The hotel restaurants in Khartoum and Port Sudan serve international cuisine and there are a few Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants. If invited to a Sudanese home, more exotic food will usually be served.

Things to know: Alcohol is banned by the Islamic Sharia code.

National specialities:
• The staple diet is fool, a type of bean.
• Dura, cooked maize or millet, which are eaten with various vegetables.

Tipping: Not customary.

The best entertainment is found in Khartoum and Omdurman, with the national theatre, music hall, cinemas, open-air and hotel entertainment.

The souk has stalls selling food, local crafts, spices, jewellery and silver. Special purchases include basketwork, ebony, gold and silver and assorted handicrafts. Visitors must not buy cheetah skins: the killing of cheetahs is prohibited and they are a protected species under the World Wildlife Act.

Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1330 and 1730-2000.