Latest info on Ferry Aqaba/Jordan to Nuweiba/Egypt - 4WD

[wheelwishers]

For those planning to travel into Egypt (Nuweiba) from Jordan (Aqaba) we would like to share our recent experience.

After following a number of threads of overlanders recently (successfully) crossing into Egypt from Jordan we decided to do the same and booked our ferry tickets with AB Maritime for us and our 4WD car (ferry leaves around 2 am in the morning and the tickets for the car can be bought a few hours before).

We traveled yesterday (28/9/2013) from Aqaba to Nuweiba, bought our visa at one of the local bank branches in the Nuweiba port and got the required immigration stamps. We (persons) were allowed to enter Egypt as expected!

However, than the usual custom clearance etc. for the car had to be done. Someone from the Tourist police approached us to help us with all these procedures, but than they realized our car is a 4WD and the problems started.

We were informed that it is not possible to enter Egypt from the Nuweiba port with a 4WD. We were aware of this rule for the Taba crossing, but had never heard this for Nuweiba. As we recently read that some other overlanders were nevertheless able to cross into Egypt from Taba with their 4WD we thought that there eventually would be a possibility....

Unfortunately this was not the case. We spent hours and hours discussing with the local officials of the possibilities of entering with our car, but in the end nothing worked out (the tourist police seemed overall helpful and many phone calls were made to find a possibility for us to enter, but in the end to no avail).

We were informed that less than 1 week ago a new military order came out prohibiting any 4WD from entering Egypt/Sinai through the port of Nuweiba?!(unfortunately we were unable to get a copy of this order while one of the officers kept staring at it). We asked what the validity of the order was, but we were informed that it does not have a specific time frame.

All alternative options that we provided during all these hours were turned down (our car is an old truck with 4WD and not in a very good state and no bedouin was going to steal our car to carry out terrorism activities as it ain't in a good enough shape/ somehow changing the handle of the 4WD stick/ inactivating the 4WD by a mechanic/ someone else driving our car/ putting the car on a truck to Suez/ out of Sinai/ the police escorting us out of Sinai etc.). Also arguments such as the fact that the curfew was shortened last weekend from 7 pm till 7 am to 12 am until 5 am (indicating that the situation is improving), other 4WDs with Saudi plates (which were in the port on their way back to Jordan) were able to enter and we had living proof of them next to the office where we were (however this was counter argued that they entered before the new order...) anyway just to say all to no avail. We even called one of the fixers in Aswan that we were in contact with for the ferry to Wadi Halfa, but he could not assist us, he only indicated that we might be able to get a special permission from the Egyptian State Security (having lived and worked in Egypt, this seems like a very difficult tasks unless one has to right contacts).

S we tried hard, very hard...but in the end we were left with either the option of leaving our car in the port of Nuweiba and enter Egypt without car (no option as we wish to continue driving till South Africa) or return to Aqaba and find an alternative route (which we are trying to do now).

Perhaps we were just very unlucky, perhaps the officer(s) in charge did not dare to make an exception to the rule (at this time) etc. etc. or whatever other reason there was that we are not aware of. However, we figured sharing our exhausting experience so it can taken into consideration by those who plan to take this route with their 4WD.

Also note that AB Maritime (ferry company) did not seem to be aware of this information at that time, but were than informed by the Egyptian authorities that no 4WD can currently enter Egypt via Nuweiba. So check with AB Maritime before purchasing your ticket if this order is still in place by the time you wish to take this route.

Also note that if you decide to take the risk and you are in the end not allowed to enter that we only after some hard negotiation were able to take the ferry back to Aqaba without additional charges and we received a refund for the price of the car (225 USD), but no reimbursement for the passenger fees (at 65 USD per person) despite promises (!), also note the costs of visa and port taxes when forced to return to Aqaba.

We hope this is of any use and we hope that this order will soon be changes again we will however have to look other options of crossing into Africa (any suggestions welcome! We are currently looking into shipping the car from Aqaba to Port Sudan or Mombasa).

[Jervig]

Oops!!! What to say, blame on me, one of those who encouraged you to go.

Maybe try the Taba border??

Groetjes,

Jeroen

[Walkabout]

Sympathy Wheelwishers; you are the unfortunate victim of rapidly changing circumstances!

