Packing list for Sudan, travel insurance for Sudan and taking your belongings

What to take to Sudan: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and a visa arranged in advance. Copies of your passport, visa, travel insurance and vaccination records are important (both offline and online), as is sufficient cash (brand-new US dollar banknotes issued after 2013), as cards and ATMs are barely usable, if at all.
• Clothing: lightweight, breathable, long and loose-fitting clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for hot days. This protects you from the sun, dust and insects, while also respecting local dress customs. Bring a warm layer for winter and desert areas as well.
• Shoes: comfortable sneakers or sturdy sandals for cities. Closed shoes with good grip are more practical for desert areas and hiking.
• Toiletries and hygiene: high-SPF sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitiser, tissues, wet wipes and sufficient personal care products. Don't forget menstrual products either.
• Packing and protecting your belongings: a good rain cover for your backpack (unless you're only travelling to the north, where it's bone dry) and resealable bags or a dry bag for your phone, passport, medication and electronics. In dry areas, dust and fine sand are a bigger problem than rain, so it's important to protect your electronics properly.
• Insects and animals: a good insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin and a tick remover for travel outside the cities.
• Sleeping: an insecticide-treated mosquito net for basic accommodation, camping or travelling when you're not sleeping in a properly sealed room.
• Medication and travel first aid kit: sufficient supplies of your personal medication, ORS, plasters, blister plasters, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, hand sanitiser and a thermometer. Bringing extra medication in case your trip lasts longer than planned is also a good idea.
• Outdoor and useful items: sunglasses, a wide-brimmed sun hat, a reusable water bottle with a filter, a small daypack and a lightweight buff or scarf to protect you from the sun, dust and sand.
• Technology and equipment: a universal travel adapter because several types of sockets are used, a power bank and a headlamp. Download important information, maps and translation resources in advance, as internet access, mobile coverage and electricity can be unreliable.
• Safety and theft: it's recommended to carry a copy of your passport and keep the original somewhere safe whenever possible. Be aware of the strict rules on photography.

To consider:

• An extra water bottle or hydration reservoir for longer journeys.
• A water filter or water purification tablets.
• Offline maps and an offline translation app.
• A sleeping liner for basic accommodation.
• Extra vegetarian or vegan food or snacks for longer journeys and unexpected delays.

Are there mosquitoes in Sudan?

• Yes, and malaria is a major health risk. Malaria occurs throughout the country. Other mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, are also present.
• The risk varies by region and season, but malaria is present throughout the country. The risk is higher in the wetter south and along the Nile, but it's important to protect yourself everywhere.
• Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are particularly active between dusk and sunrise. Other mosquitoes can also bite during the day. It's therefore advisable to use insect repellent and wear lightweight, long clothing both during the day and at night, and to sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net if your room isn't properly sealed.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Sudan?

• There are many sandflies in Sudan, and unfortunately, they can also transmit leishmaniasis. You're particularly at risk in rural, dry and semi-arid areas.
• Sandflies are very small and mainly active around dusk and at night. You often don't even notice you've been bitten until the itching starts later.
• Fortunately, long clothing, insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, and sleeping under a suitable mosquito net can help prevent bites.
• Other insects are also found in Sudan, including ticks and, in the southwest and southeast, tsetse flies.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Are DEET, or other insect repellents, available in Sudan?

• You may be able to find insect repellents in larger cities, but supplies are limited and it can take some patience. Don't count on finding them. The current situation and disruptions to supply chains can also cause availability to change quickly.
• It's therefore important to bring enough DEET or picaridin for your entire trip.
• More about DEET.

Can you buy a beer or a glass of wine in Sudan, or bring it with you to Sudan?

• Sudan is a Muslim country, and alcohol is heavily regulated. Due to the situation in the country, the rules can change quickly and aren't very clear. 

Can you buy a joint or weed in Sudan, or bring it with you to Sudan?

• No. Although drugs are certainly present in the country, they are strictly illegal, and very severe penalties apply to drug use, trafficking, purchasing and other drug-related activities.
• It's therefore also a good idea to check your belongings carefully for any traces of drugs before travelling to the country.

Packing list for Sudan: comprehensive

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