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22 Feb 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
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.
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22 Feb 2014
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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
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23 Feb 2014
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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:
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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.
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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
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16 Aug 2014
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Thank you for all info.
Waiting in anticipation for some travel reports to see what the outcome is in near future with this new information that came to light regards this road.
Particularly towards January 2015 as that is when we will be traveling North towards Egypt.
Reg
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3 Sep 2014
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Where did you get the information that the road is only open for locals? Maybe this has something to do with the fact that the opening of the road takes away the main income of the ferryman? So i am wandering if this is really true...
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3 Sep 2014
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Kamal, the Local border fixer told me this. He helps me to do all my paperwork. Kamal has a very good reputation and he would still make his share even if I took the road. I believe I can trust him.
David
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4 Sep 2014
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Why am I not surprised...
Welcome to Egypt!
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5 Sep 2014
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But what about that overland tourist truck mentioned by Ruulio? The SPOT map has moved on now but that took the road and the short ferry from Abu Simbel.
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5 Sep 2014
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Overlander Truck made it as first tourists
According to this blog (in German) they where the first tourist to cross over the new road.
The article says there has been an open ceremony and many tv stations were reporting. they had to give interviews to sudanes tv and made photos with officials. the blog does not say what they paid.
the story says the just drived to abu simbel and gave it a try, the customs have been made in a newly opened custum building on the other side of the nile.
i try to contact the company that organized this overland trip. As I know their customers all paid USD 30'000 for a 100 day trip so they might have used some of that money for "bakshis".
Here is the blog in german:
20 Minuten - Der Tag der Entscheidung - Reisen
Ill keep you updated if there are any news
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5 Sep 2014
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I just met a Russian couple with a car. They are about to take the road in the next few days. As long as you have a local person with you it seems to be possible. But is is not going to be any quicker. They are waiting here for days just like me to get the permit to travel. It will just be more comfortable than the ferry.
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10 Sep 2014
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OK, I just came from Wadi Halfa up to Aswan (bike yet to make the same voyage on the slower barge). The new road is still basically only available to locals but Kamal is able to assemble groups of overlanders in Aswan and then get permission to drive down the road instead of taking the ferry as long as Kamal goes along for the ride... As I understand it, this is only an option for motos if there is more than one (ie three cars and one moto is NOT acceptable!, but one car and two motos is acceptable)... Its still not cheap but that's whats happening at the moment. There is no option to drive the road from the South to the North that I am aware of at present.
Oh, and the ferry was certainly uncomfortable but hardly a "living hell"... Its a rough 24hours but manageable 
cheers
Grant
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10 Sep 2014
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Great to have all these updates. So it seems after all that, for the moment at least for overlanders nothing has really changed cost wise, time wise or hassle wise. Though I suppose there at least is an alternative to the old ferry/barge system.
Ch
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5 Sep 2014
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We've got an answer from a local fixer in Aswan. For two bikes and two persons we'll have to pay USD$500 including the customs etc. And for the fixer USD $150.
Although it is a lot of money (it's gonna cost us USD $270 more then the ferry)
If we take the road we can go whenever we want to. Taking the ferry, and the barge, can leave us longer in Aswan and Wadi Halfa and will cost us also some money. I think the difference will be about USD $150. Now we have to decide if paying USD $150 is worth it to avoid the hassle with the somewhat unreliable ferry and barge....
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7 Sep 2014
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so far nothing solid about the road crossing
i heard some Sudanese cars like 3 had problems to cross and they had to go by ferry ?? didnt know why !!!!
im trying to sort my time and other things to go and give it a try to use the road and then will make full report with all info needed ,
in my opinion the ferry wont be a bad way to go between the 2 countries
if you have no problem with time
also the advantage of the opening road that i think the ferry wont be that crowded and
you may try to have your motorbike in the ferry itself instate of the sh--- barge
cheers
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7 Sep 2014
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HI
I will be going on the road tomorrow morning.
I'm with my motorbike here. The Bike was shipped on the barge a few days ago. then I met a russian couple who are here by car and have arranged to take the road. I'll drive with them now.
As a tourist you need to have a local guide with you. you are not allowed to go alone. Due to this there is currently no way for cyclists. With a car you can hire a guide to join you.
Regards,
David
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