Why does the Nile River flow north instead of south?

The Nile River flows northward simply because it follows the natural downward slope of the land from the high elevations of East Africa toward the Mediterranean Sea. Rivers always flow from higher ground to lower ground, and the Nile’s path is determined by the topography of the Nile River basin, which descends from the East African Highlands and the Ethiopian Plateau toward the north.12

While ancient civilizations viewed this northward flow as a mystery, geological theories suggest the river formed through the connection of separate drainage systems. One theory proposes that an upper section, originating near Lake Victoria, once flowed into an inland lake in the Al-Sudd region; eventually, this lake filled and spilled over, connecting with the lower Nile to create the continuous northward course seen today.12