When most people picture a pyramid, their minds immediately drift to the golden sands of the Giza Plateau and the dominating structure of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. For decades, Egypt has been the undisputed face of ancient monumental architecture, leading many to assume it is the world’s “pyramid capital.”

However, a look at the numbers reveals a surprising twist. Egypt is not actually home to the highest concentration of these ancient structures. That title belongs to its southern neighbour, Sudan. Tucked away in the desert landscapes of the ancient region of Nubia, Sudan boasts nearly double the number found in Egypt. Built primarily between 800 BCE and 350 AD, these Sudanese, or Nubian, pyramids may be smaller and steeper than their Egyptian counterparts, but they nevertheless represent a prolific and sophisticated era of African history that can easily be called one of the world’s most fascinating hidden wonders.

The residents of Sudan were the most prolific pyramid builders, constructing between 200 and 255 pyramids, compared to their northern neighbour, which has around 118 structures. The most famous are located at Giza, but others are scattered across Egypt at sites such as Abu Rawash, Abusir, Saqqara, and Dahshur.

Typically smaller than those found in Egypt, these Sudanese pyramids were constructed by the rulers of the ancient Kingdom of Kush. Emerging as a major power in the eighth century BC, the Kushites even ruled over ancient Egypt during the 25th dynasty, producing a line of kings known as the “Black Pharaohs”.

The first ruler was Piye, who successfully invaded Egypt in approximately 770 BC and ruled from the Kushite capital of Napata.  Taking inspiration from the lavish tombs of previous pharaohs, Piye demanded that he be buried in a manner similar to theirs. He then became the first member of the kingdom to be commemorated with a pyramid at Sudan’s ancient El-Kurru necropolis.

When the Kushites lost control of Egypt in 656CE, they fled and eventually established a new capital at Meroë. The vast majority of the Nubian pyramids can be found here, with approximately 200 of the monuments erected in the ancient city’s necropolis from the 3rd century BC onwards. Among these are the tombs of 41 Kushite royals.

The Kingdom of Kush was then lost to history after a series of conflicts with the Roman army and the neighbouring Kingdom of Aksum. Sudan’s pyramids remained largely unknown until they were rediscovered by archaeologists in the 1830s.

Frédéric Cailliaud, a French explorer and mineralogist, was the first to provide detailed sketches and descriptions of the pyramids at Meroë to the Western world. His publication, Voyage à Méroé, served as a “treasure map” for those who followed. The most significant and most infamous event was the arrival of Giuseppe Ferlini, an Italian military doctor. Hearing rumours of immense wealth, Ferlini and his partner, Antonio Stefani, began excavating the pyramids at Meroë.

Sudan is a land of profound historical depth and natural wonder, offering treasures that rival its more famous neighbours. Under different circumstances, it would be a top destination for those seeking to explore the ruins of past kingdoms.

However, this potential is currently eclipsed by a devastating civil war that has rendered travel to Sudan impossible. As of late 2025, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Sudan (with the exception of the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid, where it advises against all but essential travel).

The FCDO warns of ongoing military conflict, the closure of Khartoum International Airport and a severe lack of consular support, noting that the British Embassy in Khartoum remains closed. For any traveller, the risk of indiscriminate violence, drone strikes and a total breakdown of infrastructure means that this incredible country must, for now, remain a destination for the future bucket list, rather than one to visit any time soon.