British Citizen- Lybia, Algeria, Morocco- Visa help please!!!!

[mikeb8man]

Hi guys,

Am going from p.e (south africa) to paris(france) via the east coast of africa up to egypt before going left at alexandria through lybia,tunisia, algeria and morocco and then north.Have been looking at visa information for each country. Would love some advice on the following if anyone has any:

Firslty am i right in saying that libya requires a guide and a transit visa and that this transit visa can only be obtained through a libyian tourist guide company?

Secondly that there is absolutely no way of crossing between morrocco and algeria and that this is only possible by going from algeria south into mauritiania and then north but i have read advice against crossing this border..has anyone taken this route?

Any info would be so much appreciated!!
Thanks
Mike

[persedel]

Hi!

Me (Swedish) and my mate (Australia) are in Egypt at the moment waiting for our Libya visa.

We have come up similar to what you explain the east coast.

THe story is that you either get a transit visa which we are trying for. THis only allow you to travel along the mediteranean without guide 5-14 days (you get what you ge). This can only be done at embassy or consulat by yourself.

If you want to see Libya more you need a guide and then you ned to use a agency or tour company within.

I will post later how our visa went.

One couple applied for the visa in Alexandria where the consulate is, The consular was very positive so we are awaiting this reply too.

Have fun on your journey. (I know you will).

/PER

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[Chris Scott]

Secondly that there is absolutely no way of crossing between morrocco and algeria ...
Correct

that this is only possible by going from algeria south into mauritiania
Well, via Mali or better still Niger then Mali.

and then north but i have read advice against crossing this border..has anyone taken this route?
If you mean Alg to Mori direct, there is no recognised route and this remote region is risky so your advice is correct. Last group I know to try it got robbed in Mori.

My advice: if coming up the east side, go Middle East, Turkey, etc from Egypt or get a boat out of Tunis to France or Italy.
Or come up the west side of Africa - much more fun!

More info:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/routes

Chris S

[mikeb8man]

Hey chris-thanks for the great advice and speedy reply..

Well, via Mali or better still Niger then Mali.- is the border between nigeria and niger safer than the mali and nigeria one then?

Also 'persedel' thanks for the great info-ill await your visa reply and i hope all goes well for you there! I will contact the libyian embassy here in london and go for the transit visa i think...
thanks
mike

[Chris Scott]

... is the border between nigeria and niger safer than the mali and nigeria one then?

Not sure what you mean - there is no mali-nigeria border, is there?
Do you mean Algeria? If so then the answer to the above is 'yes', Niger is the safer bet, but Mali is more direct.

See warnings off: http://www.sahara-overland.com/country

Ch

[mikeb8man]

haha sorry chris- thats what i meant- thanks again-

[persedel]

We have just checked on the processing on our visa.

No response. They said we will get it 100% guaranteed just wait (heard that before).

We are running out of time on our visa.
Will let you know how it goes!

Definately go Algeria, Niger-> Mail...
This was my initial plan but no time. This is the reason for the ferry out of Tunisia.

/PER

[mikeb8man]

Hi persedel,

Im sorry to hear your having to get ferry out of tunisia.
How did your visa go in egypt-did you managed to get a transit visa there for lybia?
Also have been looking at your website and was wondering if overall you would recommend getting the sudanese visa at my home embassy or try in addis? Further is it possibe to get the egyptian visa on the border or did you have to get that too in addis?
Hay awesome journals on your site btw-is good to read and see photos
thanks again
mike

[persedel]

Hi!

No Egyptian visa at the border. The way for Egypt is to get it in Addis. Be sure you state to them the right dates so it will be valid for you whole stay by the time you reach Egypt. This visa is necessary to get the Sudanese transit visa.

We got the Sudanese visa as I said in Addis, it is valid for 30 days but it is a game to get it. We were lucky. It took a week. For most it is not approved. If you are okay with 7 or hopefully 14 days Addis works fine. Approved in one day.

Bring passport, copy of Egyptian visa, copy of passport, Letter from your embassy (you can get it in Addis). 61 USD. You get it in 1 day and it is valid for 7 or 14 days after you entered. Insist you need 14. Some reports have been that you only get 7 if the officer had a bad nights sleep so insist politely!!!?!

I would do this. The visa is only open for 1 month before entry.

We are now in Alexandria to get a visa at the consulate for Libya. Our friends got a full 30 day visa without guide transit with no restrictions more than entry and exit point. Cheap too. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

/PER

[mikeb8man]

Hey per,

Thanks for the great info..again! Hope the lybian visa is going well-updates would be great! Forgot to ask, did kenya/uganda border ask for carnet or was it possible to get away without it? So far i think the only major problem seems to be egypt and maybe kenya that require the carnet. But the carnet for kenya seems to be hit and miss with some people saying yes, others no..any ideas there? Also think it is possible to enter ethiopia and get visa on border as wasnt planning on going down to nairobi?
thanks for all you help
mike

[persedel]

Hi Mike!

Sorry I didn't reply to your reply til now. i have been away from teh site for long.

We waited for our visa 5 weeks. Going to Alexandria was of no use as we had applied already in Cairo. I returned to Cairo to push them. After 3.5 weeks they checked and realised our papers in tripoli was missing. Refaxed it. As our carnet was expiring and we spent enough time waiting we checked on our last day 5 weeks of waiting nothing. We went to Jordan instead and are driving through the middle east.

My suggestion would be to go initially to Consulate in Alexandria and apply. No guarantee what will happen though.

I have now got a contact who assure he can fix any visa at the embassy but he is charging a lot of money. The sum is not fixed so I am not sure what is means. I think the guy is for real. He spent time to help us but it was to late. He said when he supply what he is asked to he charge a high fee if it does not come through he said: Nice meeting you. Nice guy despite he is a lawyer. No offense all law degree people.

We got our syria visa on the border from Jordan. From Ramtha (Irbid). I will post a separate post on this one.

/PER

[persedel]

Hi Mike!

I am not sure in how Kenya is on Carnet as we ahve used it in every country so far. I know that Ethipia didn't care about it at all.

If Kenya have a separate system I am not sure.

Also I have no info on if visa is available at the border.

/PER

[persedel]

Hi Mike!

I am not sure in how Kenya is on Carnet as we ahve used it in every country so far. I know that Ethipia didn't care about it at all.

If Kenya have a separate system I am not sure.

Also I have no info on if visa is available at the border.

Sorry!

/PER

[aaydaam]

to get a visa for libya you have to get an invitation letter from the travel agencies, this is alot easier for you as they would do all the paperwork involved, and you are right when saying that entering libya you have to be accompanied by a guide.
For more information contact me at info@arkno.com