Blue Nile Sailing Club & gunboat Melik

★★★★★ 4.3/5 (1,486 reviews) Very Good

About This Museum

What truly sets this place apart is its improbable location—a slice of Edwardian England beached on the banks of the Blue Nile in Khartoum. It feels less like a formal museum and more like a time capsule, where the ghosts of colonial-era officers seem to linger by the river. The centerpiece is, without question, the stern-wheel gunboat Melik, a hulking veteran of Lord Kitchener's 1898 campaign that you can actually walk onto. Inside the clubhouse, ceiling fans stir the air above worn leather armchairs and glass cases filled with fascinating ephemera. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric collision of military history and languid social club life.

Collection Highlights

The star is undoubtedly the gunboat Melik itself, its decks and engine room open for exploration. Inside, you'll find a trove of original artifacts: polished ship's telegraphs, old maps charting the Nile, period uniforms, and black-and-white photographs capturing the era of British-Egyptian rule.

Visitor Information

Don't expect slick, air-conditioned galleries; the charm here is in the raw, sun-bleached authenticity. It's best to check locally for current opening hours as they can be informal. Just finding the unassuming entrance feels like discovering a secret.

Architecture & Building

The main clubhouse is a classic, single-story colonial bungalow with a wide, welcoming veranda overlooking the river. It's all deep eaves, wooden shutters, and a sense of enduring practicality built for the Sudanese climate.