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Gilf Kebir & Jebel Uweinat - good news and bad news Gilf Kebir & Jebel Uweinat - good news and bad news
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #16  
Old 18 Dec 2015
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Jebel Uweinat
Some good news among a generally bleak outlook, we have just returned from a smooth & hassle-free trip to Jebel Uweinat organized from Sudan. No issues with permits, no escort, it felt almost like the good old days. On a positive note it appears that the Sudanese army is in effective control of the NW, we met mobile military units several times (including a new permanent checkpoint near the mountain itself), all encounters were in good spirits. Trip account is in the works.
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  #17  
Old 9 Jul 2016
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Another shoot-out in Farafra
No sign of the dust settling in Egypt...
6 military personnel killed, 3 injured in attack at Farafra oasis - Daily News Egypt
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  #18  
Old 9 Jul 2016
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On a happier note, over the past couple of weeks I managed to complete the account of our November trip to Jebel Uweinat from Sudan:
http://www.fjexpeditions.com/expeditions/past/nov15/nov15.htm


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  #19  
Old 11 Dec 2017
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Back to Uweinat
This thread is probably a good reflection of the number of visitors to Uweinat these days.

We just returned from another successful, problem and hassle free expedition to Uweinat organised from the Sudan side. None of the permit & escort issues that plagued trips from Egypt (while they were possible), we could freely go as we pleased. Managed to survey a number of remaining white spots on the mountain, trip account will be in the works as soon as I clear remaining backlog.
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  #20  
Old 17 Dec 2017
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congratulations for the return
I'm glad that everything went well
* I have 2 questions:

1.- It is possible from Sudan monte uweinat to reach the cave of the swimmers without passing the border with Egypt, there is some control or surveillance post in those areas

2.- It is possible to cross to the TChad from the northwest of Sudan, without having to go through Darfur, there is some border post. The last thing I had read was that the border was closed

Thank you,
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  #21  
Old 18 Dec 2017
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NO and NO on both counts.

The desert around Uweinat changed very much in the past 5 years. Now there is a contnued Sudanese military presence (with a small camp between Uweinat & Kissu) and also the Egyptians have tight control of their side. With the demonstrated habit of the Egyptian military to shoot first, ask questions later, I would certainly not risk going anywhere within their range.

Further south, the border zone with Chad is still considered a risky no-man's land, with Darfur rebels supplying themselves from Libya via that route with Tibu help. Again highly unadvisable to attempt going anywhere near.

All this academic as you may only go with Sudanese cars (permit regime is fairly relaxed, but firm on this point) and the local drivers well know the consequences should such a thing be attempted.

On the positive note, I know of someone who managed to obtain a Sudanese visa in N'Djamena and make it overland to Khartoum via Abeche and El Fasher, crossing at the official border a couple of months ago. They received a military escort from the border to El Fasher, could freely continue beyond.
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  #22  
Old 25 Dec 2017
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ok
I thought you could go by car to Mount Uweinat, you have to get a special permit? where?

Really it is good news, if it is possible to cross from Chad to Sudan, do you know if it is improving the situation in Darfur?

Thank you¡¡¡¡
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  #23  
Old 5 Jan 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jabesi View Post
I thought you could go by car to Mount Uweinat, you have to get a special permit? where?

Really it is good news, if it is possible to cross from Chad to Sudan, do you know if it is improving the situation in Darfur?

Thank you¡¡¡¡
It was always possible to cross from Chad to Sudan. However, Darfur is sadly still risky today.
I traveled in January 2014 throughout Chad (which was very safe) up to Eljunaynah in western Sudan but once there I was strongly advised not to carry on riding and ended up flying with the bike to Khartoum.

Cheers
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  #24  
Old 21 Mar 2019
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Jebel Uweinat from Sudan
Back from yet another expedition to Uweinat organised from Sudan, all things went pretty smoothly and to plan despite what one reads about in the news. On the ground everything appears normal, only noticeable issue is the fuel shortage, with mile-long queues at gas stations (not affecting tourist vehicles, which may get fuel at special stations with appropriate permits).

All quiet at Uweinat itself, while the gold mining is ongoing a few dozen kilometres to the East of the mountain, Karkur Talh was completely deserted, the most recent tracks seemed to be our own of a year and a half ago.

We managed to sacale the last unclimbed higher area of the mountain, the Northern plateau, with a number of fine new finds. Trip account will be coming in due course once backlog cleared.
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  #25  
Old 14 Mar 2020
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Jebel Uweinat - March 2019
For all of you with nothing better to do than surf the net while the gobal panic subsides, here is the account of our trip to Jebel Uweinat last year:
March 2019 Expedition to Jebel Uweinat, Sudan


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  #26  
Old 7 Aug 2020
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Chris - the below article which references yourself implies that it is feasible (but difficult) to visit the Gilf Kebir?

Do you know for a fact if people have visited the Gilf for tourism purposes recently?

https://explorersweb.com/2020/08/06/...and-adventure/

thanks
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  #27  
Old 8 Aug 2020
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Quote:
Do you know for a fact if people have visited the Gilf for tourism purposes recently?
No I do not but this is Egypt so anything could be possible if you persevere.
But, this it being Egypt, most don't bother anymore.
Even in the good days it took months and overland access is not what it was.

There were another couple of errors in the article; I will get him to clarify the Gilf.

Libyan Desert Master Map
Last edited by Chris Scott; 9 Dec 2021 at 08:35.
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  #28  
Old 9 Dec 2021
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Hi, I was in Bahariya earlier this week and apparently there was a meeting at the start of this month with the government who may be allowing tours to the Gilf Kebir for winter 2022/23 if the current peace in Libya holds up
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  #29  
Old 19 Dec 2021
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Originally Posted by Diamond View Post
apparently there was a meeting at the start of this month with the government who may be allowing tours to the Gilf Kebir for winter 2022/23
Emphasis on "may be". I'll believe it when I see it, the convoy system in the Nile valley lasted for 20 years after the Luxor events...
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  #30  
Old 16 Jun 2022
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Question Map of the open areas in the Western Desert 2022
Hello
there should be maps with the areas in the Western Desert that will be allowed again for tourists in 2022 .
Does anyone know them and can post them here in the forum?
that would be great
Ursula
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