A Comprehensive Guide about Living in Khartoum

Life in Khartoum

Culture and Leisure

The city is home to many of Sudan’s major tourist attractions, including the large National Museum, the Palace Museum close to the Presidential Palace, and the White Nile Bridge. There is also a pleasant botanical garden where life in Khartoum slows down for a while. Home to several international clubs, expats living in Khartoum can find like-minded people to chat with over cool drinks. For people wanting sporting activities, The Greek Club is open to the public and offers facilities for tennis, volleyball, basketball, football, running and a swimming pool at low cost. Those wishing to get closer to the Nile can take a training course at the Blue Nile Sailing Club, and golf is also an outdoor option.

Afra Mall in the southern Arkeweet district has a supermarket and other retail outlets, together with coffee shops and entertainment facilities such as a bowling alley, movie theaters and a children’s playground.

Expats should bear in mind that alcohol is restricted in Khartoum due to the Islamic culture of Sudan, although great restaurants contribute to an enjoyable nightlife.

Healthcare in Khartoum

The quality of healthcare in Sudan is lower than in some other parts of the world, but the good news is that the best healthcare in the country is located in Khartoum. Medication supply is also limited, and expats are advised to stock up on personal medication before traveling. Emergency services are free for the first 24 hours, but where payment is required cash is expected. Physicians’ private clinics often take appointments in the evenings rather than the day time. The phone number for all emergency services, including medical attention, is 999.

The most prominent hospitals are the Royal Care International Hospital and the Fedail Hospital. Both have good websites in English.

Education in Khartoum

Education in Sudan is free and compulsory for children aged six to 13 years, and Arabic is the primary language. Sudan has 19 universities, and the literacy rate for the country is 70.2% of the total population, although it is higher in Khartoum.

In terms of international schools, KAS (Khartoum American School) is a co-educational day school which includes programs for nursery through Grade 12, and the majority of the international staff is qualified American teachers. All classroom teachers are certified, and the school claims an average of 15 years’ teaching experience per teaching staff member.

KICS (Khartoum International Community School) offers international programs and a variety of extracurricular activities as a coveted and globally respected Certified International Baccalaureate school. International schools are expensive and fees range from around 10,000–23,000 USD per year. The Sudan International University and the International University of Africa are both in Khartoum, as is the century-old University of Khartoum.