Africa Overland Route with Carnet

Hi All,
I hope its ok but i'm new to this forum and have decided to post a few different threads for my questions...
My Girlfriend and I are currently planning a trip from Cape Town back to the UK in our Defender 110. We will be leaving January 2010.
We are in the process of applying for our Carnet de Passage and are deliberating whether to include Egypt or not as this significantly increases the insurance premium for the Carnet (800% for Egypt!). Obviously we will need to get back into Europe at some point so does anyone see any problems excluding Egypt?
I'm also a little concerned about the dangers associated with Sudan / Libya and whether the North of Africa is even worth it.
We're considering other options such as
- shipping the vehicle from Kenya to Europe (Greece perhaps) - though not even sure if this is possible
- or shipping from Kenya to India and taking the long way round back to Europe.
Would really appreciate your advice.
Cheers,
Lachlan

I've only been to South Africa, Lesotho and Morocco in Africa, but I'd highly recommend that you travel through the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. It's very scenic and the people are very friendly. Go via the Sani pass, which is nice and rough with great views. I'd highly recommend going throught the High Atlas mountains in Morocco too - that's just what I've been doing the last 3 weeks.

Why don't you head up the West Coast ?

Angola is open these days and if you didnt fancy Mauritania - Morocco then you should be able to do Niger-Algeria-Tunisa then ferry to Europe.

Have a think about it,

Regards Dave

Talk to RustyRhinos.... he's been to Algeria this year, though I have no way of knowing whether his route would be relevant to your trip. He knows his stuff though.

we are leaving January 2010 but we are going to SA, Italy, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt etc. i will be paying the extra for Egypt because got one chance in my opinion to see these places, obviously it depends on what you payed for your motor as to what the carnet will cost you. mine was quite cheap so carnet not too expensive. what do you know about the sudan? was going via there but if too dangerous may have to reconsider.

Bevhelee,
Glad to hear plans progressing well. Take it house finally sold and you are taking the dogs too? When do you plan on hitting Oz do you reckon from SA. Any idea of your timetable? Or are you chilling en-route and will get there when you get there?

Hi Cassie

how are you all? we are still planning a trip back to the UK before we set off proper so will catch up with you all then, yep house finally sold, funnily enough to a couple from South Africa weird eh ! as for our timetable, don't have one, just know that for the dogs we need to stay in SA at least 3 months for the quarantine, so expect we will get to Oz in maybe 1 yrs time.
how are your plans progressing?
just realized i haven't sent you any money for your puppet show, will try and do it today.
Helen & Beverley say a big hello to you and yours

Lee

Bevhelee,
Glad all going well. Will catch you guys hopefully when you are in the UK. PM us before you get here so we know when your coming. We leave April and plan to take a year (finance permitting) to reach OZ so will arrive a good bit after you
All the best

Hi all,

I have just done the trip and drove from Cape Town to Brussels. We found a good alternative for Egypt: We took a boat from Suakin (Sudan) to Jeddah (Saoudi Arabia). We got a 3 day transit visa for Saoudi-Arabia in Karthoum (Sudan) and it only took one day to process it. This has the following advantages:
- you don't have to pay the very expensive boat from Sudan to Egypt (which is a problem going north ==> see later
- you don't have to drive in a convoi in the south of Egypt.
- you don't have to take another expensive both to bypass Israel (which you are not allowed to visit if you wish to continue to Syria)
The problem going north is that there is only one ship per week. This one leaves on Wednesday. And you have to be there on Tuesday. Normally this ship will arrive on thursday morning. With normally they mean in 5% of the cases. So, usually in the afternoon. Then it is too late to get your license plates and drivers license translated. Friday they pray and Saterday is weekend. If you are lucky they might do it on Sunday. Otherwise you get them on monday and are ready to leave by Tuesday, so one whole week to cross the border.

You can see the route I took on Toonensaminafrika.reismee.nl » Home » toonensaminafrika.reismee.nl
The story is in dutch but the route should be clear to you.

Kind regards,

Sam

PS: the ship from Suakin leaves everyday except I think thursday. You should also check that the Haj is not going on, because then the ships are full and they don't issue visas to non muslims. This is because Jeddah is next to Mekka

Re you Sam the belge with the White 110? Ithink me and my girlfriend met you in Malawi? Last saw you on Zanzibar?

If so pm me

that fnb bank guy was no good. We paid the full deposit for the carnet. When did you finish?