Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
Egyptian Customs Trouble....Help!! Egyptian Customs Trouble....Help!!
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 15 Aug 2004
jim jim is offline
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 222
Egyptian Customs Trouble....Help!!
Hello,
I recently arrived in Egypt from Sudan and my bike is now being held by customs as my Carnet is not valid for Egypt. Can anyone out there give me advice any advice on how i can get it out?

Thanks
Jim
__________________
"If we don't find something good at least we will find something new." Voltaire
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15 Aug 2004
simmo's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: melbourne
Posts: 555
Hi Jim

dont know how much this will help you. When I recieved my Carnet from AAA in Canberra they had crossed out Iran..the whole point in getting it! The fix was they sent a new back cover with no countries crossed out which was stapled onto the back of the carnet after neatly removing the old back page! ( the yellow cover)

maybe the issuer ( or Egyptian AA )could do the same for you. It makes no differrence costs wise to include the whole world on the carnet.

Probably a bit slow but i cant think of anything else.

cheers

alec
__________________
Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 16 Aug 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2002
Location: London, UK
Posts: 635
if the reason that your carnet is not valid is because you have a bond of 200% for most African countries, rather than 500% for Egypt, you're going to have to find a way to increase the bond or pay the duties to the customs and reclaim them on exit. as this is presumably several thousand pounds - 300% of the value of your bike, talk to your carnet agent!
I recall some joker saying he was going to chance it with the Egyptians. I found them frustrating and incompetent (at Cairo) without taking any chances.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16 Aug 2004
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wakefield, QC, Canada
Posts: 273
This is my suggestion: You are in Asswan, I guess? Take train to Cairo. Go to Egyptian Automobile Association downtown. Talk with an officer, preferably the head hancho. He will advise you what to do to meet Egyptian requirements. You may have to telephone your Aussie AA office, which will get in direct contact with the Egyptian hancho. A lot a baksheesh will change hands, and you'll be on the road again. Egyptian bureaucracy is one of the crookedest in the world. So be prepared for the worst.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 16 Aug 2004
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wakefield, QC, Canada
Posts: 273
Sorry, I meant to write "office of the SA Automobile Association."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 22 Aug 2004
jim jim is offline
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 222
Hello and thanks for all teh info!

I have had it with Egyptians and Egyptian officialdom! Basically according to the AA of my country (SA) i cannot under any cicumstances use a carnet issued by them in Egypt, i even offered the 500% security. no deal. The AA of Egypt says i can get in if my Carnets is validated by the AA of South Africa....

Mr Hamman of Aswan customs, who i must add seems at first to be a helpful reasonable chap but is actually a real corrupt crook, says if a i pay LP3000 to his mate i can get a local tryptich...

And finally another Egyptian authority says for a mere US$4000 security (left of course under their watchful care) i can enter. I would expect snow capped pyramids before expecting to see that "deposit" again!

So, it seems my cape to Cairo trip is now to be a Cape to Aswan and back to Kenya trip where people are a little more reasonable and shipping is cheap.

Sigh.
James (The South African, but who the hell can tell teh difference between us and Aussies anyway- we all look the same. Hey Werner? Ha ha just kidding...)
__________________
"If we don't find something good at least we will find something new." Voltaire
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22 Aug 2004
chris's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: GOC
Posts: 3,335
in 1999 while i was sorting through the sh*t that is egyptian customs at cairo airport, i met a dutch bloke with a bmw gs who had flown his bike from yemen to cairo without a carnet. usual problems, as you are finding.

the solution was to take a customs official on the back and ride to the border with israel. this of course required 'fees', his accomodation and return train fare etc etc. the dutch bloke's girlfriend took the train to the border.

i suggest you do the same to neiweiba on sinai and take a boat to jordan.

the great thing about riding bikes is you won't have to talk to the moron, cos he and you are wearing helmets....

if you can do a few wheelies, you can scare the life out of him too

hth

ChrisB

[This message has been edited by chris (edited 22 August 2004).]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 23 Aug 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Alexandria
Posts: 426
i think the best is what chris said,
i had to do it like that,from alexandria,all the way to newibaa,but the guy was too fat and big,(but he was too nice too)and he was dreaming to be on the bike all the time,but i did gave hem the motorbike papers,and keep a copy of it with me,put hem in any public transportation,and give the drive some bakshish,to dirve in a way that i can follow hem,
so try to do that ,from a city to the next one and so on,
maybe you can paY HEM LIKE A 100 L.E PER DAY AND HIS transportation,(around15 or 20 u.s aday.
make sure that the guy have a mobile phone with hem and take his number,cos all the original papers will be with hem,
DONT EVER LOSE HEM OR YOU Will NEVER GET YOU BIKE OUT OF EGYPT,
TRY TO CONTACT MR MAHMOUD IDRIS IN ASWAN MAYBE HE WILL CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY
HIS MOBILE IS 0106845201.
MY PHONE IS 0101703058,IF I CAN DO ANY THING FOR YOU(ALTHOUGH I,M IN ALEXANDRIA
CHEERS MAN +ENJOY YOU TIME IN EGYPT

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 24 Aug 2004
jim jim is offline
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 222
Hi again,
Thanks for all the new ideas, I have considered the idea of riding to Alex with a customs officer in tow, but dear Mr hamman at Aswan insists this is impossible. I guess it hard for him to make any cash out of teh deal...

Ive decided that going back South is really not so bad and now im even looking forward to it.

Jim
PS Also my Carnet is not valid for Syria, pakistan and a host of other places North of Egypt. Next time Im definately using a fake!!
__________________
"If we don't find something good at least we will find something new." Voltaire
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Aug 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Alexandria
Posts: 426
haha make sure to make me a fake carnet too,wish you all the best ,and if you need any thing call me
salam
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:56.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top