Hi,

we are (hopefully) travelling in a non-four-wheel-drive on a route from Cairo to Nairobi and then further south in a few months. We are quite in doubt though abouth the road conditions and whether this is a possible project.

Does anyone know this and maybe know the most 2x2 friendly route to take?

Thanks!
Sofie

It depends how far off the main roads you want to go!

If you leave Cairo, the main route all the way to Aswan is paved, as is the whole loop through the western desert via Bahariya and Dhakla. Main gravel/sand tracks go off into the White desert with some soft patches but if you lower your tyres it will be fine.

Sudan: The road from Wadi Halfa to Dongola is now near completion, probably be finished by 2011/12 at the rate theyre working methinks. The first 200kms south of Wadi Halfa was still rough last year, but perfectly do-able in a 2wd. Might test your tyres though. Then you pick up the tar all the way to Khartoum. Even Naqa and Mussawerat are easily possible in 2wd. Khartoum to Ethiopian border is tar all the way.

Once into Ethiopia the road from the border all the way to Gondor is currently under construction (well there is about 5kms of tar before you get to Gondar). Quite rough going at times and some steep hills, but again no worries in 2wd. Some heavy rains could change that though!

All of Ethiopias main higligts (Simien mountans, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Axum, Lalibella etc are fine in 2wd, but there are some rough roads to contend with.

DO NOT go into Omo valley with 2wd if there has been heavy rains.....you will struggle! The road upto Bale mountians from Shashmane is rough as guts but under construction hopefuly the Chinese have graded it since I was there. Again if its been raining this road could be a struggle.

From Moyale (Ethiopia/kenya border) to Archers post was all rough road when I went through 15 months ago. But they are working on it.......most of it will still be rough road, but again a 2wd will be okay PROVIDING it hasnt rained heavily. I pulled a truck out of the mud that had been stuck for 5 days north of Marsabit due to heavy rains. There can be some muddy stretches churned up by the trucks. Met a guy doing this road in a porsche (!), his underside was badly damaged as you can imagine! But if dry the road will be fine, just pretty bumpy and some rocky strecthes that will do your tyres no favours.

Enjoy the trip!

Hi Dave,

thanks so much for the information - that was really helpful, feeling much less anxious about driving this route now!

Hi Safie.
We were on on that road late Nov its tar all the way to Ethiopia/Kenya boarder,then you get the 400kms to Archers Post its not the best but we meet pepole in 2 wheel drive that did it ok just take it steady and pick you way but you will be fine,have a great trip John Cox.
coxmorganoverland.co.uk

We just came through this way. You can get paved roads all the way from Cairo to Moyale (Ethiopian crossing to Kenya). The road from Wadi Halfa to Khartoum is paved all the way and very good, but very hot. The roads get a bit worse in Ethiopia, and there are small (500m or so) breaks in the roads where it is just gravel, but they are few and far between. Moyale to Isiolo is still a terrible road, we shook so much we broke all 4 spot light mounts, and a few other things. But you don't need 4x4 for it, it's still flat... just very very bumpy.

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As posted, in the dry you don't need 4x4 for the traction or the clearance. However the rough roads in Ethiopia have hard packed sharp stones which where the tyres and the corregations are very bad on the northern kenyan section. There you need to think about spare tyres, ability to repair tyres and spare suspension components as they will all get a solid work out. Have fun.