Albert,

This is rather a long post....lucky I am not a lawyer who charges by the word.

I got my Sudanese visa in Kampala, Uganda in a couple of weeks for about $US30 (55,000 Ugandan Shillings). I have heard from others that Addis, which is the traditional place to get the visa, has become increasingly difficult and time consuming. Either way, I suggest you email a travel agent in Khartoum two or three weeks before you need the visa, so that they can arrange a letter of introduction and facilitate the process. I used the following guy and he was efficient, although he wanted to charge my US$75 for the privelege (he has never sent me details of the bill or how to pay him, so I have never actually had to pay this - please don't remind him!).

Amr Ali Aljundi
Director
Mafaza Traveling Services
P.O.Box 147
Khartoum 11111, Sudan
Tel: ++249-183-799-688
Fax: ++249-183-799-687
Mobile: ++2499-1230-4190
e-mail: amr@mafazats.com

I suspect that he can probably arrange for the visa to be collected in any embassy, so you could also do it in Nairobi / Addis if you are not going to Uganda.

No country has really presented any problems for visas on Aussie passports. I have briefly listed the East African countries below and whether you need them in advance or can get on the border.

SA - not necessary

Lesotho - not necessary

Swaziland - not necessary

Mozambique - embassy in SA (although I think South Africans can still get on the border)

Zimbabwe - border US$30

Zambia - free at the border if you get on the list from Jolly Boys backpackers in Livingstone, otherwise US$25

Botswana - not necessary

Malawi - not necessary

Tanzania - US$50 at the border

Kenya - US$50 at the border

Burundi - US$40 at the embassy, although I think it was only US$20 at the Tanzanian border

Rwanda - US$50 at embassy, although possibly available at the border

Uganda - US$30 at the border

Ethiopia - US$20 at embassy, don't know about border

Egypt - US$20 at embassy, don't know about the border

As to hiking, try a Kilimanjaro climb in Tanzania or gorilla trekking in Rwanda / Congo / Uganda. Both of these are expensive activities, otherwise there is good free hiking in most countries, it just depends on your preferences.

cheers

I did CT to Egypt and back to Ethiopia in 2004 on an old Tenere (cut short by accident and time and money and and and ..).
Give me a call in CT if you around and need any info. Always keen to help out prospective travellers.

Jim
0826859288

Jim,
Matt has given some good info above traveling on an aussie passport and i see you've done some traveling just last year. Any advise from you,doing it with a SA passport. I'm a SA in the UK at the mo and still scraping the guts together to do London - CT late next year. Where would i need what (on your route?)to get through as easy as possible.Any other advise (season wise, gear, food etc.) more than welcome. Must say bike prices looks pretty good over here.Thanks
Stef

One piece of advice. Although all the roads are generally passable despite the season on a Europe to CT trip (assuming you take the east coast route), try and avoid the wet season in east and central Africa. For Ethiopia it runs June - Sep, and Kenya/Taz/ Uga/Rwanda etc it runs March - mid June.

I have spent the last four months riding in the wet season, and although it is definately doable, it can get really annoying after a while.

[This message has been edited by Matt Roach (edited 18 July 2005).]

Macfisto

Ill try to answer your post here, but feel free to email me for more specific details.

An SA passport is just about the best one you can have for Africa, in general visas are cheaper, except Tanzania and Kenya, the bastards... I found being an African helpful for smoothing the way, paople could relate better to me than to Europeans who i think got hasseled more than me. Thats just an opinion of course...
I went CT Moz, Malawi, Tan, Uganda, Kenya Turkana route, Ethiop, Sudan, Egypt where I was not allowed because my carnet was invalid so i turned around and went back to Ethiop where an accident ended my trip. I really think this route is the best option for a first timer, Turkana area is best avoided unless you know yourself anf the bike really well, its an amazing place, but not for the faint at heart. You can usually choose between good roads and more interesting rough roads and you get to some of Africas finest. Sudan, depeding on the route can be hard riding too, but depends on where you go, its an amazing place, i loved it. Visa can be found in Addis, but takes time which is ok because addis is cool place to hang out after difficult months. I got Sudan visa in Pretoria in 2 days! I think i was very lucky. Moz gives visas at major borders to SA folk im told, but deffinately not at smaller nicer borders. Get it in Malawi, which is also a really cool place, look for road to .... shit cant remember name, green route on Mich map, turn off near Rhumpi down to lake. Superb. Hmm what else... ? Dont expect to find any spares anywhere, this said i fouund a nice tyre in Sudan for 20 dollars! Just dont count on it.
I went on an old 1985 34l Tenere, in my opinion this is the bike God rides when she travels. Germany is a good place to find em i hear.

Thats all
Jim

Hi

Suggest you contact Mark and Jason (2 South African's riding Africa Twins) via their website (http://www.2k5africa.co.za/index.html) - they are currently on their way down from London --> Cape Town. I'm not sure exactly where they are right now but I would expect around northern Tanzania. They should be in Cape Town within the next month or 2 and would have lots of first hand info for you which I'm sure they would happily divulge over a beer ir 2 in CT harbour.

Thanks folks

I know i could find about everything i need on this site but to hear from you okes is a bit quicker, as i have limited access to the internet.Not everybody out there owns a pc.Jim i might just send you a couple of mails, thanks for the offer, it'll take time though.
Happy biking ya'll!

Oh i just realised you doing N to S so Sudan visa best bought in Aswan Egypt. I got mine on way home for US100 in 3 days.... I really depends who you talk to at embassy, First i was told up to 3 weeks wait for confirmation from Khartoum, but i hassled them every day then met the right man who issued it the same day. Remember ferry to Wadi Halfa leaves once a week i think on a Monday (make sure) so you want to time your arrival at Aswan accordingly... I didnt and i really really dont dig Aswan. Also be prepared for some right SOB's at Aswan customs. ethiop visa is easy to get in Cairo, takes 2 days and costs US20 for SA citizens, US60 for Europeans,

Thanks made a note of that,will still figure out a route through europe, will obviously need visas for that 2

Aswan customs...tell me about it!

Just arrived on the ferry from Wadi Halfa and been told it will take four days to clear customs / traffic police and insurance. It seems insurance company decides to take an extended weekend for the Muslim holiday.

I am not wanting to start a full debate, but what a shithole is Wadi Halfa???? I have seen quite a few countries in my travels, and never come across a town that I hated more...any competitors for worst town in the world?