Religion

Sudan is an Islamic country where Sharia law has been enforced by the government. Although it is illegal to consume alcohol and drugs, many individuals dip a type of snuff, and some people distill moonshine.

Even if they see other tourists who do not respect this tradition, Western women would be advised to follow suit, since Sudanese women often wear highly modest dress and cover their heads. Instead of shorts, men should wear long trousers. When in doubt, be discreet and safe.

Although the Sudanese do not demand that visitors observe Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, it is impolite to consume food, beverages, or tobacco in public. (Many people are excused from Ramadan, such as diabetics and those who travel a particular distance; hence, it is feasible to find open eateries during the day, but they are not well marketed.)

You can rest guaranteed that any foreigner will be treated as a native and treated as such, often receiving a sentence of several months in jail and a whipping with a minimum of forty lashes (it may be more, according to the discretion of the local cleric).

Because of the political upheaval, news may spread slowly and there may be great distances between cities and villages, making it unlikely that your government—if it even knows about it or bothers to intervene—will be able to assist you.

Under no circumstances could Muhammad's likenesses, sculptures, or other likenesses be displayed. When a British teacher in Sudan permitted one of her kids to call a teddy bear "Muhammad," a fiery controversy sprang out, sparking unrest in Sudan.

Although there were no fatalities and the British teacher was safe in her own country, other analogous conflicts like the Muhammad pictures in the Jyllands-Posten and the Pope Benedict XVI have resulted in violence.