While we in the west might simply associate camels as beast that carry stuff across the desert, they are used for a multitude of other things, from meat, to milk and even racing.

Camel racing is a huge deal in places like Saudi Arabia and according to our guide Abdullah Arabs could spend thousands on the right camels, with him stating “A few months ago I brought some rich Saudi’s here and they would literally pay tens of thousands of dollars for the right camels”.

And of course they are also used for meat, with many of the camels purchased here ending up at the meat markets of Cairo after leaving Khartoum, although don’t worry about them ending up in your sausages like horse used to with Abdullah adding “Camel meat is quite expensive and costs more than beef, or goat here”.

And how do they get them out? Literally they are sold and then lifted into waiting trucks from where they will either be taken north to to the Egyptian border, or towards the Red Sea, usually via Port Sudan from where they are then shipped off to places like Saudi to begin their racing career.

And as for the legend that is fermented camel milk? Alas I was informed that we would have to come “later” for that.

An queried taste I am told and apparently not all that nice, but I still regret not getting the chance to try it.