www.sudan-embassy.co.uk Sudan was an important crossroad for several vital routes since ancient times, because of its unique geographic location. Old historical records have established beyond doubt the presence of these routes and the various functions they served. These functions were trade, travel, transport of mines' products and the transport of pilgrims. As a consequence, these routes are of a great historic significance and touring them would be a very interesting experience. They are:

Adfu-Hamaythira-Aidhab Road
It emanated from the small town of Adfu in Lower Egypt and penetrated the eastern desert across the desolate village of Hamaythira to reach the port of Aidhab on Sudan's Red Sea coastline. The road once served the Hadj pilgrimage and mining expeditions, but became out of use in 1426 AD when the Turkish Sultan Barsay destroyed the port of Aidhab. It is to be mentioned that famous Arab geographers and philosophers, namely lbn Gubeir, Ibn Batuta and lbn Khaidoun travelled on this road in their way to Mecca for pilgrimage.

Aswan - Second Cataract Road
This trail on the western bank of the Nile, started at Aswan in Lower Egypt and proceeded southwards to the second cataract in northern Sudan. According to hieroglyphic scribes written on a sandstone found 7 km south of Wadi Halfa, pharaonic campaigns led by the Egyptian king Jer (3100 BC) and by Ramses 11 (1290-1224 BC) marched south along this path to conquer the Nubian Kingdom of Sudan.

Bayouda Road
The road connected Shendi to Karima across the Bayouda desert. It was the road along which the Meroitic king Nastasen (320-310 BC) marched from his royal city at Bagrawiya near Shendi to Karima, in order to be crowned at the temple of Amun on Mountain Barkal, as was recorded on a tableau found in the temple.

Pilgrims Road
Pilgrims from the West African countries of Mauritania, Chad, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Cameroon used to travel along this road. It penetrated Sudanese territory through El Fasher in Northern Darfur, then proceeded

eastwards crossing the White and Blue Niles to reach the Red Sea coast at Suakin, from where pilgrims sailed to Mecca.

Suakin - Berber Road
Regarded as one of the oldest routes connecting the coast of the Red Sea to the interior backlands of Sudan, the road was used by ancient pharaohs to transport goods from Africa to the coast. It was famous during the Meroitic and Christian eras, as well as during the Funj Kingdom (1505-1820 AD) and the Turkish rule. Sheikh Babikir Badri, the pioneer of women's education in Sudan, had often travelled along it in company of caravans, as mentioned in his autobiography, 'My Life'.

The Forty Days Path (Derb El Arbaeen)
This path connected Sudan with Egypt. It started in Milleet (Western Sudan), crossed the desert of western Sudan and Egypt, passed through Asyout on the eastern bank of the Nile and terminated at Cairo.