Albert,

This is rather a long post....lucky I am not a lawyer who charges by the word.

I got my Sudanese visa in Kampala, Uganda in a couple of weeks for about $US30 (55,000 Ugandan Shillings). I have heard from others that Addis, which is the traditional place to get the visa, has become increasingly difficult and time consuming. Either way, I suggest you email a travel agent in Khartoum two or three weeks before you need the visa, so that they can arrange a letter of introduction and facilitate the process. I used the following guy and he was efficient, although he wanted to charge my US$75 for the privelege (he has never sent me details of the bill or how to pay him, so I have never actually had to pay this - please don't remind him!).

Amr Ali Aljundi
Director
Mafaza Traveling Services
P.O.Box 147
Khartoum 11111, Sudan
Tel: ++249-183-799-688
Fax: ++249-183-799-687
Mobile: ++2499-1230-4190
e-mail: amr@mafazats.com

I suspect that he can probably arrange for the visa to be collected in any embassy, so you could also do it in Nairobi / Addis if you are not going to Uganda.

No country has really presented any problems for visas on Aussie passports. I have briefly listed the East African countries below and whether you need them in advance or can get on the border.

SA - not necessary

Lesotho - not necessary

Swaziland - not necessary

Mozambique - embassy in SA (although I think South Africans can still get on the border)

Zimbabwe - border US$30

Zambia - free at the border if you get on the list from Jolly Boys backpackers in Livingstone, otherwise US$25

Botswana - not necessary

Malawi - not necessary

Tanzania - US$50 at the border

Kenya - US$50 at the border

Burundi - US$40 at the embassy, although I think it was only US$20 at the Tanzanian border

Rwanda - US$50 at embassy, although possibly available at the border

Uganda - US$30 at the border

Ethiopia - US$20 at embassy, don't know about border

Egypt - US$20 at embassy, don't know about the border

As to hiking, try a Kilimanjaro climb in Tanzania or gorilla trekking in Rwanda / Congo / Uganda. Both of these are expensive activities, otherwise there is good free hiking in most countries, it just depends on your preferences.

cheers