Weather and climate
Sudan has a hot desert climate throughout the year. Between May and September temperatures may be extremely hot, reaching over 45 °C.The best time to travel is from the beginning of October to the end of April, when it is dry and sunny, though there are occasional sandstorms (habub) – which are a fascinating phenomenon to witness.
October/November and February/March/April is around 30–40 °C during the day, dropping to 12–18 °C at night. December/January is around 25–30 °C during the day and may go down to 5–10 °C at night. As everywhere else on the planet, also in Sudan the weather has become more unpredictable in recent years. Even in winter it may be quite hot, but nights, particularly in December/January, may also be very cold.
Clothing
It is vital that you bring one set of warm clothes for chilly desert nights, when temperatures may drop sharply. While knee length shorts are acceptable for men in principle, they are not worn by Sudanese men (except for some of the younger generation in Khartoum) and make you look silly in local company. Therefore, we recommend that you do not wear them! Non-Muslim women are not expected to cover their heads, but you need to bring a scarf or a hat for sun protection. Because of the climate and local dress codes, clothes should be loose fitting and at least short-sleeved. Most of our tours have the character of an expedition, meaning that they involve some walking and climbing over rough terrain. Bring comfortable walking shoes and sandals. It is advisable to bring a pair of shoes for the shower or any activities that may involve getting wet feet.
Equipment
Essential items to bring on any tour to Sudan are a sleeping bag, a head torch, spare batteries, a towel, suncream, sunhat and sunglasses, a water bottle, insect repellent, soothing cream for bites, a lip salve and eyedrops because of the sand. Shampoo and other cosmetics are expensive and at times hard to obtain, so please make sure that you bring sufficient stock. You also need to bring a stock of passport photographs, minimum 2, which are needed to complete the permits. Please also carry printed scans of the identity pages of your passport.
Luggage
To ensure space and comfort in the vehicles you will be travelling in, we ask you to bring no more than 15 kg of luggage on this tour, consisting of one main piece of baggage, preferably a soft bag or holdall, not a suitcase. You should also bring a small daypack or bag to take out during the day. As you are expected to manage your own luggage, especially when camping in the desert, we recommend that you pack light.
Electrical Supply
Electrical supply is 230V/50 Hz and plugs usually have two round pins.