Sudan 3 day registration avoidable ?

[chris.perjalanan]

Hello folks !

Will be entering Sudan in around 3-5 days and was thinking about if its possible to avoid the expensive 50 dollar registration within 3 days ?? Heared about something like that from a cyclist in Kenya, maybe somebody here could give some advice !

greetings from Gondar,

Chris

[maximondo]

Registration does not cost $50! Just a few $$ for stamps etc...
Which border did they cross??

Forget about the photography one, just don't use your camera in Markets or get caught taking photos of the roads... I didnt have one and I spent two weeks in Sudan.

[roamingyak.org]

It went up a lot after you came through mate.

And then it depends if you change money at the official rate (2.5?) or the black market (5.7 when i left).

No oil now so they charge a lot for nothing...

NOTE: I think you MUST register within 3 days, not you have 3 days to cross or you must register then. Absolutely stay and enjoy the country - best people in Africa?!! But not many say that applies to the gov ;-)

[dstehouwer]

quite simple.... it is not a question of IF, but When.
They give you 3 days, but you'll have to register anyhow.

Costs: 235 pounds (45-60 USD depending on exchange rate)
we've got 5,5-5,8 pounds for a USD in all of Sudan.

DON'T go to the alien registration office, they made me freak out completely by demanding a sponsor!
Just go to the international airport. Facing the departures entrance, go right. Walk past the blue buildings, I think the second door there says something about visa's. They will register you there in 15 minutes, you pay cash and get a nice sticker in your passport with some cool looking stamps.
For the sponsor: just fill in the campsite (National Residence Campsite Khartoum) or your hotel, they don't ask any further questions.

[roamingyak.org]

Great tip mate!

But stay or camp at the Youth Hostel - 300 metres away from the airport buildings you just mentioned, a much better place than the National Camping Residence (which is ok, but little shade). 10 Sudanese pounds for camping (less than $2) under a huge tree, or about 35 for an air con shared room (if your the only foreigner you will have the room alone). MUCH better location than the National Camping Residence (which is nice, but is way out on the edges of Khartoum).

[maximondo]

I have to agree with Roamingyak - the youth hostel is the best place! Cheap and friendly and close to nice places to eat - and a coffee shop with free wifi.

I can not believe they put the price up between january 2012 when I was there and you darren!! crazy...

[dstehouwer]

Originally Posted by roamingyak.org

Great tip mate!

But stay or camp at the Youth Hostel - 300 metres away from the airport buildings you just mentioned, a much better place than the National Camping Residence (which is ok, but little shade). 10 Sudanese pounds for camping (less than $2) under a huge tree, or about 35 for an air con shared room (if your the only foreigner you will have the room alone). MUCH better location than the National Camping Residence (which is nice, but is way out on the edges of Khartoum).

Yeah, agree... the campsite is not really good, but they also don't overcharge you for it! It is quite an experience to sleep that close to a crappy mosque, amazing how much volume they can squeeze out of those old speakers... at 5am! ;-)
FYI: we've paid 50 pounds (9USD) for a taxi to the airport, waiting for us, and back to the campsite t odo the registration.

[chris.perjalanan]

Thanks for the numerous replies.

So its useless to not register, drive on to Wadi Halfa and try our luck with getting through without cos we´ll have to pay it anyway while leaving the country ?? Anybody got a clue where its cheaper to register or if there is any differances in the fee ? What is the penalty when caught without the registration stamp and who controls it anyway ?

Depending money changeing, should we try it here in Gondar/Ethiopia or do you get good blackmarkt ( 5.5 for example ) rates directly on the border ?

Is there a petrol station directly on the sudanese side of the border coming from Gondar ?

cheers,

Chris

[dstehouwer]

registration is a fixed fee.
I wouldn't take the risk, because there is more than enough to arrange in Wadi Halfa anyhow....

Sudan-fuel: a few km's after the border is a petrol station.
Money changing: you get way better rates for your BIRR/USD in Sudan, so just wait.
Got 5.4 pounds for a USD at the bank on the border. But in the customs office a guy (black market) came in while we were waiting for our carnets.... and gave us very good rates for BIRR to pounds... think he made a mistake!

[brend]

we were in sudan in august. we came from ethiopia and after 6 days we ended up in wadi halfa without the registration (we were not able to find the right buildings in gedaref and khartoum during the ramadan so we just continued without). our fixer arranged it then in wadi halfa. the only problem is that i don't know whether we had to pay 50 dollar or 50 dollar and 20for doing it there.........i forgot. i think it was only the 50 dollar.

[chris.perjalanan]

Arrived in Khartoum two days ago, gear cable snapped at the Ethiopian border and I had to ride the vespa in 4th gear all the way inclueding having to pushstart the scooter on every police-stop ... big fun ! Also the BMW R100 of my travelmate Frank has troubles, anybody knows a good motorbike mechanic around here ?

How is the situation with travel-permits nowardays and what do the "tourist-attractions" in the north like mereo pyramides cost and do we have to need to get the permits in Khartoum already ??

Ended up staying with friends, what a climate change to Ethiopia. Without sleeping on the rooftop you cannot get any rest at night ...

greetings from Khartoum,

Chris

[Endurorally]

Originally Posted by brend

we were in sudan in august. we came from ethiopia and after 6 days we ended up in wadi halfa without the registration (we were not able to find the right buildings in gedaref and khartoum during the ramadan so we just continued without). our fixer arranged it then in wadi halfa. the only problem is that i don't know whether we had to pay 50 dollar or 50 dollar and 20for doing it there.........i forgot. i think it was only the 50 dollar.

The London to Cape Town Rally crossed Sudan and into Ethiopia (from Sudan) without registering with the police. Saw very few army road checks - all very straightforward.