Avoid Egypt going down? - Alternate route / shipping options

[wearthefoxhat]

I have a number of emails out at present to companies that I have contacted today, who could ship to Namibia (or possibly S Africa).
They include...
1) Transworld Cargo - SEA FREIGHT | Transworld Cargo (Pty) Ltd (awaiting response)
2) First Base Freight - Car Shipping Overseas | Exporting Cars | UK Car Shipping Company (awaiting response)
3) John Good Shipping - Affordable UK Shipping Agents - John Good Shipping (very helpful so far, offices in UK, Turkey and Walvis Bay). Say they can ship from UK or Turkey. Preparing a price for me.
4) Russells Freight - http://www.russellsfreight.com/roro-...ng-from-the-uk (Can only ship from UK)
Will post more info when I have it.
Most of the people who have commented on HU in various threads seem to think that Walvis Bay is a pretty safe (and well organised, if possibly expensive) option.

[SimonLore]

I just tried to phone the embassy of sudan and UAE. Both are closed untill monday. So untill then I can not phone them to get the correct information if it would be possible to get a visum as fast as possible.

@wearthefoxhat: I mailed also some of the links that you gave us! Thanks! Let's see what they will answer.

[wearthefoxhat]

We're British and it seems (from other travellers) that the Sudanese quite enjoy making us work hard for visas (can't imagine why).
Both of these sites give some useful information about Sudanese visas....
Travel and Tourism in Sudan
www.wikitravel.org/en/Sudan
It seems that the best place to get Sudanese visas on the road is Cairo (!) if going south (usually takes only a few days, after getting a Letter of Introduction from your own embassy). Alternately, Addis if going north, although this can take considerably longer.
We have a good contact with a Consular Services Agency in the UK who know their way round many of the visa applications. However, they went into the Sudanese embassy in London last week and were told that we would not be able to apply for a visa through an agency. We would need to turn up in London personally for an interview, make the application, pay the fee (whether the visa is granted or not) then wait 4-6 weeks for the visa to be issued.
Unfortunately this would mean that we could not take the risk of putting the car into a container until we have the visas and shipping from Turkey would take a further 16-25 days. My current feeling is that's going to take too long for us (although you currently never know which is going to end up the best option).
If you can fast-track the visas and need further info from a shipping company in Sudan the best response we have had so far is from...
Ismail Ahmed darkaship@darkasudan.com
Their quote was...
" €1850 / 20-foot container (including seafrieght , Delivery order ,port charges , clearance fees , unlashing, examination , handling ) till receiving the car outside the port.
excluding insurance, duties/taxes/demurrage/detention/ssmo and any governmental as per official receipts''
Hope this helps.
Scott

[achim-in-jordan]

I would like to add a few clarifications to this extremely useful thread:

a) The situation concerning transit visa for Saudi in the UAE might mainly concern Germans. The German embassy refuses to issue a recommendation letter (LoI) arguing this is no longer necessary due to a bilateral agreement. Nevertheless, the Saudis insist on getting one. Therefore, a Saudi transit visa might still be possible to obtain in Abu Dhabi for other nationalities whose embassies do still issue these letters.

b) I am sure that a Saudi transit visa is impossible to get without an onward visa for Sudan! Otherwise, the Turkey to Duba option would be nice: It is not a very long ride from Duba to Jeddah and would even - given the three days of a transit visa - allow to visit Mada'in Saleh and Jeddah on the way.

c) The Jeddah to Suakin (not Port Sudan!) ferry is fairly straightforward, a little of the usual bureaucratic hassle and delays on both ends, but easily manageable for overlanders.

d) The information I got from fellow travelers end of 2012 (I had my Sudanese visa beforehand) was that it was easier to obtain at the consulate in Aswan than in Cairo!

Hope this helps
Greetings
Achim

[wearthefoxhat]

Originally Posted by SimonLore

Filiz@unroro.com.tr
tel: +90 (216) 585 15 00
(

Simon, it's not relevant to avoiding Egypt, but since the ferry isn't running to Egypt, I just had this price from Carshippingcompany (part of Dolphin Moves, one of the UK's biggest shipping companies)...

