Shopping

Khartoum may not have as many souks as the neighbouring city of Omdurman, but the enormous Souq (Souk) Arabi, where the locals go to chat, haggle and simply pass the time, more than makes up for it. Spread over several squares in the very heart of the city, the market’s many sections include one that is dedicated entirely to the sale of gold.

Al Qasr Street and Al Jamhoriyah Street are the equivalent to London’s Oxford Street or New York’s Fifth Avenue, while the Afra Mall, opened in 2004, boasts department stores, a hypermarket, movie theatres, food court, internet cafe, pool tables, bowling hall and a children's playground.

Top souvenir buys would include ebony wood carvings, necklaces, bracelets, beads, gold and silver jewellery, clay coffee pots, Sudanese baskets and speciality food and spices, but be prepared to haggle hard.