"When the facts change, I change my mind", comes to mind.
Attributed, some say in error, to:-
John Maynard Keynes - Wikiquote

[andrasz]

My apologies if my encouraging post may have contributed to these unfortunate circumstances. Your plight just illustrates the complete and utter unreliability of ANY information on valid rules and regulations in Egypt. This was like this even before the revolution, and the present situation just makes things worse. Egyptian bureucracy is arguably the worst combination of unpredictability, irrationality and incompetence one may encounter on this planet. I would advise all without a compelling reason to avoid this otherwise wonderful land for the present (and unfortunately, for the foreseeable future too...).

[itchyfeet38]

And yet more commiserations...

It sounded as though you tried everything possible.

You probably are probably already aware but there is lots of useful info re shipping in this thread.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ernate-71710-2

[flotter]

Wheelwishers ... Are you back in Aqaba? Wanna see if we can share a container? Planning to load for next Monday to the port just below Suez whatever the name. We can team up !! We are driving back to SA :-)

Skype: 'bergietrollie'

frederik.lotter@gmail.com

[SimonLore]

Hi,

We have a vw transporter (T3). It is a syncro, so it is 4x4, but it's not so obvious that you can see it at the outside. It's not like a landrover that everybody sees that it is 4x4. I think we will try to get the ferry and go to Egypt. Maybe we can enter.

But I heard yesterday that the ferry is not going anymore at all? Does somebody of you guys have other information??

Thanks, we are in Israel for the moment but we are going to Jordan trying to take the ferry.

[flotter]

The company is Home | Arab Bridge Maritime - Jordan - Egypt - Iraq and the number is +962-3-2092000. Just give them a ring I would be very surprized if all their ferry services to Nuweiba are suspended.

I think you car would be OK as long as your registration document does not mention 4x4. I doubt you will be allowed through if there is any explicit evidence of 4x4. It appears to be enforced remorselessly.

I think you have a good chance.

[flotter]

I was at AB maritime this morning. Only slow ferry running a.t.m to Nuweiba. Midnight departure and 03:00 arrival in Nuweiba.

[wheelwishers]

We also have a car that does not seem to be a 4x4, however it is indicated on the car documents.

Also in our case the Egyptian authorities did a thorough check of the car meaning that they looked attentively into the drivers compartment (where the 4x4 gear activator is located) verifying if it is a 4x4. In addition, someone else checked underneath the car if it was a 4x4 (this even happened twice to make sure if it was a 4x4).

As already mentioned in our post, maybe we were very unlucky....however following the latest events in the Sinai (with more military personnel being killed these last few days) the authorities might continue to apply this rule strictly. However, you can always give it a try even if it than does not work out you at least have tried it!

Until 2 days ago, when we were camping at the South Beach of Aqaba, we have seen the ferry of AB Maritime pass. I doubt that this service has now been suspended as the ferry mainly caters for Egyptian guest workers traveling between Jordan and Egypt. We took the boat at 2/3 am in the morning (8 days ago) together with at least 300 Egyptian guest workers (both on the way to Egypt and upon the return to Jordan).

Good luck with everything!

[Wazungu]

I am sorry to hear about your troubles at Nuweiba. We crossed from Aqaba to Nuweiba on the evening of 19 September 2013 in a Land Rover Defender. We didn't have any questions asked about 4x4s, and I guess we were just lucky and got through before the new military order. There has always been a ban on 4x4s in North Sinai, but Nuweiba is South Sinai. We were issued with a pass for the Sinai and this was checked at all checkpoints.

[PeterdeH]

Is there any update to this, or is it still not allowed to enter Egypt/Sinai with a 4x4 from Jordan ? While the UN-roro from Turkey is no option anymore it is becoming almost impossible to get in to Africa !

Does anybody knows another alternative ? My Bremach doesn't fit in a container so shipping can only be done by a ferry.

[sakke]

We are planning to go by Jordan,
There are people who have passed the border there lately

[achim-in-jordan]

Hi Sakke,

Your posting is not very clear: Did anybody manage the Aqaba - Elat - Taba landroute or the Aqaba - Nuweiba ferry recently? Did anybody manage either of the two with a 4WD? I have not come across any reports, blogs or other web entries since the beginning of the 4WD blockade on the Sinai that would have indicated that the restrictions have been lifted.

It is a difference if you are coming from Cairo because you can enter the Sinai peninsula from that direction and then exit to either Israel or Jordan from there.

Greetings,
Achim

[togians]

According to ABMaritime (ferry company Aqaba - Nuweiba) it is still not possible to take your 4x4 into the Sinai from Aqaba. They sent me an e-mail last week confirming this.