We are planning a trip to ethiopia and want to travel with 3 4wd from aswan via Bir Shalatain and Halaib to Port Sudan to avoid that expensive boat from Aswan to wadi halfa.
Who can inform me about this alternative???

thanx
joost

This borderpost (and all other land-borderpost) where closed in September this year. Pretty sure they are still closed.


Good luck,
AliBaba

The border definitely is closed for foreigners (though not for locals), and even travel south of Berenice requires a special permit (which, I've been told recently in Cairo, is suspended indefinitely - apparently the whole of the southern part of the Eastern Desert near the Sudan border is a closed zone).

The Wadi Halfa ferry remains the only option.

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Happy Travels,
Andras

FJ Expeditions

The southern Red Sea area of Egypt is not closed but require permits that should be applied to well in advance. The permits are somewhat unreliable; last year we got permit to drive, and even go off road, for a number of Egyptians and foreigners with no problems. A week before the trip our permits were canceled with no explanation given. A month later it was open again.

Here’s a trick that might work to a certain extend. In Hurgada, get a permit to scuba dive down south. You’ll most likely to get it with no problems; the officials there are a bit more cooperative and they’re used to scuba diving. Getting permits to go off road or just visit sounds more fishy for them. Once you pass the checkpoints you’re free to venture off road if you like but better know what you’re doing

Remember people live there all along the coast almost till the Sudan border and people come and go all the time. In Egypt you can pretty much go anywhere, if you apply for a permit well in advance that is .

I know a guy who crossed the Sudan border twice last year. He’s Egyptian though, but I’ll try to get hold of him and ask him.

If you’re heading this way make sure you visit Elba mountain protectorate.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.

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A.B.
OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.

Hello Ahmed,

I was told in August that the military authorities have suspended the issuing of permits to all of the southern part of the Eastern Desert, including the Elba area. Has this changed ?

The border is open for Egyptian and Sudanese nationals, and occasionally with special permits some foreigners are allowed to cross (diplomats, UN, etc.) but to my best knowledge such permits are impossible to obtain for regular travelers.

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Happy Travels,
Andras

FJ Expeditions

Hi Jost,

pretty long time ago (1982) we made that trip from Port Sudan via Halaib to Assuan. This road is quite easy but be aware that you will be travelling through an extended military zone beginning in Assuan stretching until Halaib, with Military camps all 10 kms overlooking perfectly the coastal plain from elevated points at the coastal dunes.
Many tracks due to dense traffic of smugglers. I would not recommend to enter Sudan by this way.

All the best

Reinhart

http://www.tlc-exped.net/

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www.tlc-exped.net/

Hello Andras,

I don’t know what the current situation is when it comes to the southern eastern desert. As I said it changes constantly. However I’m planning to explore this area early next year so I was going to start making calls and applying for the permits in the next couple of weeks. As soon as I find the situation for foreigners I’ll post it here. If you need to ask about anything specific let me know.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.

__________________
A.B.
OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.