Sudan 2009

SU-09 Sudan 2009 Date of travel: Feb 06 - Feb 21, 2009 ITINERARY: On Feb 6, 2009 at 2 AM I leave Vista in a rented car for Los Angeles airport. Then with Delta Airlines to New York. A change to Egyptair plane for a 9.5 hour flight to Cairo, Egypt. Next is a shorter flight to Khartoum, SUDAN, where later in the afternoon on Feb 7. Small problem, my suitcase stayed in Cairo. Our group of 14 meets at dinner. The 15th is the owner of Spiekermann Travel Service, Ihab who leads our expedition in Sudan. We are the first American tourist group in decades coming to this country. Next day a visit of the great “Sudan Museum” and later we see souqs (markets) in both Khartoum and Omdurman, cities divided by the River Nile. I get my suitcase this evening. On Feb 9 a drive in 4WD vehicles to Meroe necropolis northeast of Khartoum. It is a cemetery of Meroe kings with pyramidal shape tombs. Accommodation individually in large tents. During next 2 days sightseeing of Naqa, Musawwarat, Royal City of Melroe and cemetery of nobles archeological sites. Our Italian guide has malaria and an Italian lady takes over. On Feb 12 a drive to Karima in the Nubian Desert. We stay 2 nights there and explore Nun necropolis from Napatan time. Again, the tombs are in shape of pyramid. However, while the Cheops pyramid in Egypt has its side 200 m the largest pyramid in Sudan is only 50 m. But most Sudanese pyramids are much smaller. We visit excavations of a royal palace under the Jebel Barkal mountain and more remnants of time when Nubia was part of ancient Egypt. There is also a petrified forest here. On Feb 14 we are continuing our trip going northwest through the Nubian Desert. Along the way we make several stops at historical places and cross the Nile River several trimes. Late in the afternoon we come to a rather primitive tent camp Thombos. From here we make a day trip to the ancient towns Soleb and Sesibi. On Feb 16 we return via ancient Kerma to Karima. There are several trips to its vicinity. On Feb 19 we return to Khartoum. Next day is a sightseeing tour of Khartoum and Omdurman. We see the tomb of Mahdi and in a small boat we take a ride on the Blue Nile and on the confluence of Blue and White Nile. In one place we see the Presidential Palace from the river. More than 100 years ago general Gordon was killed on its staircase. In the evening we visit a cemetery where Sufis dancing in trance. On Feb 21 very early in the morning we take an Egyptair plane from Khartoum to Cairo and another one to New York and then Delta to Los Angeles. After renting a car I drive home to Vista where before midnight. Travel office: Spiekermann Travel Service Who took part: 14 American tourists, Ihab and guides