I've taken the following from a different forum as regards getting a Sudan visa for a British citizen in Cairo, hope it's of use to somebody -

"Wanted to post some up to date info regarding obtaining a Sudanese visa in Cairo, as it seems, from my experience this week, to have changed slightly from what I've read in previous posts. Perhaps the Sudanese government is becoming more co-operative, or perhaps I was just lucky?

1) Fee was only US$100, not $US150 as I'd read.
2) You only need 2 passport photos, not 4.
3) Visa was issued same day
4) As suggested previously the British Embassy does not issue "Letters of Recommendation", but they do issue a letter saying they don't issue letters of introduction (yes, ridiculous, but...). To confirm, this is provided on the spot - takes about 30 seconds - and costs 320 Egyptian Pounds - rather steep for a scratty photocopy on a piece of cheap paper without an official letter heading, but there you go.

In any case the hospitality and friendliness of the Sudanese officials was extremely heartening - it bodes well for the rest of the country and was in marked contrast to my experience at the British Embassy, where I was made to feel like a criminal with repeated searches, x-rays, security passes necessary before I could speak to the staff cocooned behind bullet-proof tinted glass so thick I had to shout to be heard."

This may be welcome news for those heading South from Egypt to Eritrea/Ethiopia and even Kenya/Uganda...BUT I'm sure there are still restrictions on where the visa permits the traveller to go. Can anyone confirm the details?

Doubtful for anyone to go West from Egypt into Chad/CAR/Congo...

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Sorry to be pedantic, but if you go west from Egypt you end up in Libya . Do you mean west from the Sudan?
As for the restrictions I'll try and contact the original poster, give me a bit of time.

The original poster states -
"This is a standard tourist visa. It's valid for a month - this means I have a month to enter Sudan and thus activate it. Upon activation it's valid for a one month stay - I hear it is fairly easy to extend for another month in Khartoum. The visa has no restrictions on movement per se, though given that you have to obtain travel permits to visit much of the country (basically anywhere off the "standard" Wadi Halfa - Khartoum route through the north) this is irrelevant. Permits for anywhere "hot" - ie Darfur - are of course difficult or impossible to obtain."

What I meant by West from Egypt is...IF you enter Sudan and would like to head into the West...with inclination to hit Chad,etc...

Funny how the visa doesn't impose "restrictions" per se...BUT travel permits are required...

Welcome to the game Mark...JUST because you hear something at one consulate/Embassy, don't believe it as a rule...things at borders can be different sometimes, BUT this is part of the fun...

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Hello hello,

Currently at Ghion Hotel in Bahir Dar (Ethiopia) and heading for Sudan in a week or so. Maybe we can catch up in Sudan??

About the SUDAN VISA situation coming from the south:

Dar es Salaam:
Tourist visa in 3 working days which is valid for 1 monthe and you have 1 month to enter Sudan. The requested a letter of recomendation (me, Dutch embassy, 30 euro, my wife; Irish and for FREE) and a copy of our marriage certificat. You can still get visa if you are not married but they need then 2 letters of recomendation if you are the same nationality

Nairobi;
According to Chris at Jungle Junction (great place to stay in Lavington, suburb of Nairobi, and the only proper motorbike mechanic in Eastern Africa) you can get a 7 day transit visa in approx 3 workingdays with a 250.000 kenyan Shilling (=$400!!!!!!) bribe

Addis Ababa;
Latest story is 14 day transit visa in 1 working day after paying $61 and you have to have your Egypt visa BEFORE applying. Last year a lot of overlanders were stuck in Addis and some even shipped their bike/car from Djibouti home or flew to cairo to get it there (seems at least for several years now that it has been easy to obtain one in Cairo)
Change of Ambassador last febryary in Addis has changed a lot. They don't even request a letter of recomendation anymore. If you want a tourist visa then the wait can be 3 till 6 weeks instead of 1 day so I wouldn't do that!!

We also met a cyclist who got the visa in Aswan (heading south). He did get the letter of recomendation from his Canadian embassy in cairo though.

Have fun and if anybody is around in Sudan next week (or Ethiopia now) let us know!!

Roel (and Lizzy)
www.popadd.com/overlandy2006
London-India-Oz-CapeTown-London

Edde, I've been playing the game since 1990, won a few, lost a few and it has always, in hindsight, been fun.