Sudan: Overland Sudan and The Border Crossing from Ethiopia
Border Crossing a Metema - March 2018:
Vehicle Import and 3rd Party Insurance:
The Ethiopian/Sudan border is no different to other African border. Dusty, dirty, a shambles of run down buildings and chaos.
Arrival at the Ethiopian border you park up on the right.
We were shuffled, ( nicely ) to the customs area around the back of the sign you see to the Blue Building and down the corridor to the 3rd door on the left.
They very efficiently signed our Carnet and kept the Temp Import Papers.
They then came out to check the chassis number.
We then drove through the gate and parked up immediately on the left, outside Immigration. Go inside and they stamp the passports out. Quite easy.
Up to now we were hassled nicely by a couple of money changers. You should change US$ here on the black market as it is about twice the offical rate. But do it quietly, the guys are a bit protective of their racket.
Cross the bridge into Sudan
Stop at the gate here and go into the small building at the left of the gate, the officers will check your Carnet
Drive immediately to your left and park up outside immigration, a white and yellow building.
You need a photocopy of your passport but they will do there for no charge. There is also a simple form to complete.
We did not have a sponsor and that was no problem.
NOTE: YOU NEED TO REGISTER WITHIN 3 DAYS of ARRIVAL IN SUDAN - Do This in Khartoum.
Drive up the road 100metres to the customs building on the left ( 3 flags outside) and park inside the compound.
Inside the carnet was completed - all very friendly.
Just outside the control area our first police check, all easy.
Also pay Toll here for all the way to Khartoum cost us Sudan Pounds 25 ( about US$0.90C)
Keep the receipt as there are more toll booths. Just show the toll ticket and all good.
The security/police checks must have been 20+ times was always only Passport, never insurance, carnet, or drivers license, and always easy and pleasant
REGISTRATION is best done at the Airport - See i-Overlander
You have to register within 3 days of the border crossing. For both of us, Sudan Pounds 1070 ( US$35 at the black market rate or US$50 offical)
Before early March 2018, you needed a Travel and Photo permit, this is no longer needed. See i-Overlander
Previously you needed this document to travel outside of Khartoum and to take photographs legally. On visiting the wildlife office we were told by 3 people that this arrangement was cancelled 3 weeks ago by the President.
I needed something to show to police and others so we are not arrested. They gave me this document.
We just hope it is not someones lunch menu !
Travel in Sudan
We like North Sudan.
The people are friendly, not inquisitive, and do not hover around you as if you were an ATM.
Money:
There are no ATM’s in Sudan that will accept foreign cards so be prepared.
We changed US$’s at the border and received what we think is a good black market rate of 30:1. We had to haggle to get that up from 20:1 The official rate was 18:1.
We never had the need to change more than we did at the border.
Camping & Park Entry:
Camping and park entry you can pay in US$ or Sudan Pounds.
In the desert areas we wild camped without issues.
Food:
Food was very inexpensive.
It was opposite the place where you got your Travel and Photo permit Photo.
All very clean and we have to play charades to get lamb and beef, as no english spoken here.
So 1kg lamb, 2 Kg of great looking and tender beef fillet and 1/2Kg mince SudanPounds290,= just less than A$12.
The fillet was just GREAT eating !
Next door for other supplies also very economical.
Shopping for vegetables in the Omdurman Souq ( markets ) was an experience we enjoyed.
They are the largest in Sudan and here you can buy just about anything amongst the colour, noise and activity.
Only friendly smiles for us, which is very comforting.
Fuel:
Quite a few service stations had no fuel so when you did find one it was a push push.
If cars and trucks had elbows they were used here.
We waited for an hour and surprise Diesel was A$ 0.27C/Litre
Sudan Pound 4.11/Lt
Keep your tanks full, if you see a fuel station selling fuel, you will know because of the line, it is worth waiting. Many have no fuel
Read our Blog here about fuel:
Water:
We only needed water once and that we refilled at the Nile River Boat Club in Khartoum.
I think we also got from service stations.
Internet:
Easy to get, all you need is your passport.
We chose NTM, speed was good and widely available. We paid SP377 for 5GB for a month.
many other options were available.
For our actual Travel Diary through Sidan see: GoannaTracks Sudan
Return to: DIY Kit For Overland Travel