Sudan National Museum

The Sudan National Museum in Khartoum held the country's principal archaeological collection, running from prehistory through Kerma, the Kushite kingdoms and Christian Nubia, and in its garden stand two temples from Buhen and Semna that were dismantled and moved here before the Aswan High Dam flooded their sites in the 1960s. Frescoes rescued from the cathedral at Faras were among the most significant holdings. The building and much of the collection were badly damaged in 2023, and the museum's present state is uncertain.

What's there

• The relocated temples - the Buhen and Semna buildings moved before the flooding.
• The Faras frescoes - the Christian Nubian wall paintings rescued from the cathedral.
• The Kerma material - the finds from one of Africa's earliest urban cultures.
• The Kushite collection - the statuary and objects from the Napatan and Meroitic periods.

When to go

November to February is the cool season. The museum's opening status has been uncertain in recent years and should be checked before travelling. March to May is extremely hot.

Things to know

The museum's status has been uncertain and its collections have suffered damage and loss in recent years; check before travelling rather than assuming it is open. Labelling was limited even when fully operating. Travel in Sudan requires arrangements made well in advance.

Nearby

Omdurman is across the river, and the Nile confluence is nearby.

Key facts