Ghazali Monastery
A Christian Nubian monastery in the Bayuda desert, with church walls still standing.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Ghazali stands in the Wadi Abu Dom on the edge of the Bayuda desert, a monastery of the Makurian period whose church survives with walls standing to a good height in stone and brick, along with the monastic buildings, a refectory and cemeteries with inscribed grave markers in Greek, Coptic and Old Nubian. It functioned for several centuries. Iron smelting sites nearby suggest the community was working metal on a considerable scale.
What you actually see
- The church - the stone and brick walls standing to a good height.
- The monastic buildings - the refectory and living quarters around the church.
- The inscribed graves - markers in Greek, Coptic and Old Nubian.
- The smelting sites - the ironworking remains near the monastery.
When to go
November to February is the cool season. March to May is extremely hot with no shade. The track in needs four-wheel drive.
Honest expectations
There is no shade, water or facility at the site. The track in requires a suitable vehicle. Travel in Sudan requires arrangements made well in advance.
Nearby
Karima is northeast, and the Bayuda desert runs southwest.
What to pack for Ghazali Monastery
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.