Just some information:

I've been in Khartoum for 25 days trying to get a transitt-visa for Saudi. What a mess...

First they told me that I couldn't get the visa because of computerproblems. The next day they told me that they had to speak to some people in Saudi because I'm driving a motorbike. (??)

One week later they told me that I had to give the a doctor-report which confirmed that I don't have HIV or other problems. The report had to be stamped by the "Ministery of Foreign Afairs". They altso told me that after I gave them the report they would send my papers to Saudi and it will take about 5 weeks.
It will take 2 maybe 3 weeks to get a medical-report in Khartoum... I talked to "Ministery of Foreign Afairs" and they didn't want to stamp it anyway.

The consule didn't think that I will get the visa. When I asked why he told me that there is a lot of tension between Saudi and America/Europe. Right now it's pretty bad because some people in America wants a LOT of money after sep 11, some time ago they ralised that Saudi was on "the bombing list" and so on.

I had a letter from my embassy (and my embassy helped my a lot), and all the other stuff they asked for.
All I asked for was a two-days transit-visa..

It might be possible, but I gave up and tomorrow I start my drive to Wadi-Halfa to catch the ferry to Egypt.
The weather in Sudan? Hot, some rain and frequent sandstorms but it's less than 1000 km and my visa will expire thursday so....

Good luck!!

This is a shame. We were in Khartuom in May and applied for Saudi transit visas at 10 o'clock one morning and picked up 3 day transit visas at 2 o'clock the same day. (one Brit and one Dutch, married) There is no sense.

After coming down from Wadi Halfa I don't know if I would have wanted to go back up !!!??

Jasper

__________________
A Journey of Hope
www.expeditionjasanne.co.uk

Yes I know there is a lot of people that made it, but according to the people on Blue Nile Sailing Club my story was pretty common.

Anyway it was a lot of tension and a lot of bad stories about landmines, bumbing, massacres and the relationship between US and Saudi at that time. I used to read newspapers every day and after I while I felt pretty ashamed walking the safe streets in Khartoum.

The "road" to Wadi Halfa was pretty hot on a bike in the summer but after all the mess in Khartoum I had a lot of (negative) energy!!

Happy travels!!!


[This message has been edited by AliBaba (edited 05 November 2002).]