I can offer only Turkey to Egypt
No service from Turkey to SA, you would have to go via Italy then find a service from Italy port Trieste.
Vehicle Details: Land Rover Defender type
Collection/Receiving Point: Iskenderun port Turkey
Shipping Method: Roll on / Roll off
Destination: Damietta port
Frequency: Weekly
Transit Time: 18 hours
Quote Validity: End Aug 2013
Transit Insurance: 3.5% + 6% IPT on value of vehicle, upon request
Rate: £510.00 (approx €570 or $750)
Yeshim Hassan
Business Development Manager
info@carshippingcompany.co.uk "

I don't doubt there are a few extras to add to the price but how does that compare to UN RoRo?

[DesertSoul]

Hi! Trieste to "SA" meaning Saudi Arabia or South Africa? Which port in the KSA, if this is the case? Thanks!

[SimonLore]

Hi wearthefoxhat,

I also think there are still a few other costs that are still excluded. But how much it will be, I don't know... At UnRoRo it is 415 usd for the car and still 150 usd per person for the flight.

I think you also can not stay on the ship at the quote put in the topic?

So there is a certain difference in price, but I think also in the company you are dealing with...

We still would love to see Egypt, but are getting a bit scared...

[itchyfeet38]

Certainly in 2011 Aswan was the place to get a Sudanese visa and from the thread below it looks as though this is still the case (cheaper/quicker, no LOI).

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...sa-aswan-65898

Also means you can avoid Cairo which is obviously a good thing at the moment.

For those traveling south would suggest the coastal route then inland at Marsa - there will be very little traffic. Or Western Desert road. Both would be better than the Nile road which passes through a number of big cities/towns.

May also be better to stay out of town in Aswan - several travellers have recommended

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ay-aswan-68875

[tourdeforce]

I was part of the support crew for the Endurance Rally Assoc. London to Cape Town event in 2012. We shipped from Jeddah to Port Sudan and used this guy as the fixer. he was very good. However, I don't know how much he charged, as I wasn't paying! Say Duncan Milligan from the London to Cape Town rally gave you his details.. Good luck.

Munir Janbi <munircpa@hotmail.com>

[wearthefoxhat]

Thanks TdF.
There's been some discussion about a boat between Aqaba and Port Sudan.
Does anyone have any details or know whether it is possible (or how easy it is) to get Sudanese Visas in either Aqaba or in Amman, Jordan?

[Atlas]

My wife and I got ours on Sunday 18 th past.It took about 2 hours and US $ 50 each.Got onto ferry to Wadi Halfa easily same day as only 200 passengers due to Cairo troubles no buses or trains running.

[Atlas]

wearthefoxhat

If you are happy to use fixers the one here in Wadi Halfa can help you with visas.He is very knowledgeable and worked with a lot of people travelling through as there are only 2 here.He helped the guys doing the Cape Town London record run.
His name is Mazar Mahir and and number is +249 122380740.
I usually don't use fixers but this guy has been very good.

[wearthefoxhat]

Originally Posted by Atlas

My wife and I got ours on Sunday 18 th past.It took about 2 hours and US $ 50 each.Got onto ferry to Wadi Halfa easily same day as only 200 passengers due to Cairo troubles no buses or trains running.

Hi guys, glad to hear you made it through without too much grief. Must have been a bit of a concern at times - I guess in some ways you were lucky (?!!) to arrive the day it kicked off and get round Sinai / down past Luxor before the trouble spread too far.
A lot of driving to put in over a short period and a real shame to have to miss out seeing the best of Egypt.
Still, safety is the main issue.
Hopefully things will get easier for your trip from here on in (judging by the news, I'm not sure they will for Egypt though).
Regards
Scott

[SimonLore]

We are trying to change our travel route. We will drive to Greece and try to take the ferry from Haifa. It seems that there is no problem to get the stamps on a little paper beside your passport. Then there is one border post King Hussein bridge/Allenby Bridge (don't mess up with Sjeikh Hussein crossing!!!!). where it is possible to cross the bridge with Jordan without getting stamps of Israel.

Further on we want to go to Saoedi and take the ferry from Jeddah to Port SUdan OR take directly the ferry from Aqaba to Port Sudan.

Anyone has experiences with these ferries or any info?

[SimonLore]

note that you need a visum for jordan in adavance before entering! You can get it in your home country or in Tel aviv: Allenby Bridge | King Hussein Bridge Information