Travel to Sudan! Travelling to this north African country with our kids was AMAZING but, like any country that doesn’t have access to safe drinking water, it had its challenges. This is a list of the 10 things we took, that we could not have survived without. If you’re visiting Sudan, do not overlook these easy to pack items that might save your life! We definitely recommend travel to Sudan as it’s one of the most rewarding countries we’ve ever been to.
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Microfibre Towels
Budget accommodation in Sudan rarely provides towels and for those regularly moving around, you need a quick-drying towel. Simple solution is these microfibre towels. They take up very little room as they pack down flat or can be rolled and also double as blankets.
Washing Line + Pegs + Soap
This is my ultimate travel hack but don’t worry, I don’t actually pack an entire washing line. I have two fluro orange, extra long shoelaces, 6 pegs and a bar of soap. At the time of writing this, we have visited 50 countries and this hack has not let me down once. I wash our clothes in the sink using the soap, peg them out using the shoelaces as a washing line and bingo. We have fresh, clean and dry clothes. Just because we backpack, doesn’t mean we want to look like our clothes are permanently creased or worn. This is a super simple hack for major benefits.
Life Water Bottle + Life Straws
I was sceptical about this water bottle and the additional straw that we bought but they were brilliant. Every time we sat down in a roadside cafe to eat, we were served a bucket of fresh water. Usually we would never have been able to drink it but thanks to our straws filtering out all the bacteria, we kept hydrated. We filled the bottle every day with tap water and the straw filters out all the floaters. A very environmentally friendly way of travelling and not buying water in plastic bottles.
Charcoal Tablets
Activated charcoal is an excellent adsorption material. It has been used for thousands of years in medicine and continues to be used today – most often in treating ingested overdoses or poisonous materials. It is brilliant to use IF you’re going to be ill or if you’re already sick.
The charcoal absorbs the bacteria helping you prevent and treat any travellers diarrhea and sickness bugs you might pick up. Because charcoal absorbs everything, it isn’t wise to take it all the time – especially if you’re taking prescribed meds. However, if you feel your stomach doing flip-flops or if you already have sickness and/or diarrhea, these capsules will help keep the illness short and less painful.
Shemagh Scarf
Sudan is a hot, dry and dusty country and when that wind comes, you’ll want to protect your head and face from the onslaught of sand and debris hitting you. We used these scarves nearly every day to protect us from the sun and wind. Flashpacking Sudan was a lot of fun for us and these scarves really helped us to keep on exploring, regardless of the weather.
Sterile Medical Pack
Thankfully we didn’t have to use our sterile medical pack which contains a number of new needles but I did feel relieved having it with us. Some developing countries don’t have access to new medical equipment and re-use needles which carries risk of spreading infectious diseases. We carried this small pack in our day packs just in case and it took up virtually no room. It fits in my hand & is soft to touch.
Sleeping Bag Liners
Lokandas (which offer real budget accommodation) rarely change the bedding so we really benefited from having our sleeping bag liners. I tucked my head into the pillow compartment which meant that none of me had to touch the pillows or covers provided. The only nuisance is rolling them back up everyday but if it meant I was less likely to get bed bugs, so be it.
Mosquito Repellent
I’m not a massive fan of DEET and I certainly would never put this directly onto my skin, however, I did spray it on my sleeping bag liner to prevent the mosquitos from circling around my head all night. I only used this product in Port Sudan (on the bottom of my jeans) and in Karima on my sleeping bag. Mosquitos are a problem in Sudan but they weren’t everywhere.
Organic Fragrance-Free Wet Wipes
I chose these wet wipes because they don’t contain any BPAs OR benzoate products. They’re organic, fragrance-free, toxin-free, biodegradable, the pack is 50% carbon neutral and they contain aloe vera. Sudan does not benefit from good trash or recycling collection so I wanted to know that whatever I used would have minimal impact to me & the environment.
Toilet Roll
Most places in Sudan still have Turkish squat toilets. Whilst some benefit from a douche attached, most don’t. None of us likes to drip dry, so I’d recommend always having a toilet roll in your bag. We like ‘Who Gives A Crap’ because the rolls are made from recycled paper and are fully biodegradable. Remember there’s no nice sewer system in Sudan!
Travel To Sudan Made Easier!
Now that the financial restraints have been lifted on Sudan, you can book your accommodation before you get there. This is such a relief for travellers.
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