Egypt: Overland Egypt and the Border Crossing from Sudan and shipping from Alexandria
Border Crossing from Sudan to Egypt at the new border of Argeen on the West side of the Nile.
DO NOT USE THIS BORDER - GO VIA WADI HALFA
This border crossing is mainly for buses and trucks coming from the north. They know nothing of overlanders. It took us 5 days and a bus trip to Cairo to resolve.
They also thought our Carnet was a forgery and did not believe the carnet extension that we had done in Kenya, and approved by Australia was real.
You can read the looong story here:
Travel in Egypt:
We enjoyed Egypt only for for the Bull Sh1t that went on at both ends for the import and export of the vehicle. We also did not really enjoy the security escort the had to endure from Luxor to Cairo - maybe they knew something we did not.
Outside of that the travelling was great.
People wise all incredibly friendly and welcoming. Always “Welcome to Egypt”
In the tourist areas there are scams happening. One guy met us in the street in Luxor, pretending to be the cook from our ‘hotel’. He took us to a place as he had to buy spices. it was all a scam for us to buy spices not him.
Driving we felt quite safe in Egypt, every town has police checks and the military is ever present. Also ISIS has also been targeting some churches.
We always get a friendly wave and return the smile and wave.
Between Luxor and Cairo we decided to take the new western road that bypassed all the Nile River towns.
Perhaps a mistake or the security new something, as just outside Luxor we have to have a security vehicle with us that we could not shake until we drove into Cairo.
See:
Camping & Park Entry:
We paid for camping in the bigger towns and used i-Overlander to find.
When in the deserts we wild camped without issues.
On the Red Sea coast we just could not find a beach that was ‘available’ or without the army coming and telling us to move on. Even that was a pleasant exchange.
Food:
We hear a lot of negativity about the Egyptian people and their attitude.
I have to say, and do exclude our border experience, that we have found everyone exceptionally friendly.
Our fruit and veggie seller went out of his way to help and did not inflate the price ( or so I firmly believe)
Although I do know that generally the fruit and vegetable sellers inflated the price so you need to offer about a 1/3 less. maybe that is also too much.
In the small shops the price seemed fixed.
Fuel:
Fuel was easily available.
Price price was Egyptian Pounds 3.65/Lt ( A$0.27c/Lt)
Water:
From camp grounds or hotels grounds.
Internet:
Easy to get you need no passport etc.
Just a pre-paid SIM card
Shipping form Alexandria:
Another painfull experience and time consuming.
Our Visas were running out as we had one month only. CFS was to ship our vehicle RoRo to the UK, but twice they advised the ship was cancelled so I could not take a chance on a third cancellation.
We then reverted back to a container load with :
Nermeen Said (Ms.)
14, Misr El Tameir Building, 9th District, Sheraton Heliopolis,
Cairo, Egypt.
Tel.+20 2 2268 5981/82/83
Fax +20 2 2268 5986
Cell+20 1066 188 282
E-mail overseas@dispatch-gl.com
or in Alexandria
Rokaya Ali
Import Operation
94/95 26th of July St., Alazrita El Selselah Tower flat 506/95,
Alex., Egypt.
Tel. +20 3 4875114 Fax. +20 3 4875116
Cell +2010 17595958
+2011 57607557
E-mail rali@dispatch-gl.com
Web site www.dispatch-gl.com
We were requested to contact them 10 days before sailing, which I did, however they needed the original documents 10 days before sailing so there was some confusion there which did not help.
Like the import the system is nothing less then stupid, no person will make a decision without 3 other signaturers. It is just easier to say NO !
The vehicle eventually did go into a container, but on a sailing 7 days later than the one it was booked on. This cost us considerable time and $$’s with flight changes, accomodation etc etc.
For our actual Travel Diary through Egypt see: GoannaTracks Egypt
Return to: DIY Kit For Overland Travel