Sudanese visas
 

Can anyone enlighten me on how to get a Sudanese visa once I've left the UK. I've tried phoning the UK embassy, but am confused by answers. Is it possible to get a visa for the Sudan from, say, Egypt, Chad or Niger? We'll be leaving the UK in December, but will probably only get to the Sudanese border (with Egypt) about 3 or 4 months later. How long is a Sudanese visa valid for before you have to use it? And how long can you stay in the Sudan?

I'd be really grateful for any advice on this.

Thanks
Belinda

You can get a visa from the embassy in Cairo, you'll need US dollars and a 'letter of recomendation' from your embassy - which is a nonsense. If you have British nationality the Brits will give you a piece of paper saying "we don't do recomendations" and charge you for it. The Sudanese seem happy with that.

At least that was the case a year or two ago...

The sudanese visa will generally only be valid for one month, and then it allows you one month in the country. Hence, this can be a problem if you get it too far in advance. I managed to get a three month validity (with one month in the country), but that took me several hours of argument with the consul in Uganda.

From everyone I have met travelling south, Egypt is your best bet for the visa.

Thanks Matt and Richard for your help with this one. Egypt sounds like the one, then.

Bel

From your reply to another subject I see you are travelling down the Atlantic route through Morocco, Mauritania and Mali and then on, leaving Mid Dec.

I will be traveling down as far as Mali (going to the festival in the desert north west of Timbuktu 13/14/15th Jan) leaving Portsmouth on the 16th Dec. So perhaps will see you on the way down. Best of luck and have a good trip it sounds great.

Gerry

Hey Gerry

Yes, might see you on the ferry. Look out for the white 05 reg 110 with 3 women on board! Good luck on your trip too.
Bel

If your going down the Atlantic route, was the intention to cross into Sudan from Chad? This was a fairly common way but due to the problems in Darfur in the west of Sudan, its now quite difficult to get visas. Your two main options are probably to head up from Niger - Algeria - Tunesia - Libya - Egypt - Sudan or alternatively to go down the west coast of Africa - Gabon - Congo - DRC - Angola. Although there is always some mad motorcyclist to prove it is possible, its not officially possible to go directly from Niger or Chad in to Libya. Unfortunately this means quite a detour to go up to Tunesia and then into Libya.


[This message has been edited by Toby2 (edited 19 October 2005).]

Hello all.
Although this is nothing to do with visa's, i see sveveral of you are leaving Portsmouth on the 16th. Look out for the (probably) poorly equiped blue disco, doing the southern Moroccan run.
Best wishes for everyone's trip.
Nick and Eric.

Toby, thanks for that. No to the Chad-Sudan route. Dafur is too risky, as you say, so our plan is to head to Egypt and then south, along the coast (if poss) into Eritrea or into Ethiopia further down.

We're basically looking at the Niger - Algeria - Tunesia - Libya - Egypt - Sudan, but am trying to get more info on access to Algeria. Looks like we need to book a guide before getting the visa, but as we don't know when we'll get there, we can't book the guide. Bit of a catch-22! If Algeria's possible, that's certainly the best route. The objective is to get to Cape Town, eventually. It's where I'm from.

Thanks
Bel

Landygirl,

Just a thought.....

The borders between Sudan & Eritrea, and Eritrea & Ethiopia have been closed for some years, so if you want to go into Eritrea, you need first to cross Sudan into Ethiopia, then into Djibouti and up to Eritrea, and then back down the same way.

Hai,

we got our Sudan visa in Jordan, Amman. Yes, only valid for one month so we were in a rush. Got into Sudan with an expired visa, but that was not a problem. They extended it at the border (Wadi Hlafa) and then stamped it as being allien in the country. I'm not sure how it is now, but in 2000 it was almost impossible to get a visa for Sudan in Egypt.
Enjoy Sudan, it was lovely.

Bye, Maria

Hi, Sdan visa no problem in Cairo, 100 US and 2hrs also at the moment for Aswan, see up the nile on a BMW. Mike

hi landy girl ,
i'm sure no problems now with visa to sudan ,even i know a person in aswan he can get it for you and also arrange you the ferry boat (i think he is the only guy who is doing that there) his name is mahmoud idris ,think was mentioned before ,any way i met hem once ,although i knew hem for about 5 yeard ,cause i always call hem to arrange visas and ferry boat for travellers passed by me
any way landy girl i,m in alexandria ,i think it will be on your way ,so if you need a place to stop by or if you need any help ,contact me
ride safe and good luck

I'm currently in Dahab. Next stop will be Cairo to get the visa for Sudan and Ethiopia. And after that we will tour Egypt for about 20 days before entering Sudan. But if I understand it correctly the visa for Sudan will be valid for one month starting from the day it is issued, but it is possible to get an extension in Wadi Halfa? How do I get an extension there, does someone know? Thanks in advance.

Erik Jan
(in a green series III from Bodegraven/Netherlands to Cape Town)

Erik Jan,

The Sudanese visa should be valid for one month from the date of application, and then also allow you one month in the country. ie - your one month does not actually start until you enter Sudan.

I met a guy in Wadi Halfa who wanted to trek down the Nile over several months. He tried to extend his visa in Halfa, but last I heard he found it virtually impossible, so he jumped on the train to Khartoum to sort it out.

If you want any more info on the route south, I am staying in Dahab and you can reach me at Room 31 Alaska Camp (just near the bridge) or at the Seadancer dive center.

cheers
Matt Roach