The Pyramids of Meroe are one of the primary attractions of Suda, while Dinder National Park offers a unique wildlife tour and Jebel Barkal, a small mountai, is also worth seeing on your visit.
Getting to Sudan
To reach Sudan from the United Kingdom you will need to travel by airplane, which is the only viable form of transportation.
Travelling from London to Khartoum, the capital of the Suda, can take a minimum of 10 hours, but this can extend to between 15-20 hours with different airlines.
FCO advice
The following parts of Sudan are not advised to be travelled to by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO):
- Darfur, the Red Sea State border with Eritrea
- The Abyei region
- Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states
- Areas of Northern Kordofan and
- White Nile states south of the Kosti-El Obeid-En Nahud road.
The FCO also advise against all but essential travel to the areas west of the En-Nahud in North Kordofan towns up to the Darfur border.
Time difference
The time difference in Sudan is two hours ahead of British Summer Time and three hours of Greenwich Mean time, which should not result in too much altering to your diabetes management.
However, if you are unsure as how to manage your diabetes in Suda, you should discuss this with your diabetes team prior to arriving.
Climate
Sudan is a blisteringly hot country and extreme caution should be taken by insulin takers.
Average summer temperatures remain at around 35°C, which can lead to enhanced insulin absorption.
It is therefore critical to check your blood sugar levels vigilantly, especially if you are undertaking physical activity.
Currency
The currency used in Sudan is the Sudanese pound. It is advised to obtain currency before you depart the UK to secure the best rates, while there are no international ATMs in South Sudan and most hotels do not accept most credit or debit cards.
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations to enter Suda, however several are highly recommended. You should consult your doctor eight weeks prior to your departure in order to receive the vaccinations in time.
All travellers are recommended to get vaccinations for hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Hepatitis A and typhoid can be contracted through contaminated food or water.
Polio, meanwhile, will be required if you were vaccinated as a child but have not had a polio booster as an adult, or if you were not completely vaccinated as a child and do not know your vaccination status.
If you plan to be in Sudan for more than four weeks, the Sudanese government may require you to show proof of polio vaccination when exiting the country.
Some travellers are also recommended to receive vaccinations for other diseases, including hepatitis B and rabies, which can be carried by dogs, bats and other mammals in Sudan.
Yellow fever is a risk in certain parts of Suda, so it is recommended that travellers under the age of nine months should receive immunisation. The government of Sudan also require proof of yellow fever vaccination if you have travelled from a country with a risk of yellow fever.
Vaccination against meningitis is recommended for travellers planning to visit Sudan during its dry season of December–June, in which the disease is most common.
Access to medication
UK citizens with diabetes will not be entitled to any free medication services while in Sudan. Diabetic medication is available in Suda, but payment will be required. Upon payment, treatment is available either in a private hospital or government hospital. Government hospitals are available 24 hours a day. Blood and urine testing kits are available.
The number to call in case of an emergency in Sudan is 999.
Insulin
You should note which syringes are available in Suda, with U-80, U-40 and U-100 syringes the most commonly used.
The vast majority of insulin in the UK is U-100 insulin. If you need to take a different strength of insulin, say in an emergency, it’s important that you use the correct device and syringes for that insulin.
For example, you would use a U-40 syringe for U-40 insulin. You will need to work with a doctor getting the right dose if you’re using a different form of insulin.
Questions
- How is blood glucose measured in Sudan? Unfortunately, we do not have the information of whether blood glucose is measured in mg/dl or mmol/l in Sudan.
- What language is spoken in Sudan? Arabic, but English is quite widely spoken as well
- Will I need an international driving license when driving in Sudan? Yes
- If I want to hire a vehicle during my visit, will I face any form of discrimination? No
- What sugar free drinks are available in Sudan? Soda water, although drinks can be made sugar free on request at certain establishments
