Alexandria to Cape Town by train and bus is in Africa.
Understand
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
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
Arrive in Alexandria.
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 2
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 3
Spend the night in Alexandria.
Day 4
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
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
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
Take the 05:00 bus (the only one) to Khartoum---$20.
On Tuesdays, a train departs Dar es Salaam for Kapiri Moshi at 15:50. On Fridays, it departs at 13:50---$35 for second-class sleeper. The trip takes two days.
Day 43
Arrive in Kapiri Moshi between 13:00 and 14:00.
Spend the night in Kapiri Moshi.
Day 44
On Mondays and Fridays, there is a train from Kapiri Moshi to Lusaka---$3. It departs at 16:42.
This itinerary is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present for it to be of real use. It was last edited on 2013-02-2 and will be deleted if not modified for one year. Please plunge forward and rescue it!
