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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 3 Sep 2014
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Where did you get the information that the road is only open for locals? Maybe this has something to do with the fact that the opening of the road takes away the main income of the ferryman? So i am wandering if this is really true...
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  #2  
Old 3 Sep 2014
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Kamal, the Local border fixer told me this. He helps me to do all my paperwork. Kamal has a very good reputation and he would still make his share even if I took the road. I believe I can trust him.
David
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  #3  
Old 4 Sep 2014
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Why am I not surprised...
Welcome to Egypt!
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  #4  
Old 5 Sep 2014
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But what about that overland tourist truck mentioned by Ruulio? The SPOT map has moved on now but that took the road and the short ferry from Abu Simbel.
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  #5  
Old 5 Sep 2014
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Overlander Truck made it as first tourists
According to this blog (in German) they where the first tourist to cross over the new road.
The article says there has been an open ceremony and many tv stations were reporting. they had to give interviews to sudanes tv and made photos with officials. the blog does not say what they paid.
the story says the just drived to abu simbel and gave it a try, the customs have been made in a newly opened custum building on the other side of the nile.
i try to contact the company that organized this overland trip. As I know their customers all paid USD 30'000 for a 100 day trip so they might have used some of that money for "bakshis".
Here is the blog in german:

20 Minuten - Der Tag der Entscheidung - Reisen

Ill keep you updated if there are any news
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  #6  
Old 5 Sep 2014
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I just met a Russian couple with a car. They are about to take the road in the next few days. As long as you have a local person with you it seems to be possible. But is is not going to be any quicker. They are waiting here for days just like me to get the permit to travel. It will just be more comfortable than the ferry.
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  #7  
Old 10 Sep 2014
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OK, I just came from Wadi Halfa up to Aswan (bike yet to make the same voyage on the slower barge). The new road is still basically only available to locals but Kamal is able to assemble groups of overlanders in Aswan and then get permission to drive down the road instead of taking the ferry as long as Kamal goes along for the ride... As I understand it, this is only an option for motos if there is more than one (ie three cars and one moto is NOT acceptable!, but one car and two motos is acceptable)... Its still not cheap but that's whats happening at the moment. There is no option to drive the road from the South to the North that I am aware of at present.

Oh, and the ferry was certainly uncomfortable but hardly a "living hell"... Its a rough 24hours but manageable

cheers

Grant
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  #8  
Old 10 Sep 2014
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Great to have all these updates. So it seems after all that, for the moment at least for overlanders nothing has really changed cost wise, time wise or hassle wise. Though I suppose there at least is an alternative to the old ferry/barge system.

Ch
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  #9  
Old 14 Sep 2014
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My bike arrived on the barge today in Aswan so hopefully Im outa here tomorrow... But an update on the new road stuff before I go.

1) Kamal informs me that he is the only fixer who is allowed to run these groups along the road at present.
2) He also says he can run groups in both directions (people heading North need to contact Mazar in Sudan to arrange this.
3) He says using the road is about half the price of using the barge... Car by barge costs about 3000Epounds but car by road costs about 1700Epounds... Likewise bike by barge costs about 800Epound but by road is about 500Epound (Note you would need to add ferry ticket costs as well of about 400Epound per person)
4) He says he can do road runs 2-3 times a week no problem... arrive Aswan one day, do paperwork next day, drive road from 3am next day.

That's all I got... It feels a bit like this post is "advertising" but its got new info in it so Im posting anyway.
good luck to everyone.

cheers

Grant
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