Safety in Sudan
 

Hi Hubbers, just starting to get my head round the enormity and importance of this site. We're so lucky to have it - and each other! Huw and I are heading off from Brighton, UK in our LandRover 101 in about a week, heading slowly through France, Italy, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt then - depending on the political situation - into Sudan, Ethiopia and down the East coast (and back up!)

Questions:
The Sudanese elections are planned for 5-18 April this year, which pretty much perfectly coincides with our (very vague) agenda. Is anyone else planning to cross through at that time? Are we mad to even consider it? Of course, no one knows if the violence that some are predicting will actually happen, but perhaps we'd be better to scurry through BEFORE the elections, rather than after? Obviously, we'll do our utmost to avoid passing through on voting day itself.

The second main consideration is weather - if we do wait for any potential problems to blow over (touching lots of wood) - is May simply too hot to pass through Sudan north-south? We have no air con!

Thanks in advance for any advice x

Hi Huw & Rosie
I'm planning to visit Sudan, heading north, in June/July this year. In terms of weather, I might be madder than you are but I have no choice with the dates due to work commitments and I have no air con either... :mchappy:

Watch out for the haboobs too...

A learned, Somali colleague reckoned I would be OK in Sudan this summer but that things might heat up when the Southern Sudanese independence referendum takes place in January 2011... :eek3:

For what it's worth, Sudan is a huge and, in my experience, friendly place and I don't intend to scurry through. I was in Port Sudan when President Nimeiry was overthrown in a coup in 1985. There were strikes and demonstrations in Khartoum but nothing at all in Port Sudan; or other smaller cities as far as I know.

My advice is to go at your usual pace and to avoid any obvious trouble such as demonstrations etc. These will more than likely be in Khartoum, if anywhere.

Let me know how you get on.

Stephan

Thanks so much Stephan for your quick and (mostly!) comforting words. Sounds like we'll you on the way up/down. Assuming we saunter rather than scurry, which I'd far rather do, being a laid back kind of creature, maybe we'll catch you for a beer around Bahir Dar or Addis in late May ish? Definitely let you know how we get on - you too. Cheers for now.

Hi guys,

Me and some mates will be crossing Sudan around that time. Currently planning to enter Sudan around the 1st of April. We were initially worried about this election business, but our minds were put at ease when I read this.

Some other good info I've got from this site that might help you in Sudan:
Wadi Halfa to Khartoum - Best Route?
Sudan Visa from Cairo - situation Dec 2009

Other than that, best wishes on a great trip. If you see 4 young Aussie lads getting arrested, that'll be us :D

Sudan
 

Hi Stephan,

I think the same time we'll be in Sudan on our route down to Cape Town.
So,we start at 3rd of June from Sofia,Bulgaria,Turkey,Sirya,Jordan,Egypt and we plan to enter Sudan at around 20-25th of June actually.If you have some time for a stop we can arange a meeting between Wadi Halfa and Khartoum,of course if we are not still boiled:innocent:.

Regards,

Simon

It will be great to meet any fellow travelers en route; though I am also planning a detour to Port Sudan so there's a chance we may not cross paths.

Let's keep in touch as the summer approaches. :thumbup1:

Stephan

Sure,I'll keep you in touch!:thumbup1:

Safe ride.

Cheers,

Simon