The Confluence of the Niles

At Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, one of the world's great geographical moments takes place: the confluence of the Blue Nile, which tumbles down from the Ethiopian highlands, and the White Nile, which flows from the great lakes of central Africa, joining to form the single mighty Nile that then flows north through Egypt to the Mediterranean. This union of the two rivers, sometimes visible as a line where their different-coloured waters meet, is the watery heart of the country and gives Khartoum its very name, said to come from an elephant's trunk of land at the junction. Riverside promenades, bridges and boat trips let visitors take in this remarkable natural spectacle.

What you actually see

• The river junction - the meeting of the Blue and White Nile.
• The two-toned waters - the line where the rivers' colours meet.
• The riverside - the promenades and bridges over the Niles.
• The boat trips - the views of the confluence from the water.

When to go

November to February, the cool dry season, is the most pleasant time to enjoy the rivers and riverside, avoiding the extreme summer heat and dust; the contrast between the two Niles' waters is often clearest in this season. Boat trips and the riverfront are especially lovely in the mild winter.

Honest expectations

The colour contrast where the two rivers meet varies with the seasons and river levels, so it is not always dramatically visible, and Khartoum is a large, busy capital rather than a scenic town. As the meeting point of the two great Niles, one of Africa's most significant river junctions and the very heart of Sudan, though, the confluence is a genuinely fascinating and evocative place.

Nearby

The old city of Omdurman and the National Museum lie across the rivers.