I set the alarm for 0300 to allow plenty of time to catch public transport to the bus departure point. The hotel receptionist said that there would be minibuses running even at that time in the morning.
Off to the corner opposite the minimarket, I went, just before 0330. I waited about 10 minutes and a small car pulled up. I couldn’t tell whether it was yellow (taxi) or white but I hopped in regardless when he agreed to a reasonable fare.
I was a the departure point about 45 mins prior to the departure time of 0430. All too easy! It could have easily ended in tears though, because I didn’t see any minibuses running at all during the long wait for my longhaul bus to arrive.
Sure enough, it arrived on-the-dot at 0430 and we set off immediately to Omdurman (a suburb of Khartoum), specifically, a place near Souq Libya where I was yesterday on the way to the camel market.
We waited for about an hour before leaving Khartoum in earnest at 0600. After an uneventful journey largely through the desert, we arrived at Dongola at 1100. I was dropped off unceremoniously at a Y-junction presumably because the bus continued to Wadi Halfa.
I took a tuktuk to the Haifa Hotel which couldn’t take me, so I walked a couple of doors to the Lord Hotel. It was a very simple place for SDG30 per night including a squat toilet and bathroom.
Dongola is the capital of Sudan’s Northern State but it is a small laid back town. Most buildings are just one storey. It is set near the river and has some lush palms giving it an oasis feel.
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- Pit stop between Khartoum and Dongola.
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- “Lobby” of Lord Hotel.
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- My private room at Lord Hotel.
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- My private bathroom at Lord Hotel.
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- Cafes outside Lord Hotel.
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- Cafes outside Lord Hotel.
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- Cafe handwash facility.
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- Street scene in Dongola during the quiet hours of Friday.
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- Street scene in Dongola during the quiet hours of Friday.
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- Street scene in Dongola during the quiet hours of Friday.
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- Wheat and palms in Dongola.
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- Bread delivery.
