This itinerary covers the overland route from Alexandria, Egypt to Cape Town, South Africa. It is one of the only land routes from northern to southern Africa that is available to foreigners. Trains are available for the majority of the route, but there are also many buses. This itinerary passes through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Prepare
Visas
Egypt: On arrival at an Egyptian airport, U.S. citizens can buy a 30-day visa for $15.
Sudan: To get a Sudanese visa, U.S. citizens must apply for one in advance by getting a hotel or travel agency to "sponsor" them. The processing fee is $150.
Ethiopia: U.S. citizens must apply for a two-year, multiple-entry visa before entering Ethiopia. The cost is $70.
Kenya: A one-entry tourist visa for U.S. citizens costs $50, and must be obtained before arrival in Kenya.
Tanzania: A one-month multiple-entry tourist visa costs $100.
Zambia: A single-entry tourist visa can be bought for $50 when you enter Zambia.
Zimbabwe: On arrival in Zimbabwe, a 30-day single-entry visa can be purchased for $30.
South Africa: Tourists in South Africa do not need a visa as long as the stay is under 90 days.
TOTAL VISA COSTS ARE $465
TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE $586
Get in
There are currently no ferries from Europe to Alexandria. There used to be a Venice-Alexandria route, but it is currently cancelled until further notice. However, there is a ferry from Aqaba, Jordan to Nuweiba, and trains linking Nuweiba with the rest of Egypt. Buses from Libya also run to Alexandria, as well as a JETT-operated bus from Amman to Cairo. Be warned, the Amman-Cairo bus travels through Israel and will deny you entrance to Sudan, as well as many other countries. Many airlines in Europe and the United States also offer direct flights to Alexandria or Cairo.
Route
Day 1
Downtown Alexandria
Arrive in Alexandria.
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 2
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 3
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 4
Mosques in Islamic Cairo
Take the 10:00 express train to Cairo--$5 for second class.
Arrive in Cairo at 12:55.
Day 5
Spend the night in Cairo.
Day 6
Spend the night in Cairo.
Day 7
Spend the night in Cairo.
Day 8
Spend the night in Cairo.
Day 9
The Giza Pyramids
Take the 12:00 train to Giza--$4 for second class.
Arrive in Giza at 12:20.
Spend the night in Giza.
Day 10
Take the 12:20 train to Luxor--$8 for second class.
Arrive in Luxor at 22:20.
Spend the night in Luxor.
Day 11
Spend the night in Luxor.
Day 12
Sunset over Aswan
Take the 09:35 train to Aswan--$5 for second class.
Arrive in Aswan at 13:15.
Spend the night in Aswan.
Day 13
Spend the night in Aswan.
Day 14
Every Monday and every second Friday, there is a ferry from Aswan to Wadi Halfa, Sudan. Base your trip on this so that you arrive in Aswan approximately two days before the ferry leaves. It costs $75 for a first-class ticket, and you get a bunk bed. (Second class costs $50, but you only get a padded bench). The ferry leaves at about 12:00 and arrives at about 07:00 the next day.
Spend the night in Wadi Halfa.
Day 15
Khartoum at dusk.
Take the 05:00 bus (the only one) to Khartoum---$20.
On Tuesdays, a train departs Dar es Salaam for Kapiri Mposhi at 15:50. On Fridays, it departs at 13:50---$35 for second-class sleeper. The trip takes two days.
Day 44
Arrive in Kapiri Mposhi between 13:00 and 14:00.
Spend the night in Kapiri Mposhi.
Day 45
On Mondays and Fridays, there is a train from Kapiri Mposhi to Lusaka---$3. It departs at 16:42.
Take the Sunday & Thursday train to Pretoria (economy seats only!). It departs at 15:25---$10.
Day 66
Arrive in Pretoria at 04:16.
Spend the night in Pretoria.
Day 67
Spend the night in Pretoria.
Day 68
Spend the night in Pretoria.
Day 69
Take the 09:00 Gautrain to Johannesburg. They depart every 20 minutes---$8.
Arrive in Johannesburg at 09:40.
Spend the night in Johannesburg.
Day 70
Spend the night in Johannesburg.
Day 71
Spend the night in Johannesburg.
Day 72
Spend the night in Johannesburg.
Day 73
Take the Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday train to Durban. It departs at 18:30---$15 for economy class, $33 for a sleeper.
Day 74
Arrive in Durban at 07:10.
Spend the night in Durban.
Day 75
Spend the night in Durban.
Day 76
Take the Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday train to Johannesburg. It departs at 19:15---$15 for economy class, $33 for a sleeper.
Day 77
Arrive in Johannesburg at 07:44.
Spend the night in Johannesburg.
Day 78
Take the Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday train to Kimberley. It departs at 12:30---$15 for economy class.
Arrive in Kimberley at 21:20
Spend the night in Kimberley.
Day 79
Spend the night in Kimberley
Day 80
Take the Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday train to Cape Town. It departs at 21:20---$43 for a sleeper, $27 for economy class.
Day 81
Arrive in Cape Town at 15:30.
Spend the night in Cape Town.
Day 82
Spend the night in Cape Town.
Day 83
Spend the night in Cape Town.
Day 84
Leave Cape Town.
Stay safe
Go next
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