Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Helmut Koch - Vivid autumn colors in Canada

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Helmut Koch
Vivid autumn colors in Canada



Trans Sahara Routes.

Like Tree116Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #136  
Old 17 Aug 2013
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 18
Its still not officially open and probably not finished, I would recomend the barge still as the cheapest/easiest way to cross. If you do take the road try and get fixers to organise it in advance (20 days)as we all had to stump up $100 US extra to the sudanese for our 4 days short notice to Khartoum. this could of course have been some sort of rip off

Of course thats assuming it turns up, we only went as we had been to long waiting for the mythical barge.
Good luck if there is anyone left transiting egypt now
Reply With Quote
  #137  
Old 22 Sep 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 74
The latest update

Egypt Sudan Port
Reply With Quote
  #138  
Old 7 Dec 2013
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 5
Does anyone have any updates about the road?

Specifically I'm interested in going overland on bicycle. Is the ferry still the only option?
Reply With Quote
  #139  
Old 8 Dec 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 52
Hi Ramblurr,

I think the only reason we got through on the road was someone likely lining their own pockets during the the revolution. That plus the barges werent running. Haven't heard of anyone else taking it.

I imagine it would be doubly difficult on the bike as we had Egyptian customs with us passing through the Egyptian checkpoints and even then it took time. The fixers in my posts and the weblink above will be able to tell you more but the ferry definitely seems to be your best, cheapest and simplest option.

Good luck and be thankful you don't have a car to get through Egyptian customs!
Tadhg
Reply With Quote
  #140  
Old 29 Dec 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 74
Any news ?

Hi
Does anybody has any recent info how likely is that this road will be available in predictible future?
zbyszek
Reply With Quote
  #141  
Old 30 Dec 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: arnhem, the Netherlands
Posts: 21
Hello,

Yesterday I received this e-mail from Mohamed in Aswan:

Hi Berry,

Things are ok here with more tourists now. Yes, it is fine to enter Egypt in a 4 x 4 and to drive to Sudan. You do need to know that taking the road to Sudan is a lot more expensive than taking the barge . The road route costs US$3000 for 1-3 vehicles and I would need relevant paperwork 2 weeks before you travel.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes, Mohamed
http:://ferryaswanwadihalfa.wordpress.com
Reply With Quote
  #142  
Old 30 Dec 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
"The road route costs US$3000 for 1-3 vehicles and I would need relevant paperwork 2 weeks before you travel."

3000$ only to drive along a road!!! What a shame, it's a true racket!!

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #143  
Old 2 Jan 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 74
Some news I have found

Al-Qastal port to connect Egypt and Sudan | Al-Shorfa
Reply With Quote
  #144  
Old 22 Jan 2014
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 74
Any updates?

Does anybody know, how likely is that the border will be opened in the predictible future?
zbyszek
Reply With Quote
  #145  
Old 21 Feb 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Road from Egypt to Sudan

Has the road been built?
Reply With Quote
  #146  
Old 21 Feb 2014
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,878
If you mean the 35-km road connecting the new Egyptian border post south to Wadi Halfa, then yes, it appears on Google sat which it didn't about a year ago.

The road north from the border post to Qustul has been around for a while.
Not much of a town at Qustul yet, but the quay looks finished.

So according to Google sats the infrastructure seems all in place and you'd think a service might start this year, but this is Egypt and anyway it will still involve a short ferry crossing from Abu Simbel to Qustul.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #147  
Old 22 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
If you mean the 35-km road connecting the new Egyptian border post south to Wadi Halfa, then yes, it appears on Google sat which it didn't about a year ago.

The road north from the border post to Qustul has been around for a while.
Not much of a town at Qustul yet, but the quay looks finished.

So according to Google sats the infrastructure seems all in place and you'd think a service might start this year, but this is Egypt and anyway it will still involve a short ferry crossing from Abu Simbel to Qustul.

Ch
But, if I remember well, I've heard that you need to pay around 3000$ to cross this border.
True?
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #148  
Old 22 Feb 2014
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,878
As I understood it the ~$3k was for an army escort to Abu Simbel or something like that. I interpreted it as the local brigade making money while the sun shines.
It's hard to believe that if the border crossing becomes normalised everyone will be paying that sum. Locals surely could not afford it.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #149  
Old 23 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Beirut / Lebanon
Posts: 197
There has been a bit of confusion about this issue. There are actually two road connections. One leads South on the Western side of Lake Nasser and - as much as I have understood from various threads - this is the one where you have to pay the 3k.

The other roads starts from Abu Simbel with a short ferry across the lake to the Eastern side at Qustul. The ferries could be seen ready as early as 2012. They have actually been used as well. I do remember at least one instance with regard to the record-breaking 11 day trip from Cape Town to London:

Quote:
Now we have left Khartoum behind and will drive north alongside the River Nile tonight - we have 900kms to do before reaching Wadi Halfa in the early hours of the morning and will hopefully see this off before completing a historic crossing into Egypt. Our crossing from Sudan to Egypt has involved arranging an army barge, more usually used for commando training, to cross Lake Nasser, from Qustul to Abu Simbel. The barge crossing comes after driving a newly built, but so far unused, road from Wadi Halfa to a new frontier post on the line of the Sudan – Egypt border at Eshkeet. This is the crossing route that has been promised will soon be the official tourist route. Much depends on enormous goodwill among local officials and for months of detailed planning to come together for the arrangements to fall into place.
Fiat Panda World Record Attempt | Africa Record Run

I would imagine that Mazar in Wadi Halfa would be able to shed some light on the actual regulations.

Greetings,
Achim
Reply With Quote
  #150  
Old 25 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Quote:
Originally Posted by achim-in-jordan View Post
There has been a bit of confusion about this issue. There are actually two road connections. One leads South on the Western side of Lake Nasser and - as much as I have understood from various threads - this is the one where you have to pay the 3k.

The other roads starts from Abu Simbel with a short ferry across the lake to the Eastern side at Qustul. The ferries could be seen ready as early as 2012. They have actually been used as well. I do remember at least one instance with regard to the record-breaking 11 day trip from Cape Town to London:



Fiat Panda World Record Attempt | Africa Record Run

I would imagine that Mazar in Wadi Halfa would be able to shed some light on the actual regulations.

Greetings,
Achim
Thanks Achim for these precisions.
Waiting for some report of travellers using this "short ferry" travel to (or from) Qustul......
Is it a car ferry ? (meaning you can travel with your own car on this ferry and not on a separate on).

RR.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 2 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Africa - Best and Worst Awards rupertu Ride Tales 7 20 Jul 2016 09:53
London to Cape Town, November 2012 Tfoy97603 Travellers Seeking Travellers 56 4 Sep 2012 16:51
Fuel on the way Egypt / Sudan achim-in-jordan North Africa 3 26 Jan 2012 23:11
21" tyres in sudan or egypt dogito66 North Africa 2 31 Dec 2011 11:35
South Sudan to Sudan or Ethiopia by car (road or river) possible? m2m sub-Saharan Africa 0 18 Nov 2011 06:03

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025:

  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025!
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • France: September 19-21 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:09.