Egypt to Sudan unofficially?

[david151]

Is it possible to unofficially cross from Egypt to Sudan through the desert? I have read of people making the trip many years ago. There was one guy in the late 90s that did it illegally in a beach buggy. Another example is from cookies site where they travelled from Abu Simbel to Dongola

Crossing The Egyptian-Sudanese Border Not Quite Legally. | Travel Photography Blog by Nisa Maier and Ulli Maier.

Here is an extract

"we decided to pretend to leave Abu Simbel just before the checkpoint closed in the evening. We told the officers that we’d sleep along the road and drive up to Aswan again the next day. This would give us some time to disappear into the desert. After being out of sight of the checkpoint, and with no other traffic on the road, we turned off our lights and drove off into the vast desert landscape. Only the moon guided us"


The problem is I have not seen anyone attempting this in recent years. Anyone know why this is? Does the Egyptian military now have a huge presence in the desert making such a crossing practically impossible?

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by david151

The problem is I have not seen anyone attempting this in recent years. Anyone know why this is?

People traffickers possibly.

Check out the current situation between the two new Sudans.

CS's map, about half way down the link below, is worth a scan.
Trans Sahara Routes | Sahara Overland

But, maybe we are all being ultra cautious?

[david151]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

People traffickers possibly.

Check out the current situation between the two new Sudans.

yes buts that's at the opposite end of the country, far away from the border in question.

I did think of people traffickers, but if we worried about every criminal gang, we would not travel anywhere.

I thought the reason nobody had tried this in recent years was maybe because of a heavy presence of Egyptian military, but can't find any information on this. Also that part of the desert does not seem to be associated with a large terrorist presence, so it leaves me wondering why nobody has tried this in the last few years? Am I missing something?

[Walkabout]

It starts to beg the question of why you would like/want to cross that particular border illegally.
For a "one off" or to continue onward to cross more borders illegally?
(border crossing check points will want to see the stamps in your passport for your earlier routing).

The main point of my last post is that there is a great deal of unrest within the Sudans - that leads to people smuggling opportunities which are a lttle bit more than "basic" criminality in the modern context.

But, yea, give it a go, and tell us how it works out.

[Mark hadley]

If you leave illegally, then there will be no record that your vehicle left Egypt and your carnet or bond would have to pay up.

[Chris Scott]

Am I missing something?

I think you are

Those days back in the 80s nowadays seem so far away it’s almost unreal; major changes & impacts have happened int he last 30-40 years – also for travelling….

We're living in a post 9-11 world.
Have not read how they got away with it back then but these days such a stunt could cost you your vehicle.

[david151]

Originally Posted by Mark hadley

If you leave illegally, then there will be no record that your vehicle left Egypt and your carnet or bond would have to pay up.

I suppose it depends on your motivation for doing this. I suspect some people are willing to forego financial penalty for a deeper sense of adventure. Plus there are ways round this (not always legally), it all depends what limits someone is willing to go to.

[Braam....]

hello all 4x4 fanatics im entering egypt tomorrow will reach aswan by the weekend possibly is there any fellow travelers on the border that time as i am driving alone due to my partner getting sick.........

[Sam Rutherford]

How are you entering Egypt?