Gilf Kebir from UK

[Trumpton]

I have just returned from a truly fantastic trip, driving to the Gilf from UK in my own Landcruiser, along with another LC and a landrover via France, Tunisia, Libya, into Egypt and then back.

Tunisia / Libya borders no problem, (there were 6 of us in the 3 vehicles), certified arabic passport translation essential.
Unable to get just transit visas

Our Libyan visas, paperwork, policeman etc etc was all arranged extremely efficiently by Alarbi of Sahara stars for both directions.
Even the beauracracy getting into Egypt with own vehicles wasnt too bad (approx 4hrs), with help from our excellent egyptian guide, Marius Budek & his contacts.
Tourist police escorts in Northern egypt were a pain as they dont have anything better to do, they just latch onto you at checkpoints & then your a bit stuck with them.

The gilf itself is still a bit volatile, plenty of evidence of fresh tracks & other fresh evidence etc from 'baddies'! who our guide thought may be looking for our tracks but some major probs with the landrover about 80k south of wadi sura may have thrown them off the scent as we had to alter our route / timings etc etc , so this misfortune may have been very fortunate (by the way we did manage to get the landrover out of the desert, alebeit with a considerably lightened load)
NO egyptian military presence in the area according to our accompanying army escort & we were apparently the only people legally there (south of Dakhla to the Gilf & up to Siwa).
Plenty of evidence of smugglers (& an encounter with armed, arms smugglers ).
A few pretty hairy moments, but we are back safe & sound & already raring to go again!
The Gilf is a very special place.
Andy

[Chris Scott]

Hi Andy, thanks for your news and congrats on pulling of a DIY to the Gilf.
What was you exact route out of Dakhla? I take it you gave Uweinat (or KKT at least) a miss.
It's quite a schlep but like you say, the Gilf is a special place.
Point us to some pics some time.

Chris

[ursula]

hi
in november I was visiting the Gilf Kebir too. We met not 1 tourist, no tracks untill we entered Wadi Gubba. Not a single "Badman" either. The officer told us, the checkpoints with egyptian troops are near Uweinat, Gebel Kamil and soon also near the Kemal el Din place.
If you like to see some pictures :-) Flickr: ursula z rich's Photostream
It was absolutely great!
Ursula

[Fastship]

Originally Posted by ursula

hi
in november I was visiting the Gilf Kebir too. We met not 1 tourist, no tracks untill we entered Wadi Gubba. Not a single "Badman" either. The officer told us, the checkpoints with egyptian troops are near Uweinat, Gebel Kamil and soon also near the Kemal el Din place.
If you like to see some pictures :-) Flickr: ursula z rich's Photostream
It was absolutely great!
Ursula

Ursula, you're photographs are wonderful. Thank you.

Some of your photographs are labeled Tschad Tibesti, Bini Erda. Can you tell me if this is actually the Tibesti Mountains, Chad?

[ursula]

hi fastship - happy to share my pics with other people!

Bini Erda is ca 60 km east and Kozen Dong ca 70 km NE of the volcano Emi Koussi, at the edge of the
Tibesti Mountains. Have a look on Google maps: Bini Erda N20.01667 E19.16667

It was a fantastic scenery but it was not a relaxed tour. Today I wouldnt even dare to go there anymore.

Ursula