Egypt, Sudan, Etipia, Erytrea

[Bartosz]

Hi folks
I,m thinking about next year trip to Egypt and other countries with my Defender by ferry from Venice
My questions are:
1. Can I buy Egypt visa in Alexsandria?
2. Is it possible to drive to Abu Simbel and then ferry to Wadi Halfa or only ferry from Aswan?
3. Is the Sudan-Etipia border open?
4. Is the Etiopia-Erytrea border open?
5. Is the Erytrea-Sudan border open?
6. Can I [go] back from Sudan to Egypt by Red See coast and pass border somwhere there?

It is first general questions.

Thanks for answers
Regards

[tnt go east]

Am currently in Egypt after coming from Wadi halfa

1.I bought my visa in Khartoum only to find i could have bought it on the Wadi aswan ferry for 15 us
2. You must take the ferry from Aswan to Wadi halfa (mondays once a week)
3.Yes
4. Dont know think you have to fly in
5. No idea
6.Don t understand the question...

good luck

[Trumpton]

Re The visa in Alex, I would think thats no problem at the port, (I spent a long time at the port last oct trying to clear my car from a container, however I flew in on that trip & got the visa at the airport.

The previous year I crossed from Libya at Sollum & again got my visa at the border crossing, which is how I think it will work in Alex.

I am also planning on using the new ferry from Venice, do you kinw of anyone who has done this yet (& suffered the egyptian beauracracy on entry??)

I have friend in Cairo who is going to try to find out some more inf on the entry procedures from the new ferry.

Sorry, I cant offer any exact replies to your other questions

Andy

[mogmayhem]

Hi there!

We took the ferry last week and spent about 2 hours and E£1,100 for customs duty, Carney stamping and issuing of Egyptian driving license and number plates. We got our Visa when the boat docked (took about 15 minutes and cost €15).

The ferry is very clean with helpful staff.

[Bartosz]

Thank you for replies
I checked some info about the countries.
Situation between Etiopia and Erytrea is unstabile and travel in border region can be unsafe.
tnt go east in my last question I asked about possibility of return from Sudan not by ferry Wadi Halfa-Aswan but somewhere on the Red See coast.
I don't know is there any border crossing.
Bartosz

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by mogmayhem

Hi there!

We took the ferry last week and spent about 2 hours and E£1,100 for customs duty, Carney stamping and issuing of Egyptian driving license and number plates. We got our Visa when the boat docked (took about 15 minutes and cost €15).

The ferry is very clean with helpful staff.

Customs duty of £1,100 ?? What for ?? im just about to book the ferry and that terrified me. Especially as you have a carnet.

Is that Egytian Pounds ???

[Trumpton]

Yes, he said in his post E£ (egyptian pounds) thats about £130 GBP which isnt bad at all, in fact very good for Egypt, and the real bonus is the 2 hrs for clearance!!!!!

Andy

[*Touring Ted*]

I've just booked it ( along with 3 friends).

412 Euros in total for me and the bike.


We all had to book seperatly as you can only book one vehicle per booking. Rediculous !!!

We now need to contact the firm (who only seem to speak Italian), to try and tell them that we all want to share a cabin.

Not fun !

I'll blog the experience with photos in early October.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by mogmayhem

Hi there!

We took the ferry last week and spent about 2 hours ...

What??? No identity parade before the head of military intelligence at the port? No compulsory purchase of fire extinguishers? No need to bribe petty officials to make them handle your papers after one o'clock?

Incredible Egypt!

[Bartosz]

Hi
Once again question:
Is there any egypt-sudan border crossing on the Red See area?
I want to go to Sudan by Aswan-Wadi Halfa but return another way.
I asked about it in Egypt embassy in Poland and wait for answer.

Bartosz

[Chris Scott]

Is there any egypt-sudan border crossing on the Red See area?

No, or not for tourists.
They say Wadi Halfa Aswan will be a land border in a year or two.

Ch

[Bartosz]

Thanks Chris
It looks we have to back from Sudan the same way. That's a pity.

Bartosz

[Bartosz]

I got from Egypt Embassy in Poland info about egypt-sudan border crossing in Halaip. This is in the Halapi Triangel on the Red See coast. I asked once again is it border crossing for all nations.
As Chris said I rather don't belive is it possible for us cross border there.
Bartosz

[andrasz]

There is indeed a road crossing at Hala'ib, but that is open only for the nationals (and vehicles) of the two countries, and even for them with restrictons. The entire Hala'ib triangle is closed for foreigners (it is a 'grey' area, it is administered by Egypt but legally on Sudanese territory, according to a hundred year old Anglo-Egyptian treaty that neither Egypt nor Sudan recognises, but still...), you need special military and police permits to enter there. There is no formal border post only police and 'security' checkpoints, because if there were, that would be an implicit recognition of the border.

Welcome to Africa of the 21st century...