"The Largest Country in Africa" a Sudan Travel Page by uglyscot

Sudan is a much maligned country. It hits the news whenever there is a disaster : flood, famiine, civil war.The Sudan is the largest country in Africa and has a variety of everything- tribal groups, climate, vegetation, religions though Islam is the official one.
It has not been a very easy country to visit because of internal problems and conflict. The infrastructure was sadly lacking. But now that it is self-sufficient in oil, development is taking place. The streets are improving but becoming congested with traffic; goods are becoming available , but expensive.
But the people remain the same : by nature inherently friendly, generous and hospitable; in spite of all the horror stories touted by the Western media. And natural disasters too. For example , there was terrible flooding and famine in 1985. The university students donated one meal per day yo the areas where the people in camps were suffering most. In 2006 the floods are higher, but so far, no famine.

From desert in the north and west to jungle in the south, mountains and the Red Sea in the east, and the clay plains and savanna in the central area, the Sudan has much to offer.
At present road is the most practical way to travel, though there are air links to some towns, and an erratic railway system. Much driving is still off road, though new highways have been and are being constructed.Because of the heavy vehicles using the roads they are constantly in need of repair, and in fact need to be widened too.
A new bridge linking Khartoum and Khartoum North is now open. Other bridges are planned. The city is spreading daily it seems.

The people stick to many of their old customs . Women still have henna done on a regular basis, but especially for weddings and other social occasions. They still wear the colourful tobes, and like to be adorned in gold.
Visitors are treated as treasured guests and given juice, tea , coffee and invited to share meals.

Like Egypt, the Sudan depended on the Nile for its livelihood until the discovery and production of oil.
The Sudan has been called the breadbasket of Africa.Wheat, sorghum and cotton were the main crops
In the past agriculture was carried out on the narrow fertile strip along the Nile.
In the 1920s the Sudan Gezira Scheme was established whereby a system of canals opened up the Central Sudan's fertile clay soils to agriculture and particularly cotton.
Forests line the banks of the Nile too, but are disappearing under pressure from the agriculturalists.

In towns there are cars and buses, but to travel over this vast country the other alternatives are road, air and rail. before the conflict in the south there was limited use of the river especially for transporting supplies southwards.
The railway entered the country under the British, and was the lifeline to the north, west and east.
The railway worker's houses along the route were recognisable by their conical shaped roofs. Many are now falling into neglect. The narrow gauge line is in need of replacement. Many stretches have now been closed completely as other means of travel become less expensive.