app Tirhal , it’s the local Uber application and will make getting around much easier. Note, that you’ll be expected to pay cash since there is no service to connect directly to a credit or debit card. Now, that you know how to get rides,

Tuti Island – a small island that continues to preserve the country’s history and the simplicity of life. The island is mainly agricultural so you’ll get to see many citrus orchards and vegetable farms as you roam around. For more portraits at Tuti and Khartoum, check out our photo journal.

Wander the narrow streets in Tuti and make sure to reach the edge of town to get a panoramic view of Khartoum from the other side of the water. Why is this important? Well, the Nile River as a whole is important in this region, for starters it’s the longest river in the world. Khartoum is strategically located at the confluence of the White Nile, which flows north from Lake Victoria and the Blue Nile, which flows west from Ethiopia. This brings us to our second point; if you’re lucky you can actually see the meeting of the two rivers.

Now, back to Tuti Island. Take some time to visit the local. There, you’ll be greeted by locals selling fresh fruits, Sudanese coffees and more local products.

Hamed al-Nil Tomb – make your way over to Om Durman on a Friday afternoon to witness the ancient whirling dervishes and their rituals. Don’t be discouraged by the crowd, just dress appropriately, and sneak through between the masses.

Grab a Tirhal ride and ask your driver to take a quick tour around Om Durman. Although there isn’t a ton to do, there certainly are some interesting structures and mosques throughout the town.

The Corinthia Hotel – probably the only 5-star hotel in Khartoum, the Corinthia Hotel stands tall in the midst of sandy city with its unique design. Designed to resemble a ship’s sail, many perceive its shape as a large egg! Take this opportunity to visit Corinthia and visit their top floor. There you can enjoy one of the only cityscape views of the city!

Al Kabir Mosque – an impressive landmark in the center of the tripolitan. The mosque is massive and we hear that it’s stunning inside. We just didn’t get a chance to take a tour. This might be a little bizarre, but be careful of the men outside offering to exchange foreign currency.

Nile Street – this busy strip of restaurants, music venues and cafes runs perfectly along the Nile River. Things get pretty exciting in the evening on Nile Street. We recommend taking some time to stop at the floating boat shops, you can even boat hop. Each of the stationary boats turns into a lively establishment. The most popular activity? Attending live music performances into the night, right on the river!

Mojo Gallery– don’t miss out on the opportunity to stop by this beautiful gallery to pick up one of a kind Sudanese art and souvenirs.

Where to eat in Khartoum?

Ozone Café & Garden – this must be the number one rated restaurant in all of Sudan. Urban setting, western cuisine, clean eats, and air conditioning, could you ask for more? We really enjoyed the outdoor seating and garden area. Of course the delightful variety of pastries was also a win.

Assaha Lebanese Village– a Lebanese enclosed compound-like hotel, restaurant and outdoor garden. Beautiful space, plenty of seating options, live music and good food. An absolute favorite find in Khartoum!

Al Housh– despite going during some heavy construction, this rustic restaurant is a great place to experience authentic Sudanese food. Located right on the water with a spacious outdoor cabana like setting. Enjoy freshly made cardamom coffee and Shaiyah chicken.

There’s a lot more to see in Khartoum, mainly unnamed hidden gems, train tracks, & old clay huts. Give Khartoum a chance and really wander the streets as much as you can.

Personally, this blog post doesn’t do Khartoum justice and I will have to shoutout Darah Ghanem on beautifully capturing the city in her post on Roam Magazine.