Into the Sudan

This morning we awoke to a bustle of people shuffling around rugs and sleeping mats on the top deck of the Lake Nasser Ferry. Some riders enjoyed the comfort of “first class” cabins, whilst others snuggled on deck with locals and an assortment of kitchen appliances and Hostess Twinkies destined for Sudan. Shortly after stretching and rolling up our sleeping mats, we cruised past the temple of Abu Simbel, a welcoming distraction and signaling our approach to Wadi Halfa..

Below deck, everyone was preparing themselves for Sudan customs which we knew could be laborious. However, everything proceeded smoothly and after a bit of waiting we had docked at Wadi Halfa and officials were processing passports with random African efficiency. Exiting the ship was a blur as we offloaded our gear and bikes from the ferry only to wrestle bags aboard a waiting flatbed.

After our bags were “checked” by a customs official, we were officially in Sudan. The feared process was actually a breeze. From the dock, it was a short ride into town where we settled into a soccer stadium for the night and met our support truck from South Africa. The day went rather smoothly, with one exception…the ferry containing our trucks hadn’t arrived. So for now it’s a waiting game. I think it’s fair to say everyone has been pleasantly surprised by Sudan, so spending some extra time in the small, but interesting town of Wadi Halfa will be an unexpected treat.