Cairo to Nairobi and back in 3 weeks - possible?
 

Hi all

Looking to ride alone (or drive with the whole clan if my wife gets her way) from Cairo to Nairobi and back. We need to do it in three weeks. Is this possible? I (we) would go at the best time of year in relation to weather/relig holidays etc, and have appropriate bike (1200 Multistrada) or car (5.7 hemi Jeep) for the trip. Really don't want to fly unless necessary. Any thoughts would be welcome. (Or anyone who would like to join me/us.)

Cheers, Brett

Hi,

I dont think it would be fun to ride all the way from Cairo to Nairobi in three weeks. Ride there and back in the same time is not possible. The Sudan Farry takes time and to organize the visa stuff as well.

Entering Egypt and Sudan are also one of the moast expensive and difficult countrys (you need arabien numberplates, register at the police etc) of africa to enter so i would recomend you to just ride around Kenya for a bit. There are nice coasts and animal parks to visit.

Transafrika - Motorbike travel tour through africa part 1

Enjoy it, Tobi

I should have said I live in Egypt, with Egypt plates on my vehicles, and the admin stuff I can arrange in my own good time. I'm really asking about the condition of the roads etc. I'm more of a look-at-something-as-I-scream-past-it sort of guy than a sightseer. I know it would be far easier and cheaper to fly but I just like riding (far and fast).

Roads no problem, apart from Ethiopia is slow going (up, down, people and animals all over the roads, 200km a day is good going sometimes) and the northern part of Kenya is unsealed whichever way you go.

But the Aswan/WH ferry is not reliable at all at the moment, and getting a return visa for Sudan +could+ cause problems, so you should try to get a multiple entry before leaving Egypt etc.

Honestly though, don't bother, you will be driving most hours of the day for most your days, including through Ethiopia which is quite an annoying country to drive in, and I can't see if being much fun for anybody especially kids.

Just go to Sudan for 3 weeks, really nice people and plenty to do, or just fly to Nairobi and hire a car or something.

Africa needs less tourists in a hurry imho ;-p And you would always be in a hurry....

Hi Brett,

As you know, it's about 5,000 km to Nairobi so depending how long you want to drive each day you could make it there and back, but it would be a long slog taking into account traffic, border crossings, ferry, etc.

Roads are good, pretty much paved the whole way now that the Wadi Halfa to Dongola portion has been improved with the only unpaved rough portion part as yak points out being northern kenya. Not an issue if you are driving but if you are on your bike then it's a slow ride over a rocky route with deep depressions.

One thing to keep in mind though is that there aren't that many options to vary your route significantly on the way back so the return trip wouldn't likely be as much fun as it would be ground that you have already covered.

One option that you might want to consider would be to look into the possibility of doing a one way. In a perfect world you could find another overlander wanting to do the trip in reverse. Details like rego and carnet for the borders would have to be worked out, but a three week one way trip would be a great adventure. If you felt you had some extra days, there are a few classic places like the game parks that you could visit. Happy planning.

Thanks all. Very useful stuff. After your collective advice I'm thinking a one-way trip and get the beast shipped back (or beg a few more weeks leave). I've heard there's a reasonable Mombasa-Suez option, but I'll check that more. Thanks again you lot!

cheers
Brett

Sounds like a good plan. One other thing, you have a lot more first hand experience than us with Egypt but with all the horror stories about clearing Egyptian customs at sea ports, you may want to look into Mombassa to see if that is more straightforward. If it is, shipping down and then picking it up there might be an option to consider.

And not to add any more destinations onto your trip, but if you do go in/out of Mombasa, you should really consider heading straight across to Arusha in Tanzania. Same approximate latitude as Mombassa so not a huge detour. The payoff is great views of Kili and you can easily squeeze in a visit to Ngorogoro Crater from Arusha for some wildlife viewing, certainly a highlight for the kids if you drag them along.

About Sudan visa with 2 entries, do you mean there is some problem to get it in Europe before leaving?

RR.

Both great ideas Mountain man. Thanks for that.

cheers Brett

Unlikely...and no fun
 

Hi,

Absolutely agree that it would be unlikely to manage it there and back in that time frame. Absolutely everything would have to work perfectly, including the vehicle, but more problematic and unreliable is the Lake Nasser ferry and Aswan customs on return.

Even getting the permission to take an Egyptian car out of the country can be a little painful. Of course it may be different if you have fancy green plates.

If you want even half a chance at seeing only the highlights en route, then one way is the option.

We managed the Nairobi-Cairo leg in our summer school holidays, about 6 weeks, and it felt like a rush.

Thanks JT and everyone else.

JT is there a group of 4WD types in Cairo that go for drives occasionally that you know of? I don't mean anything as formal or organised as the Jeep club. Something a bit more relaxed and that involves beer.

cheers
Brett

3 weeks ,hmmm!!
 

