Hi all,
I've been a regular on here for the last 4ish years now. Some of you may already know 2 significant (to this post) details about me;
1 I drive a 4x4 for travelling purposes (I did have a CB500 but sold it LY)
2 I've driven to, and around Tunisia 3 times (so not really a "complete novice" to African travel).

So.....
For my next trip I want to drive to Kenya from the UK.
The route will be (providing it is still possible in 4 years or so time), France, Tunisia, Lybia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and back again of course.
I have read loads about the border crossings, carnets, weather, times to go etc, and I've looked at, what I think is the best route. I plan to stay near to the coast through Libya and Egypt, after this I'm not so sure.
Why does everyone appear to use the ferry from Aswan to Wadi Halfa, is it not possible to take a route along the Red Sea coast into Sudan?
What about the desert route to Abu Simbel, maybe there is no car ferry this way?
Can one take the coast route down the Red Sea into Ethiopia and still travel across Ethiopia into Kenya?
At this stage I'm thinking between 3 - 6 months, started at 3 but I realise that there is a lot to see and it is a lot of miles and not all of them fast.
Now, with the trip being at least 4 years away I have loads of time to get things sorted but the important thing to me at this stage is the route.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Kevin.
PS; WHY? Because me and the wife want to do a safari.

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Hi Kevin,

I looked into this a lot when planning my trip (this was 3 yrs ago now but I believe nothing has changed).

Abu Simbel can only be reached by daily convoy from Aswan - you will be turned back at the roadblock on the edge of Aswan if you try and do it any other way.

Even if you could get out of Abu Simbel south you would be on the wrong side of Lake Nasser for customs and immigration in Wadi Halfa. There is no border crossing on the west of the Lake and you won't be able to get stamped out of Egypt and into Sudan (nor will your carnet) if you go that way.

The camel traders and smugglers come up that side of Lake Nasser but nobody else does.

As far as the coast road into Sudan goes, that is closed to foreigners too.

The only alternative to the Aswan-Wadi Halfa ferry is to get a ferry from Jeddah in Saudi to Port Sudan...

Hope that helps,

Mike

Mike,
Thanks very much for the reply, spot on answer to my question, and makes me realise that although there may be a road, travellers may not be able to use it, in Africa at least.
Thanks again,
Kevin

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