The national capital of The Sudan sits at the confluence of the Blue Nile
and White Nile and, in its relatively short history, has been the scene of
many dramatic events.
The Sudan's history dates back to ancient times, when there were two main civilisations
in the country, Nubia and Kush. It was divided into many smaller kingdoms at
this time, some which were converted to Christianity, while others became Muslim
states. As the influence of Egypt grew in the second millennium, Islam gained
prominence, but the invasion of refugees in the south has continued to divide
the country, both religiously and tribally.
The Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali sent armies of occupation in 1821 and Khartoum
was founded in 1823 because of its strategic position. Ismail Pasha tried to
strengthen Egypt's influence and in 1874 appointed the British General Gordon
as governor general until 1879. The Islamic leader, the Mahdi, believing he
was a new prophet, led a rebellion in 1881 and Gordon returned to evacuate
the Egyptian army from its Khartoum headquarters, but died in the siege of
the city during 1885. In 1898 the Mahdi's successor was defeated at Omdurman
by an Anglo-Egyptian Army led by Lord Kitchener and thereafter the allies jointly
ruled the Sudan until independence in the mid-50s.
Khartoum takes its name from the strip of land between the two rivers at the
centre of the city, which resembles the curling end of an elephant's trunk,
in Arabic - Ras-al-hartum - the end of the trunk. Kitchener laid out the rebuilt
city centre in the patriotic form of a Union Jack, and this area contains some
fine examples of African colonial architecture as well as mosques and the national
museum. Despite the country's desperate poverty and constant civil strife Khartoum
is well maintained and radiating an outward air of some prosperity.
Infants are not provided with a seat. If your baby is more than 6 months old, you may book a seat for him/her listing him/her as a “child”. More information is available at carriage of infants.
