The steep pyramids
Small, among orange dunes.
Ahmed Amir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ahmed Amir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ahmed Amir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ahmed Amir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ahmed Amir — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Pyramids of Meroe are royal tombs near the villages of Bagrawiyah on the east bank of the Nile, part of the Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011. Their small, steep pyramids stand among orange dunes, among the finest archaeological sights in Africa, though few outside Sudan know them. Meroe was the capital of the Kingdom of Kush for several centuries, from about 590 BC until its collapse in the 4th century AD. Royal burials moved here from Napata under King Arakamani, about 280 BC. Reports from August 2026 say visitors and conservation work stopped in 2023 and that sand is building up around the tombs. You see rows of stone pyramids, each with a small gated chapel before it whose walls are carved with royal scenes. Many have lost their tops, as some were broken open in the 19th century in search of treasure. The scene is finest at sunrise and sunset, when the sand reddens. The state of the site today may differ from these photos. It is about 43 km in a straight line from Shendi and about 200 km north-east of Khartoum. There is no shade and the heat is fierce for most of the year, so winter has been the best season. Do not climb the pyramids. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Sudan, and access may not be possible, so check official guidance before making any plans.
Small, among orange dunes.
Royal scenes on the walls.
Sand turning red.
Near Bagrawiyah, north-east of Shendi, River Nile State, Sudan
Some were broken open in the 19th century in search of treasure.
Do not count on it, and check official guidance first, as the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Sudan.