ferry problems wadi halfa to aswan

bm · #1 3 Dec 2005

i've just come from sudan to egypt with the ferry from wadi halfa. i tried to buy the ticket myself (not using mr. kamal or mr. masar).
it was impossible for me to buy a ticket without 'employing' mr. masar. i was running around wadi halfa for two days trying to get forms that the ticket office 'needed' before they would issue the ticket. once i went to the ticket office with mr. masar, no form was needed and i got the ticket.
the whole ferry thing seems a bit disorganised (especially clearing customs before you load the bike onto the boat)
maybe i was just unlucky. did anybody else have the same problem?

**Luke** · #2 5 Dec 2005

Hi, Sorry I’m not posting anything useful, wasn’t a guy called Midhat the man to talk to? Or is my info horribly out of date?

Did you by any chance overtake/meet a French family in a MAN double cab truck on your route? They should be in that area by now, I’ve been trying to follow them since we met last year.

Thanks
Luke

**yoni** · #3 5 Dec 2005

Hi BM

Welcome to Egypt, here no one can do without a helper in any border passing. We visit Egypt some 5 times a year, and each time you've got to pay "Bakshish" to someone, or leave your pen with him. that is the normal fee you have to take into calculation, it saves time and nerves. just smile and go on.

yoni

bm · #4 5 Dec 2005

hi luke
yeah, mithat (spelling) is the guy. there are two brothers though. one's in khartoum working for globtours and the other brother is in wadi halfa. i don't know their names but it was one of the mithat brothers that i used.
i was just amazed when two german bikers i met here in aswan told me that their 1st class tickets from aswan to wadi halfa (including the bikes) cost us$ 20 less than what my 2nd class ticket did.
anyway - that's water under the bridge.
no i have not met any french family. i met a french couple in a land rover in khartoum and they are also in aswan now.
sorry i can't help you more.
cheers
bruce