Nyala
Sudan · Africa
About Nyala
Nyala is a city and the capital of the state of South Darfur in the south-west of Sudan, with an estimated population of 1,100,000 in 2024.
Nyala was the capital of the Daju Empire, which was established around Jebel Um-Kurdós. However, many sites of ancient antiquities, pottery, engraved pictures of battles, horses, animals and hunting are still awaiting further scientific archaeological work at Jebel Daju. The most important archaeological sites discovered yet are Nari, Kedingnyir, Dobo, Simiat Hills, Jebel Keima, Kalokitting, Jebel Wara, and Jebel Marra itself.
When the United Kingdom conquered present-day Sudan, the British commander-in-chief met Sultan Adam Suleiman in 1932, seeking his advice for his knowledge of the best places in terms of availability of water sources and land topography in order to establish the British Administration Headquarters in Darfur. Sultan Adam Suleiman had chosen Nyala for that purpose.
During the Darfur conflict, thousands of internally displaced persons have gathered near the city in the hopes of protection. The refugee camp in the southern portion of Nyala is...
Nyala travel guide
Understand
Nyala is an industrial city and the capital of southern Darfur. It is a major trading post for Gum arabic. Although Nyala is in Darfur, it has escaped most of the violent conflict; however there are thousands of refugees in camps just outside the city.
Getting there
By plane 1 Nyala Airport (UYL IATA). The small airport sees multiple daily flights from Khartoum with Sudan Airways.
By train Nyala is also the western terminus of the rail network in Sudan. Services are sporadic and there is no fixed timetable, there should at least be 1-2 services from Khartoum each month, as well as a service from Ar Rahad. Journey time are up to 50 hours.
2 Nyala railway station. (updated Sep 2021)
See
1 Darfur Community Museum (متحف دارفور). A combined regional archaeological museum and community centre. (updated Sep 2021)
Sleep
1 Al Daman Hotel, ☏ +249 71 182 5330. One of few hotels in town, often used by government and business travellers. (updated Sep 2017)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.