15

@thanks Simsy
not sure when/if I will go, but will definitely post an update

16

hi guys am from uganda and want to do the whole leg from kampala my itienary would ideally avoid south sudan as they are notorious for knee jack reactions and go all the way to egypt pyramids

so here goes :---
kla to nairobi
nairobi to addis abaaba
addis to khartoum
khartown to cairo
any info on these routes and accomodations along the way will be greatly appreciated.am just a solo traveller who will have a month off work .
thanks

17

Through Sudan the roads are good, the buses comfy and A/C. Plenty of hotels in Khartoum but all are expensive. Camping at the Blue Nile Sailing Club is adequate and cheap. Lokandas are the cheap option, in towns everywhere, basic, occasionally have running water, sleep under the stars or in fan rooms (extremely hot most of the year), eat on the street.

Khartoum to Wadi is 10 hrs, get there a day before the ferry and fight your way thru the scramble for a ticket.

Dave

18

I agree with everything posters have said about Sudan. Without making absolute guarantees, it's very safe as you won't be allowed near any trouble-spots. Khartoum is probably the safest capital city I have ever visited and the people are, for the most part, incredibly welcoming and friendly.

I would add that Suakin, just below Port Sudan, in the north-east of the country is, after Karima, the most interesting place I've visited whilst here. There's really no-where else like it in the world.

The bus security searches can be really annoying so if you do have money to spare and you're short on time then it's worth hiring a car (with obligatory driver) to make the journey as this gives you greater flexibility and you can tailor-make your tour.

There's plenty of hospitality website hosts in Khartoum with expats and locals hosting and Sudanese are so generous that, most probably, you will never starve or go homeless here.

Final point, everyone that visits here is surprised at how expensive it is. International trade embargoes and inflation make imported goods more expensive than Tokyo, London and Moscow and whilst it is possible to "go local" in your eating and sleeping habits, it is still pricier than most other African and Middle Eastern countries.

19

LisaD, Kessala in eastern Sudan is one of the highlights of the country and wouldn't be much out of your way once entering Sudan from Ethiopia.

Edited by: garethbrinkworth

20

@tomrc86 and everyone above,

How about cycling the Nile? Is it safe enough to do alone? Ever since reading the books (+Egyptian+ series) of Wilbur Smith I've been longing for such a journey, to see the Blue and White Niles near Khartoum. Thanks in advance for any information.

21

Definitely safe enough (no absolute guarantees) to cycle in Sudan. I have a couple of friends who have done this and were blown away by the hospitality of those they met. In the south and west of the country you won't be allowed due to conflict but the north and east are fine.

22

Thank you very much @garethbrinkworth! I'll do more detail research on the route now ~

23

No worries. A good place to start may be here: http://cyclingthe6.blogspot.com/2010/12/nubian-way.html

Enjoy!