Ferry Aswan/Wadi Halfa damaged and out of order?

[hlcarneiro]

Hi

Just arrived to Assuan from Wadi Halfa, and our Renault L4 from the Barge.

Things are working fine and normally, that means you ll never know when it s the departure date, at least for the barge. Some polish friends were told 3 days, they wait for 19 days! We got to Wadi Wensday and had the car saturday.

Lot s of paperwork, specialy in Egipt. We payed 30 dolares on each side - Magdi (Sudan) and Kamal (Egipt) to get help, and it s worth every cent.

Important! There s a huge sortage of fuel (benzine aand petrol) in all Egipt for one month with cues for 9 hours waiting, with the army protecting the gas stations. As tourists and with luck they let us pass, but is a big mess. So bring some fuel from Sudan, even if it s a bit more expensive.

And check our site! We re finishing now a complete round Africa tour on a Renaul 4L, me and my 70 years old father - Not 2 late trip

CHeers Carlos

[roamingyak]

Thanks Carlos, that is a very helpful post.... ;-)

[michnus]

Carlos, good to hear you made it. We missed you somehow in Wad Medani. As luck would have it my bike broke again in Khartoum in 45degree heat in the middle of traffic and we are stuck here now for a few days waiting for parts.

Where did you get the 3day Allien immigration stamp?

[hlcarneiro]

HI!

We got to Wadi in 3 days so we make all the paperwork there! Magdi is the men

Hope u get your motorbike fixed, we re trying the Libia visa now, and with good faith since we re Visa pros these days

Have a good trip!

Chers

Carlos

[michnus]

It is a bit of a confusing story this ferry in Wadi. Today overlanders landed and their cars from Aswan will be here tomorrow.
Mazar said the next car ferry is only the 18th and that people must book place on the ferry before that time, going North or South.

Same apply for cabins on the ferry, if not they would just sleep on the deck.

[jorisv]

We are currently in Egypt with our car and intend to travel to Sudan. Mr. Salah informed us by e-mail that the ferry from Aswan to Wadi is out of order. As we heard a lot of confusing stories about the ferry from Aswan to Wadi, we would like to know if anyone has a recent experience with the ferry. We know that there has been an accident with the ferry, but also read that there are still some barges/overlanders that cross the lake.

If there are other travellers who want to go to Sudan and/or have information about other possibilities to get there - another barge or by road - we would appreciate it if you could let us know! We read that the road between Egypt and Sudan would open in May, but we do not have any other information. Our e-mailaddress is jenmlandcruiser2012@gmail.com. Thanks!

[Anacondor]

Does anyone has recent information about the ferry from Aswan to Wadi Hafa? We will be in Aswan in about 5 days and do not really have the intention to extend our overlandtrip in that city...

According to Mr Salah there are a lot of problems with the car ferry, and there is no further schedule for next weeks... The solution would be to rent a large barge (for 20,000 EP) or to have the road to Sudan opened (also for a large amount); for both options we would need to gather many overlanders, so please let me know if you have the intention to take the ferry to Wadi Hafa soon!

E-mail me at anacondor123 at hotmail . com

[kuipermichael7]

Hi Anacondor

We will be coming from the North, Aswan to Wadi Halfa and wondered if you guys would be looking to share a barge on the 23rd April? By the looks of things the ferry should be up and running by then?

Cheers
Mike

[Anacondor]

Hi Mike,

I do like to share a barge, and I understand from Jorisv that he is also willing to join. We need either a small barge or more overlanders, given the considerable costs.

Do you have any further recent information?

[kuipermichael7]

No, I just spoke to Mr Salah and he was pessimistic over the issue.

We have a 4x4, I haven't seen any other overlanders to far. If you include us then would that be 2 or 3 vehicles?

Do you have an Egyptian number?

[Anacondor]

No, we haven't got an Egyptian number, only sattphone and our Dutch mobile. But see my e-mail address above. If you give me yours, I can send our phone numbers, so we can at least send sms's if useful.

[itchyfeet38]

Guys don't give up on the idea of a "public" barge going. The tactic of trying to get westerners to hire a private barge is not a new one.

We came north last year on a barge booked and paid for by an overland company on the basis that there wouldn't be a barge otherwise. We sublet a space from them. They were hoping to pick up some other overlanders waiting at Wadi to share the cost. Funnily enough there was no-one else waiting at Wadi because a barge had gone the day before sweeping up all the other traffic. Then to add insult to injury they sold a space on the barge the overland truck had paid $2000 for to a late arrival and wouldn't hand it over.

If there is other traffic for the barge it will go.

[Anacondor]

Thanks for the positive remarks. Today Salah told me that the problem is that the water level is dwindling and therefore Wadi Halfa port does not allow small barges (...), but only the big barge. We will never ever pay 20,000 EP or even a share of it insofar that would extent the regular fee.

Again: anyone who intends to take the ferry south in about 1-2 weeks, please let me know.

[michnus]

Got our bikes cleared today, total cluster**** this Egyptian registration thing.

We have asked around and the story is the barge is broken, or from another source the Nile is too low as it is the beginning of the spring. Fact is the barge is only going to go to Wadi on the 18th.

The local fixers have gone the route of renting a private barge to help overlanders out. It is way more expensive though.

Any body has contact details for Salah?

[Anacondor]

Originally Posted by michnus

Got our bikes cleared today, total cluster**** this Egyptian registration thing.

We have asked around and the story is the barge is broken, or from another source the Nile is too low as it is the beginning of the spring. Fact is the barge is only going to go to Wadi on the 18th.

The local fixers have gone the route of renting a private barge to help overlanders out. It is way more expensive though.

Any body has contact details for Salah?

Takourny at gmail.com
+20 (0) 1283160926