According to Sudanese friends, it was announced on the news in Sudan yesterday that the opening of the road has been delayed until November. However it will actually be February, November is just face saving a little.

I do not think you guys must up your hopes on this too much. The politics surrounding the ferry with jobs and money is very strong in Aswan.

Hasn't this been a rumour already for years?

How about having the road opened just for one konvoy? I have heard this happens once in a while, against quite an expense. Does anyone has reliable information about this "option"?

The Tourist Ministry in Khartoum is saying the new border opens in September.

Hi

... anything new on this ... ?

:helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie::h elpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie:

Thanks Thomas

Hi Tom, I plan to go this way too *October&November". What is your plans?

Hi Taloa

we will leave Germany probably end of September and the plan sofar is Greece, Turkey - ferry to Port Said - Egypt ....

We are slow going and have plenty of time ....

But right now I have a medical problem and I have to solve this first .... so maybe a delay .... Sorry

Good Luck and maybe see you on the road somewhere !

Thomas & Andrea

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Open in 2012?
 

Hi Folks
we will be back on the road again soon. Travelling from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to Sudan. Unilke the romantics, we prefer an esay life and the road would be wonderful.
Can you please keep us posted on the status of the crossing. Fingers crossed it will be open in 2012

good luck for your trip
when you will start ?
when you will be in Egypt ?
you have a house to stay in Alexandria ,
please if you need any help regarding your route ask me
cheers and ride safe :scooter:

It seems that Egypt and Sudan are now seriously negotiating about the opening of two border crossings between the two countries:

1) on the Eastern side of Lake Nasser, near the settlement of Qostal

2) at Erqan or Arkin, between Toshqa and Dongola, probably leading through Selima oasis.

What remains to be unclear is whether these border posts will be open to foreigners as well or will be limited to local passengers.

الأولى - افتتاح طريق بري بين مصر والسودان خلال أيام
(Al Ahram, 26 August 2012, in Arabic only, but works OK with Google translate)

Greetings
Achim

The latest authoritative wild speculation on the road opening:

New road connecting Egypt and Sudan to open on Sept 20: MENA | Top News | Reuters

" these border posts will be open to foreigners as well or will be limited to local passengers."

That's the question!

RR.

Thanks, roro, for following up on this!

The other question is the actual routing. It seems that travellers will have to drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel and ferry from there to the Eastern shore at Qustal. Google Earth shows docks in Abu Simbel as well as in Qustal. But:

1.) Will travellers be allowed to drive / ride on their own from Aswan to Abu Simbel and vice versa? Or will they need escorts ($$$) or have to drive in convoys?

2.) What will the boats look like that serve as a ferry? If they are just the same barges as before what will be gained?? Will they go several times a day? Etc.

Greetings
Achim

No good news for this season, unfortunately: The opening of the land border between Sudan and Egypt has - according to the online publication Al Masr Al Youm yesterday evening - been postponed once again to January 2013!

Here is the link (translation with Google Translate works OK):

تأجيل افتتاح الطريق البري بين السودان ومصر إلى شهر يناير | المصري اليوم، أخبار اليوم من مصر

What a pity! To see it positively, the adventure of taking the ferry remains ;-)

Greetings
Achim

As I said before:

"According to Sudanese friends, it was announced on the news in Sudan yesterday that the opening of the road has been delayed until November. However it will actually be February, November is just face saving a little."

My Sudanese friends have very good sources etc.

But it is all ready to be opened, so maybe the politics will change overnight, Inshallah..... but not likely.