Hi Brett
well lets say you will start from Cairo and you can mange to do it in one day to Aswan ,then you have to e there any Friday or Saturday really early ,
then paper work for the ferry and customs police traffic and then you car ot bike will be on the barge by Sunday ,you start to sail on Monday ,arrive and start from Halfa if you are lucky Wednesday afternoon,
so its almost 6 or even 7 days
and the same back !!
and then to drive 5000 km ,
best thing is just fly to Kenya hire a car go around ,and then fly back
of just go to Sudan ,very kind people and many places to go specially the virgin red sea shore
hopefully the road will be open soon then you can do it in 3 weeks
my last trip from South Africa to Egypt on motorbike solo ,took 6 months ,i was planning to do it in 3 months but then i decided to enjoy it to the max i can .
and it was the best trip i ever had in my life
regarding 4x4 activities ,there is lots of 4wheelers they go for weekends or even longer trips
you can mail me as i always like to be on the move
i do live in Alexandria

Heh brett. Well yes, in fact your description sounds remarkably like us. Add good food, and motor bikes to the mix. Probably done for the summer, but might pop out one day early to pick up jerry cans from an earlier bikes only trip. Get in touch or get down to maadi for a beer. Where are you?

Hi Omar,

" many places to go specially the virgin red sea shore"

Is it more beautiful than the Egyptian sea shore (on the other side of the border, not on Aqaba gulf), or almost the same?

RR.

Jesus. I hadn't realised the site automatically did the funky beer icons. Clever.

hey that is cool...simple things for simple minds my wife is saying over my shoulder. Boy has she got her priorities wrong.

JT we live in Maadi (near Residence Hotel). Drink at Maadi House or occasionally the ACE club. Will get to BCA eventually. We're away for the summer too, back mid-July. Got the car but not the bike yet - so bloody complicated getting this stuff done. Got the green light for a motorstrada so that's my plan.

A long drive to pick up jerries - as good a reason as any. If you'd like an extra in the motorcade count me in - I need to get some petrol-stink in the jeep.

cheers Brett

Hi Roro
well the area there is still untouched some howby people ,miles and miles nothing but Mountain and the beautiful Red sea ,its like paradise for scuba diving ,
and totally safe though
but will be sohard to do it with a solo motorbike,for fuel and enough water to drink

But with my car, it will be possible, isn't it?

RR.

Australian guy living here for years ... N 24º12.943 E 035º25.503
.....all are welcome
The beer is always cold
Cheers bier

so how about holding a small H-U meeting in Cairo or some where else ?
at least a small activity will be great as feeling so bored in here ,
bier

Hi Omar,
You are about 1100 km from here ... road is a bit hot this time of year ...but I run a dive camp so easy to cool down on arrival ... welcome
Cheers

hmmm but it can be a great ride first day Alexandria ,Cairo ,Sokhna ,spend a night there
then a night in hurghada and then 2 nights or 3 at your place
perhaps others can join from Cairo !!
can you mail me please more info about your diving centre ?
MY MAIL IS omarmansourr at hot mail dot com

Dive camp? Wondered what you were doing all the way down there Lahami. Long ride/drive, beers and diving. Sounds like a genius plan. After the summer period might be the go.

cheers, Brett

Hey, thats very cool ... we might come and have one or two bier

Thomas & Andrea

https//www.miles-to-ride.com

Welcome :) stay some days to relax :)
Cheers

Port Safaga
 

Hey Lahami

thanks for the offer ... and it`s quite possible bier

So, Port Safaga would be the place to look for a boat and it might be possible to do the paperwork (CdP, registration, traffic police, etc.) legally, because it`s an exit port ,right :helpsmilie:

@roro

you really think the road will be open .... I doubt it :(
I worked as an PADI OWSI in Hurghada for a year some 20 years ago and I remember the slow development back then .... ?c?

anyway, still some time untill we hit Egypt with the bikes :scooter: and hopefully everything works in our favour .... Inshallah

Thomas & Andrea

https//miles-to-ride.com

I know this thread is a few years old...but I was wondering what the OP ended up doing. I'm thinking of taking my bike from Cairo to Nairobi in 9 days and ship the bike back to Cairo by air freight. Now that the road between Egypt and Sudan is open I think it should be possible.

I know that the pace is not ideal. I would love to take more time off and do that trip at a much more enjoyable pace, however, I'm stuck with the time I have. Here's what I have planned so far:

Day 1. Cairo - Aswan (850km)
Day 2. Aswan - Dongola (800km est.)
Day 3. Dongola - Khartoum (638km)
Day 4. Khartoum - Gondar (763km)
Day 5. REST
Day 6. Gondar - Addis Ababa (732km)
Day 7. Addis - Moyale (773km)
Day 8. Moyale - Isiolo (505km)
Day 9. Isiolo - Nairobi (275km)

What does everyone think?
:scooter: