Sudan

Until 2011, before the independence of its southernmost portion and the redefinition of its internal borders, Sudan was the largest nation in Africa and perhaps also the least known. For years, it was penalised by stereotypes that portrayed it in a gloomy light and in many cases discouraged travellers, but only recently does it seem to have found its fortune. This opening up has been boosted by niche tourism interested in discovering the priceless treasures jealously guarded among the gentle sand dunes.

But Sudan is not only this. The welcome and kindness of its inhabitants are truly unparalleled and are the corollary to an impressive cultural wealth, a thousand-year history intertwined with that of neighbouring Egypt and a mosaic of traditions that are among the most precious in Africa.

It is the country where Arab and African cultures meet, the country of black pharaohs and pyramids without souvenir sellers, the country of the most beautiful seabeds of the Red Sea and of desert expanses made fertile by the Nile. It is the country of Nubian houses, behind whose beautifully painted doors there will always be room for everyone. And it is probably this unparalleled hospitality that captivates travellers and ensures that Sudan is often remembered by those who have visited it as a favourite among African countries.