Jordan / Egypt to Sudan / Ethiopia / Kenya

[Pete Sinclair]

My wife and 3 kids and I are planning to drive to Botswana and Namibia in a few months. The first stumbling block seems to be the section Egypt - (Aswan - Wadi Halfa ? ?) - Ethiopia etc.

We're travelling in a Land Rover Defender with a Sankey Trailer.

The UK Foreign Office Web Site carries the following advice.

The Wadi Halfa border crossing between Egypt and Sudan is open. Visitors should not attempt to cross any other land borders, whether or not at official crossing points, or to visit the Eritrean and Ethiopian border areas, including Kassala, as they are insecure due to military activity. There is also a risk from landmines.

The security situation in Southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains remains unstable due to the continuing civil war. However, some towns under Government control can be visited by scheduled flights. Visitors to these areas should consult the British Embassy immediately before travelling. Factional fighting in Western Upper Nile (Unity State) continues. Banditry and tribal clashes continue in Darfur. Only those engaged in essential relief work should visit rural areas of South and West Sudan.

Looking at my maps, it looks like getting into Ethiopia from Sudan requires a trip through or fairly close to Kassala; and going into Southern Sudan (to get to Kenya) also seems a bit dodgy . . . Has anyone done this recently, and if so, did you have any problems?

I've also read somewhere that the Aswan - Wadi Halfo ferry only carries people and motorbikes - no cars . . . . The other ferry I've read about leaves from Port Suez and goes directly to Suakin in Sudan. Any advice on this one would be helpful also - especially if it takes cars etc.

In essence, any advice on getting a vehicle and passengers from Jordan or Egypt to Sudan / Ethiopia / Kenya would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance,

Pete.

------------------
Pete Sinclair. Botswana or Bust

[Toby]

You could try looking at Martin Solm's web site: http://www.africa-overland.net/
I've travelled in both Egypt and Ethiopia in various Land Rovers, but never from one to the other.
Sounds a great trip. Good luck.
Toby

[Jasper]

We are planning to travel south through Egypt into Sudan. It seems the best way of getting a vehicle down the river is to negotiate a private barge from Aswan to Wadi Halfa.

This is currently reported to be about $1500 but the more vehicles then the cheaper it will be per vehicle.

We are hoping to be there and are prepared to wait to see if others will show up about last week of March.

Jasper

[Pete Sinclair]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jasper:
We are planning to travel south through Egypt into Sudan. It seems the best way of getting a vehicle down the river is to negotiate a private barge from Aswan to Wadi Halfa.

This is currently reported to be about $1500 but the more vehicles then the cheaper it will be per vehicle.

We are hoping to be there and are prepared to wait to see if others will show up about last week of March.

Jasper<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the info Jasper - very helpful. March is almost certainly too early for us but good luck with the trip. I hope you don't have to wait too long for other vehicles to reduce the ferry cost for you. If you have access to internet / email when you're away, any feedback from Aswan about this would be very helpful. Good Luck,

Pete.
-------------------
email address removed by Grant- see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/faq.shtml#notify for why.



[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 28 February 2002).]