Entering Egypt

[AustraKiwi]

Hello everyone,

I am new here and this is my first thread, so please be gentle

I have spent a few evenings browsing the forum and reading up on all sorts of paperwork requirements, but I'm still highly confused about how to get into Egypt.

My fiance and I are planning to go from Cape Town to Vienna via the eastern route. We will get a 200% Carnet.

I've read on this forum that this carnet is not recognised by Egypt. I also read there's some sort of customs fee? What is this cash deposit all about? Not so sound paranoid, but I wouldn't really trust Egyptian custom officials to get my 2x 2000EU (we'll have two bikes) back when we leave the country.


If all else fails, can you cut across Egypt and go from Sudan straight into Libya? Or is this not a good option?

I'd really appreciate if someone could outline the process of how to get into Egypt.

Also, is Egypt the only country on this route that makes you buy local number plates?

Thank you in advance for your help! This is a great forum!

[TurboCharger]

to the HUBB.

To try and untangle the confusion. You definitely need a Carnet (CDP) for Egypt.

Read the recent entry in to Egypt by Miquel Silvestre.

Sounds like an amazing adventure you've got planned. Enjoy!

[ares1355]

Hi!

As mentioned above you need carnet for Egypt.

Entering Egypt 2 months ago i pay something like 800 pounds i think, not sure as It took me 6hr and I lost the count for bills... sallum border....

You'll need plates also in Lybia, they take quite big money but they refound you when you give the plates at the border (100 Lyd)

I think that cutting from sudan to libya can be a problem if you're caught in Egypt (gilf kebir, quite restrict region). Or caught in Lybia with no stamps and no plates....hummm maybe not the better idea.

Hope that helps

enjoy your trip!!

[Chris Scott]

To clarify, no entry from Sudan to Libya for tourists. The only two borders for tourists these days are near the coast.
Sahara Routes & Borders Map.

Ch

[Werner-900ie]

There are currently commotions and political unrest in Egypt and other northern African states i.e. Tunisia.
I will not discuss the political aspects here (and discourage from doing so in this forum), but the situation is currently very unstable and does not allow any long-term planning.
I think it is safe to say any trip to these countries in the first quarter 2011 is not recommendable if you can avoid it. For anything later no advice can be given and no plans made - I suggest to follow up closely on reputable news channels.

[Peter Girling]

"I will not discuss the political aspects here (and discourage from doing so in this forum)"

Why not, exactly? Surely the suppression of political discussion is what caused the current situation in Egypt, Tunisia, etc?

Happy trails,

Jojo

[TurboCharger]

Originally Posted by Werner-900ie

I think it is safe to say any trip to these countries in the first quarter 2011 is not recommendable if you can avoid it. For anything later no advice can be given and no plans made - I suggest to follow up closely on reputable news channels.

Interesting Werner so do you believe everything you read/see/hear in the news?

My first hand experience from travelling in countries like Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal during the protests was in stark contrast to what media reports we saying at the time. In fact tourists are even more welcomed during the turmoil because they know that their country is going through a difficult time and they need tourists to help restabilise the economy that has been heavily impacted. It is never in the interest of a country that has open borders to harm tourists.

In any case it is skating on thin ice trying to give travellers advice about not travelling in a country especially for 6 months when you don't provide real justification and empirical evidence of tourists and travellers being more than just implicated (simply by virtue of being in the country at the 'wrong' time) in the country's polictical issues.

My god if we all thought like Werner here, we'd never leave home and we'd all put our lives on hold 'just in case' something happens.


All I can say to AustraKiwi, is go for Gold! Go out there and make all of us jealous and please, please prove the narrow minded types (no mentioning any names) wrong.

[Chris Scott]

TC is right and I agree Werner was stating the obvious and out of order - even after the additional ludicrous content I cut out.

But better to ignore rather than pick on him just because he's made himself an easy target.

When it comes to Egypt etc, I am sure we're all reading from the same hymn sheet and are prepared to postpone or adjust our travels if necessary. That is the nature of this sort of travel.
Better to discuss how to achieve that or where possible, report the situation first hand.

Ch

[TurboCharger]

Très diplomatic CS. Will try not to pick on the sitting ducks, but sometimes it's just too difficult to pass on such an opportunity.

[AustraKiwi]

Right, before my thread gets hijacked for a political discussion, I'd like to thank you all for your input so far.

