Musawwarat es-Sufra
Sudan · River Nile · 470 m
Description
Musawwarat es-Sufra sits in a shallow desert valley north of Naqa and holds the strangest building of the Kushite world, the Great Enclosure. It is a sprawl of courtyards, ramps, corridors and small temples covering several hectares with no clear parallel anywhere, variously read as a pilgrimage centre, a royal retreat or a training ground for war elephants. Elephants appear repeatedly in its reliefs and as free standing statues, which is unusual in the region. A separate Lion Temple stands nearby, reconstructed from fallen blocks, and the site forms part of the UNESCO Island of Meroe.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Great Enclosure of Musawwarat
- Lion Temple of Musawwarat
- Elephant statues & reliefs
- Temple IIIA reliefs
- Great Hafir reservoir
- Ancient graffiti & mason marks
- Reconstructed column drums of Apedemak
- Musawwarat desert valley
- Central Terrace & temple platforms
- Naqa Lion Temple(Day trip)
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- KRT