Khartoum

About Khartoum

At Khartoum the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet and flow on together toward Egypt, and from the point of land between them you can see the two waters running side by side in different colours before they mix. Sudan's capital grew up on this spot in the 19th century and later spread into a sprawling city of wide avenues, colonial-era buildings and riverside neighbourhoods.

Before 2023, travellers came for some of the finest museums in Africa, above all the National Museum with temples rescued from the waters of Lake Nasser, along with relaxed tea stalls by the Nile and boat trips to Tuti Island. The war that broke out in April 2023 changed everything: fighting caused severe damage across the city, museums were looted and much of the population fled.

Anyone considering a trip should first check current official travel advice, which for a long time has warned against all travel. This page describes the city's best-known sights as they were known before the conflict, and their present condition may differ. Omdurman and Khartoum North, across the rivers, have their own pages.