Suakin, Sudan

Suakin is a port in north-eastern Sudan, on the west coast of the Red Sea. It was formerly the region's chief port, but is now secondary to Port Sudan, about 30 miles north. Most of Suakin's buildings are two or three-storey with vertical walls (unlike the tapered walls of the interior deserts) and large shuttered and screened casement windows, known locally as roshan, project over the streets. The buildings are made of coral stone and whitewashed with lime both inside and out.

Suakin is comprised of three parts: the island known as the Gezira, the mainland known as the Geif, and the villages nearby which occupy the desert region stretching ten miles to the hills.

Things to See & Do

* El-Geyf mosque
* Historical remains
* Coral stone buildings

General Information

Cruise Season - Oct - May
Currency - Sudanese pound (SDG)
Language - Arabic, English
Population - 44,000 approx
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus three hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 249

Port location - Port Sudan is located approximately 30 miles north of Suakin.

Transport Links - Ferries run daily from Suakin to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.