GUNUNG · Sudan

Jebel Marra (Kaldera Deriba)

Jebel Marra / جبل مرة / Deriba

Information

Elevation: 3.042 m
Country: Sudan (SD)
Location / Range: Marrah Mountains (Jebel Marra), Darfur
Mountain type: Volcanic caldera (highest point of Sudan), Marrah volcanic massif
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 12.9514, 24.2589
Difficulty: Difficult in terms of access (the Darfur conflict zone; long journey and security-sensitive) — the physical climb to the caldera is relatively moderate
Best Season: Late autumn to early spring (roughly November–March), when it is cooler and drier
Permits & Rules: Access is heavily restricted by the security situation in Darfur; an official permit and a local guide are required — independent tourist travel is practically unavailable during the conflict
Hazards: Armed conflict & security in Darfur, remoteness, minimal infrastructure, navigation of volcanic terrain, full dependence on local guides

Description

Jebel Marra (the Marrah Mountains) is a volcanic massif stretching about 70 km in the heart of Darfur, western Sudan, and is the highest region in Sudan. Its summit is the Deriba Caldera at roughly 3,042 m — a multi-kilometre-wide caldera formed by a major eruption and now holding twin crater lakes: one freshwater and one more saline. Thanks to its altitude the area is far cooler and wetter than the surrounding desert, with springs, waterfalls (the Murtajalu and Geloul areas), and the terraced farmland of the Fur people. Before the conflict, Deriba and its twin lakes were celebrated as one of Sudan's most striking natural sights. Since the Darfur crisis, free trekking access is essentially absent; modern documentation is mostly humanitarian field notes, satellite/astronaut imagery, and tourism features reintroducing the area.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Akses ke Kaldera Deriba via El Fasher (saat keamanan memungkinkan)

Akses berat (kawasan konflik); pendakian fisik ke kaldera relatif sedang

Beberapa hari (perjalanan jauh + trek kaldera); sangat bergantung akses keamanan

Historic access to the Deriba Caldera — Sudan's high point in the heart of Jebel Marra — typically started from Khartoum to El Fasher (North Darfur), then on to the foot of the massif and a trek up to the caldera rim (~3,042 m) to reach the twin crater lakes. A local guide is essential, and the best season is late autumn to early spring when it is cooler and drier. IMPORTANT: since the Darfur crisis, free tourist travel is essentially unavailable; this route is a historical reference and is only viable if the security situation genuinely allows, with official permits.

Route Segments

1

Khartoum → El Fasher

Perjalanan jauh menuju Darfur Utara (akses tergantung keamanan)
2

El Fasher → Kaki Jebel Marra

Lanjut ke kaki massif vulkanik Marrah bersama pemandu lokal
3

Kaki massif → Bibir Kaldera Deriba

3.042 mdpl

Trek naik ke bibir kaldera; dua danau kawah kembar (tawar & asin)

Source

Climbing Experiences

Because Jebel Marra lies in the heart of conflict-affected Darfur, free tourist trekking is essentially unavailable; modern documentation is mostly humanitarian field notes, astronaut/satellite imagery, and tourism features reintroducing the area. Sources highlight the Deriba Caldera (Sudan's high point, ~3,042 m) with its twin crater lakes, the Murtajalu/Geloul waterfalls, springs, and the cool montane climate amid the desert — alongside the reality of remoteness and the need for local guides.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.