Port Sudan was founded by the British in 1905 to replace the ancient sea port of Suakin, its deep-water harbor giving it the edge where it comes to the larger ocean-going vessels that cut through from the Suez canal.
A small town that can be easily explored on foot, but also a good base to visit nearby Suakin or Erokwit further away.
The Docks
Do like the Sudanese do and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the L-shaped area overlooking the harbor.
The Fish Market
A lively affair in the early morning when the catch comes in. Go pick your fish, weight it and have it cooked on the neighboring grills. Or just enjoy the on-land equivalent of an aquarium and click some photogenic fishermen posing with their catch.
The Red Sea
While Port Sudan might seem unimpressive above the waves, once you venture out into the water, it’s a whole other story. While you’ll get to see some cool shipwrecks up close, the Red Sea’s wildlife is the real draw here. The dive scene is impressive and largely untapped in this area, making it a perfect spot to dive or snorkel. Nowhere else in the red sea can you find such large schools of big species of fish. Imagine swimming with a dozen manta rays, 50 barracuda or over a hundred hammerhead sharks!
Pro-tip:
- Popular dive sites in the north include: Mesharifa (also known as Manta point), Abnigton Reef, Angarosh , (which aproposly translates into ‘mother of sharks’) and Merlo.
- Popular dive sites around Port Sudan include: Sha’ab Rumi South, Sha’ab Rumi West (where you can see Jacques Costeau’s Conshelf II), Sanganeb, Wingate Reef (where the Italian ship Umbria sank) and Sha’ab Saudi (another wreck site).
- Popular dive sites in the south include: Nakhlat el Qaseer, Ambar Reef, Sailada Kebir Island (nicknamed ‘turtle island’) and Pender Reef.
Suakin
Sudan’s oldest port and the caravan route hub for the Nile and West Africa. The town is divided into the mainland settlement of El Gerf and the island port of Suakin proper. Legend has it that Suakin was once the home of magical spirits: King Solomon imprisoned a jinn (genie) on the island. A ship full of Ethiopian maidens was on its way to visit the Queen of Sheba when a storm blew it off course to Suakin. When it finally set sail again, the virginal girls were astonished to discover themselves pregnant, carrying the seed of the supernatural host. The port was abandoned over a century ago, but some buildings on the island are still in good shape. Khoshid Effendi’s house is one of the best-preserved buildings along with Hanafi and Shafai mosques with their distinctive minarets.
Arous and Sudan Red Sea Resort
Arous is a tiny village about 25 km north of Port Sudan and it just so happens to be in close proximity to Sudan’s only seaside resort.
Erokwit
As the British colonizers were wont to do, they chose this green spot high in the Red Sea hills to use as a hill resort before they left Sudan in 1956. Being at an altitude of 1,100 m and pleasantly cool, the British dubbed it ‘the mist oasis’. While not as green as it once was, Erokwit still offers tempting opportunities for hiking and even spotting a Nubian ibex out on the hillside.