I have indeed heard of the unrest in Egypt But we aren't going for another two years so it doesn't really bother me, to be honest (not travel-wise anyways) We've actually just been to Cairo (we're on a RTW at the moment, but not on a motorbike) and just happened to be leaving not quite a week before the unrest started!

Also thanks for clarifying that there's no border crossing between Sudan and Libya. I was kind of afraid there won't be one.

I still don't quite get the deposit thing at the border. Do they value your bike there and then and determine how much of a deposit you need to pay or is it the same for every vehicle? We'll be taking two motorbikes.

Is this deposit refundable?

Our bikes will be NZ registered and insured while on the trip. Do you need to buy local insurance in each country?

Our route will probably be South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Mozambique - Malawi (or Botswana - Zambia - Malawi) - Tanzania - Kenya - Ethiopia - Sudan - Egypt - Libya - Tunisia - Italy - Austria.

Are Egypt and Libya the only countries you need to buy local number plates for?

Your help is much appreciated, ta!

[Chris Scott]

... Do you need to buy local insurance in each country?

In sub Saharan Africa you can buy it for more than a few at a time. COMESA or smth. See the Sub-Sahara forum. In the north, one at a time but its not much.

.... Egypt - Libya - Tunisia - Italy...

Consider the ferry from Alex to Venice as a back up - see other posts or here. Libya visa could be tedious.

... Are Egypt and Libya the only countries you need to buy local number plates for?

It's actually a rental thing and on your route, yes. You pay a lot and get most back at the border.

Ch

[Sapou]

Hi there,
I entered Egypt with my bike in June of 2009 from Jordan using a local ferry across to Nuweiba. So I am not sure if you are going to face the same bureaucratic senario in the Sudan to Egypt border, but if you do I only have one advice: Brace yourself with a LOT of patience.

You will need a Carnet (not sure what the 200% carnet that you have is). Also make sure that if the bike is not under your name that you have an official looking authorization by the person who owns the bike for you to take it in and out of international borders. You will need a visa for Egypt. And you will also need a green card. Now what happens at the customs is another story. The whole thing costed me around 180 euros which is expensive. But they will ask you to get Egyptian license plates, an Egyptian drivers license (given to you right there on the spot for some money) and an Egyptian insurance for your bike (even if you have one already). As you understand all of these cost money. Timewise, in Nuweiba it took me almost 5 hours, but I have no idea how it is from Sudan. Also make sure you hold on to any papers that they will give you from the ferry since these will also be asked by the customs officers, to prove that you were actually on the ferry (crazy...).
Good luck and have fun!

[Rorymacd]

We are currenntly in Libya having tried twice last week to enter Egypt, apparently the border will re open today ( along with the banks) We have an 800% carnet and will have to pay an additional US$200 for temp registration and plates. Requirement to buy plates is fairly common in N africa Libya and Algeria you need them Tunisia and Morrocco you dont ( have been to all 4 in the last 4 maonths) As for crossing to Libya from Sudan. We have looked at it the other way to avoid egypt because of the troube. There are 4 main probs. 1 distance aprox 600k's of deep desert 1 petrol station. on the libyan side you need a government escort ( €100 per day plus costs) but easliy arrangable in Al Khorfra( we have one on standby) on the Sudan side you have the problems of Darfur. .....and last but not least navigation there are, according to Colonel Hassan our very good cntact at the Sudanese Embassy in Tripoli who has supplied all the necessary paperwork, very few cairns or marks on the dirt road to Selma Oasis or to the Merga Oasis. In short I wouldnt attempt it by myself may be doable with a group of bikes and support vehicle for fuel. Good luck we are having another go at Egypt tomorrow
Rory

[Tarmo247]

Entering Egypt one week ago from Aqaba to Nuweiba. With slow ferry. The price was 60$ person and 225$ van. No other tourist cars on board.

There are very friendly tourist police in port Nuweiba, who helped me lot to find the right windows and people.

Payments I remember
15$ one month visa stamp.

In Egypt Pounds:
510 for customs,
250 for one month insurance
100 local plates
30 copies of passport, carnet, etc ..

There is change office near the tourist police office.

No problems with carnet.
All customs clearance took about 4 hours. I tryed to write down the all process, but I totally lost after 2 hours of walking and filling many forms.

Sorry my bad english.