Sudan

Nubia, the Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs

Sudan is the modern name of ancient Nubia.

It originates from the Arabic Bilad as-Sudan which means land of black people.
Nubian history has been always entwined with the great river that runs across it: the Nile.
Therefore its history is connected with Egypt, land of the majestic pharaohs that rose and developed
along the great river. Sudan is considered another Egypt.It was always a corridor between
the two sides of Africa: the white Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, firstly Egyptian,
Greek and then Roman; the black Africa, a land reach of sensations still mysterious in many ways.
This peculiar mixture makes it an incredible country very interesting from many points of view:
its archeology, natural landscapes and deserts and its people, all of them still untouched by tourism.
Sudan is both a fascinating, but also frightening country. The charming recall to ancient Nubia,
the corridor along the Nile through which Egyptian and Mediterranean culture intermingled
with the African culture contrasts with its political instability that lasted many years and nowadays
is restrained in the western area of the country, more than 1000 km far from the area where we travel

History, Archaeology and Temples

The most important time in North Sudan begins in 1350 B.C. when
the Egyptian pharaohs conquered Nubia leaving behind temples,
monuments and permeating the local culture. Then, after a period
of apparent calmness, a new kingdom was born. It was the Kushite
kingdom that had its capital in Napata (near modern Karima).
This was the golden age of Nubia; in 725 B.C. the Nubian king Piankhi conquered Egypt. In
these times the concept of pyramids as funerary monuments spread in Nubia while it had been
completely abandoned in Egypt for centuries. As time passed by, Napata lost its importance
and Meroe, located much further southward, became the new capital of the kingdom.
Hieroglyphic became meaningless and a new writing system, the Meroitic, developed. It is
still wrapped in mystery nowadays. Meroe was the most important city in Sudan for many
centuries until its fell in IV cen. A.D.

UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sudan:

The Temples of Naga and Mussawarat
The site of Naga, north of Khartoum, developed during the Meroitic period. In Naga, in a typical
Saharan environment with rocks and sand, we find a temple dedicated to Apedemak (1st century
a.D.): a wonderful building with bas-relief decorations depicting the god with a lions head, the
Pharaoh, noblemen and several ritual images. In front of it a peculiar construction with arches
and columns, named kiosk, shows Egyptian, Roman and Greek influences, all at the same time.
Another temple dedicated to Amon stands nearby with many statues of rams and beautiful gates
decorated with bas-reliefs. The settlement of Mussawarat is located not far away from here in a
beautiful valley crowned by hills. Here visitors will find the ruins of a very big temple that once
played an exceptional important role. Its main characteristic, the Great Enclosure, is made by
many constructions and boundary walls which surround a temple built in the 1st century a.D. The
large number of elephants represented on these walls makes you think that this animal used to
have an important role in this area.

The Royal City and Necropolis of Meroe

The Royal necropolis of Meroe is located at about 3 km from the Nile on some hills covered by yellow
sand dunes. Several pyramids stand out with their sharp shapes against the clear sky. Each one has its
own funerary chapel with the walls fully decorated with bas-reliefs that show the Kings life and offers
to the gods. Along the Nile there are the ruins of the royal city. The excavations confirm that the town
of Meroe used to cover a large area and the royal city was located in a central position, surrounded
by suburbs and a boundary wall. An interesting building named the bath that was filled in with the
water from the Nile still shows beautiful decorations. Meroe is one of the most important monuments
of the first civilizations that developed in the African continent.

Jebel Barkal, the Holy Mountain

Landmark in the Nubian Desert, Jebel Barkal can be seen from kilometers away whilst still in the
open desert. The ancient Egyptians and Kushites alike believed that the mountain was the home of
the god Amon, the Throne of Two Lands - Egypt and Nubia. At the foot of this wonderful and
isolated red sandstone mountain there is a big temple, dedicated to the Pharaohs of the New Reign
and to their patron, Amon. Amons ancient Pure Mountain, the Olympus of the Nubians, was the
religious Nubian heart for more than 1000 years. In the mountain wall there is a big room decorated
with bas-relief. The Royal necropolises of the ancient city of Napata, the Nubian capital (from 800 to
400 b.C.) before the Meroitic period, had a large number of pyramids, located in three different places:
few metres north of Jebel Barkal; in El Kurru, few kilometres south of the holy mountain (where it is
possible to visit two beautiful painted tombs); in Nuri located on the other bank of the Nile.

The Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs

9 days all accommodated tour with 6 overnights in rest-house and permanent tented camp equipped with all
comforts. Possible extensions to Soleb.

This arid region of extraordinary archaeological interest and beautiful landscapes becomes accessible
even to those reluctant to sacrifice their comfort. Travelers will have a chance to visit unique
archaeological sites such as the pyramids of the royal necropolis of Meroe, the temples of Naga
and Mussawarat, the painted tombs of El Kurru, Jebel Barkal the holy mountain and Old Dongola.
Tour in comfortable 4x4 vehicles, in small groups led by experienced guides. Amazing sites still pristine
alternates to beautiful landscapes, colorful and lively local markets.

Ancient Magical Land

15 days expedition in the Nubian Desert and the Nile Valley. Overnights in wild camps.

Jebel Uweinat

The northern regions of Sudan are completely stranger to the tensions and conflicts that are going on
in the faraway Darfur. This is a calm and quite land, inhabited by a warm population. The tour follows
the Nile and its course. Along its banks there are many beautiful and unknown archaeological sites
among which the Island of Sai, the Egyptian temples of Soleb, the necropolis of Kerma, Jebel Barkal,
the painted tombs in El Kurru, the pyramids of Meroe and the magnificent temples of Naga and
Mussawarat. The tour unfolds through different environments, deserts, volcanoes, ancient gold mines
and secret valleys, from Khartoum until the border with Egypt in Wadi Halfa. The encounters with
local people will be frequent and amazing due to their kindness and hospitality.

16 days expedition to the amazing isolated mountain range in the most remote corner of the Western Desert.

A long and tough expedition with more than 2000 kilometers off road through the Western desert of
Northern Sudan to reach the Jebel Uweinat, the mysterious mountains on the border with Egypt and Libya.
We visit remote desert oases and some of the less visited archaeological sites. its valley and witness the
amazing surrounding landscapes and the rock art galleries - which are possibly the best in the world.
This journey of discovery exceed all expectations!
Overnights in wild camp under the starry African sky.

Our Properties

TREKKING tours available on request.

The Nubian Rest-House in Karima.

The Meroe Camp.

The Nubian Rest-House is a charming small hotel built in the typical

Nubian style just at the foot of Jebel Barkal, the holy mountain of
the old Egyptian and Nubian pharaohs. It is surrounded by a large
private enclosure, with a nice garden and a leisure area.

The Meroe Camp is located about 230 km north of Khartoum

overlooking the beautiful pyramids of the Royal Necropolis of
Meroe. Here there are an incredible number of sharp shaped
pyramids with votive chapels decorated with bas-relieves.

Each A/C room is characterized by a peculiar Nubian door and has

its own private bathroom and a pleasant veranda. The decor and
finishing have been carefully selected. They come mainly from Italy
and provide an elegant yet rustic charm.
A reception, a restaurant and a living room with decorated walls
complete the wonderful setting. All the buildings are made with local
bricks covered by hand-spread clay plaster as used in the Nubian area.
The hotel is run by an Italian manager and well-trained Sudanese staff.

Accommodation in our camp consists of 22 twin-bedded tents

(4x4 m), tastefully furnished with its own private bathroom with
shower and toilet. Each tent has a veranda with two comfortable
chairs to relax in front of the astonishing view of the pyramids. The
restaurant maintains an ethnical style and has a nice viewing terrace
over the sandy desert, where a cool and refreshing welcome drinks
are served every evening around sunset time. The camp is managed
by an Italian manager with the help of well-trained Sudanese staff.

. . . two shapes, above all, will remain in the minds

of those who have visited this archaic country:
the profile of the Kushitic sharp,
pointed and light pyramids and the beauty
of the bodies and faces of the Nubian people. . .

THE ITALIAN TOURISM Co. Ltd

Street 31, Al Amarat, Khartoum - SUDAN - Website: www.italtoursudan.com
For information and booking
I VIAGGI DI MAURIZIO LEVI - Milano - ITALY - Tel. +02 34934528 - Fax +02 34934595 - E-mail: international@italtoursudan.com