Cairo to Addis Ababe driving trip.

Tartan72

New Overlander
May 17, 2020
3
0
1
Travelling from Egypt to Sudan & Sudan to Ethiopia by Road

Hi experts,
I Would like to arrange for a driving trip from Cairoto Addis Abeba by ROAD .
I am planning to visit Addis Abeba , and my staring point will be Cairotravelling towards Addis Abeba , using my own car Tiguan 2013.

My Expectations
Cairo (Al Qāhirah) to Addis Ababa (Ādīs Ābeba) driving directions for the distance of 3725 kilometers. It will take at least 5 days by road and will cost me at least 200$ - 300$ of fuel!

Cairo to Addis Ababa driving plan
My trip route for a driving trip from Cairo to Addis Ababa by road which is roughly 3725 kmin distance as a driving route from Cairo to Addis Ababa.

Detailed information on the Cairo to Addis Ababa driving route

Destination and journey.
The drive from Cairo to Addis Ababa by road will take close to 5 days and it will cost you around 200$ - 300$ on petrol/diesel by road driving my own car.

The expected Route:

Drive from Cairo to Addis Ababa , 44h 18m Approximate 3,183.4 km

Trip plan

Day 1
8:00 am start in Cairo
drive for about 23 hours
6:48 am (next morning) Karnak Temple
stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am



Day 2
8:00 am leave from Karnak Temple
drive for about 21 hours
5:09 am (next morning) Abu Simbel Temples
stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am

Day 3
8:00 am leave from Abu Simbel Temples
drive for about 38.5 hours
10:28 pm (next day) Khartoum
stay overnight and leave the next day around 8:00 am


Day 4
8:00 am leave from Khartoum
drive for about 31.5 hours
3:44 pm (next day) Gondar
stay overnight and leave the next day around 10:00 am

Day 5
10:00 am leave from Gondar
drive for about 9.5 hours
7:25 pm arrive in Addis Ababa


How many cars do we need?
Since we are only 2 travelers, I planned to drive 1 car.

Where should I stop along the way?

Karnak Temple
Abu Simbel Temples
Khartoum
Gondar
Fasil Ghebbi

Where does my trip end?
My final destination is Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Want to plan the trip back?
I will use the reverse directions for a Addis Ababa to Cairo drive,

Things I wonder about are;

  • The expected Costs in USD ?
  • The accurate time distance for the entire trip?
  • Safety, Security conditions ?
  • Visa, what kind of steps are needed to travel from Egypt to Ethiopia and what kind of laws/rules make this possible for a tourist with a video camera?
  • Local Guide?
  • Hotels?
  • Airbnb?
Thanks
Br.
Tarik
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Why?
I'm just staggered that you want to drive such long distances every day through amazing countries. Other people might advise if those speeds are possible.

In that length of time I'd drive to one of the western oasis' in Egypt and not get any further ha ha.
Each to his own of course.
 
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Reactions: Tartan72
What you are planning is probably dangerous and likely not possible in the time frame you set out.

Take a step back. Review why you want to do this. If it is just to get from A to B you should fly and spend more time in Cairo and Addis, two great cities.

If you like driving slow down, don't put yourself and others at risk with long hours behind the wheel. Personally I would not drive any more than 250km per day on a long trip. Africa is not like Europe. Drivers, pedestrians and all sorts of vehicles go at erratic speeds and on all sorts of unusual trajectories- the rules of the road are not as you know them. You will have to deal with chaotic traffic, many police stops, bad roads, maybe a ferry from Aswan to Wadi Haifa and that only in Egypt. Border crossings are notoriously slow especially with vehicles.

If you drive take your time on the way down. Go see the world class sights in Upper Egypt, North Sudan and Northern Ethiopia, you will not be disappointed. Visit the cities. Watch the sunrise and sunsets over the desert and stand where the White and Blue Nile meet in Khartoum. Take time to be comfortable with driving on the roads.

Having enjoyed the way down, and learned the ropes as it were, it will be ok to take a more direct and quicker route back.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck
 
What you are planning is probably dangerous and likely not possible in the time frame you set out.

Take a step back. Review why you want to do this. If it is just to get from A to B you should fly and spend more time in Cairo and Addis, two great cities.

If you like driving slow down, don't put yourself and others at risk with long hours behind the wheel. Personally I would not drive any more than 250km per day on a long trip. Africa is not like Europe. Drivers, pedestrians and all sorts of vehicles go at erratic speeds and on all sorts of unusual trajectories- the rules of the road are not as you know them. You will have to deal with chaotic traffic, many police stops, bad roads, maybe a ferry from Aswan to Wadi Haifa and that only in Egypt. Border crossings are notoriously slow especially with vehicles.

If you drive take your time on the way down. Go see the world class sights in Upper Egypt, North Sudan and Northern Ethiopia, you will not be disappointed. Visit the cities. Watch the sunrise and sunsets over the desert and stand where the White and Blue Nile meet in Khartoum. Take time to be comfortable with driving on the roads.

Having enjoyed the way down, and learned the ropes as it were, it will be ok to take a more direct and quicker route back.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck


Dear FJBCloud ,
Thanks a lot for your kindly replay , really appreciated, really your advices are valuable and great.
I really replanned my journey and put a number of notes and remarks into consideration in order to have a wonderful safe and secure trip .

Thanks again for your kindly advices .
Tarik.