Jazirat Tuti Travel Guide

Tuti Island has maintain a lifestyle which has been around for generations but with the advent of the new bridge, this patch of land may become the hottest property around. Situated in the heart of Khartoum and close proximity to Nile Avenue, I won't be surprised if new development projects will soon take shape here.

Stepping into Tuti Island, you will find yourself in a different place than Khartoum. It is reminiscent of a small rural area with a small town but you can start to see the signs of change. Huge villas are under construction amongst the traditional houses with small lanes where you can find locals walking by.

There is a big field in front of the town's mosque where boys play football in the afternoons. Other than the local Tutians, people from other parts of Sudan have settled here e.g South Sudanese.

Close to the local cafe areas, the smell of fried fish fills the air and more people congregating to socialize or buy their cold drinks from one of the small shops that line the street. There is also one main asphalt street that runs for maybe a mile or so but I suspect once the bridge from Khartoum is completed, that street will connect to many other areas on the island

1 more image

Most of the land on Tuti Island is used for agricultural purposes and therefore, you can wander around some of these farms without any problems. It's a good escape from all the dust & monotonous color of Khartoum city

Our bajaj driver took us through some of these farms and beeped his horn at anyone to let them know that we're with him. The children are especially curious to see us. Some farmers even recommended some good spots to visit on the island, like the beach

Since Khartoum is landlocked, you can't enjoy a day at the beach unless you come to Tuti Island

Each year, the the rivers rise and recede to reveal a little beach on the east side of Tuti Island. This normally occurs after the rainy season and during "winter". From the beach, you get fabulous views of Palace Hotel & the Presidential Palace.

There are no fancy stalls or daybeds for rent, just soft sand to play or lie on. So bring your own blankets & snacks if you want to enjoy the day under the sun and watch the world go by. Remember that it's still right in the heart of bustling Khartoum. To me, it was a fun trip with friends and it's always nice to feel real sand between my toes again

4 more images

The making of red bricks can be seen all along the Nile. There is still a flourishing industry on Tuti Island.
The bricks are made from a mixture of Nile silt, cow dung and water. This is aallowed to ferment for some time. Then the mixture is shaped into bricks, stacked up and wood is inserted and the whole structure is covered with mud. The wood is lit and the kiln is allowed to burn for two weeks. Then the kiln is opened and the bricks are ready to be sold and used.
This traditional method is how Khartoum was built.

Getting to Tuti Island is not difficult but right now, the only means of getting there is by using the public boats or ferry between Khartoum & the island. Each boat carries around 20 passengers, all squeezed in mainly because the boatmen try to make as much money in one trip. So I sit close to the lifebuoy just in case of anything. The trip across the river takes around 5-10 min and is quite pleasant

You can get on them from Nile Avenue, just opposite Friendship Hall & the new Borg al Fateh building. Fares are also cheap, about SP0.50 or 50 Sudanese Dinars (approx. $0.25) and leave just as soon as they get enough passengers to fill the boats

Note : Once the bridge between Khartoum & Tuti Island is completed, I doubt they will continue running these ferries anymore