Alexandria to Cape Town by train and bus

Understand

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. US dollar prices are used throughout; US dollars is the most convenient currency to carry because of restrictions on importing and exporting local currencies.

Prepare

Visas Visa-free entry is rather rare in Africa and you will need a visa for most countries no matter what your citizenship is, or in the worst case, even all of the countries. For citizens of western countries, many visas are possible to purchase at the border. Below is an example of what a US citizen paid for their visas.

Egypt: On arrival at an Egyptian airport, US citizens can buy a 30 day visa for USD15. Sudan: To get a Sudanese visa, US citizens must apply for one in advance by getting a hotel or travel agency to "sponsor" them. The processing fee is USD150. Ethiopia: US citizens must apply for a two-year, multiple-entry visa before entering Ethiopia. The cost is USD70. Ethiopia has just (summer 2017) introduced an e-visa scheme. Kenya: A one entry tourist visa for US citizens costs USD50, and must be obtained before arrival in Kenya. Tanzania: A one month multiple-entry tourist visa costs USD100. Zambia: A single-entry tourist visa can be bought for USD50 when you enter Zambia. Zimbabwe: On arrival in Zimbabwe, a 30 day single-entry visa can be purchased for USD30. South Africa: Tourists from many countries do not need a visa for South Africa as long as the stay is under 90 days. Total fares are about USD586. Total visa prices for US citizens are about USD465

Get in

There are no ferries from Europe to Alexandria. There used to be a Venice-Alexandria route, but it has been 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. Once the civil war in Syria is over, the route from Istanbul to Cairo will provide an overland connection to this itinerary from Europe.

Route

Following this route will take roughly 84 days.

Egypt

From 1 Alexandria, take the 10:00 express train to 2 Cairo: USD5 for second class. Arrive at 12:55. From Cairo, take the 12:00 train to 3 Giza: USD4 for second class. Arrive at 12:20. From Giza, take the 12:20 train to 4 Luxor: USD8 for second class. Arrive at 22:20. From Luxor, take the 09:35 train to 5 Aswan: USD5 for second class. Arrive at 13:15. From Aswan, every Monday and every second Friday, there is a ferry to 6 Wadi Halfa, Sudan. Base your trip on this so that you arrive in Aswan approximately two days before the ferry leaves. It costs USD75 for a first-class ticket, and you get a bunk bed. (Second class costs USD50, but you only get a padded bench). The ferry leaves at about 12:00 and arrives at about 07:00 the next day.

Sudan

From Wadi Halfa, take the 05:00 bus (the only one) to 7 Khartoum: USD20. Arrive at 16:00. There may also again (since 2013) be a weekly train coordinated with the ferry. From Khartoum, take the 06:00 bus to 8 Gedaref: -USD10. Arrive in Gedaref at 14:00. From Gedaref, take a minibus to 9 Gallabat; they generally leave at 10:00: USD10. Arrive in Gallabat at 17:00. Cross the border to 10 Metema, Ethiopia.

Ethiopia

From Metema, take the 09:00 bus to 11 Gondar. Arrive at 12:00. From Gondar, take a minbus to 12 Bahir Dar: USD3. From Bahir Dar, take the 06:00 bus to 13 Gashena: USD5. Arrive at 12:00. From Gashena, Take the 15:00 bus to 14 Lalibela. Arrive at 18:00. From Lalibela, take a minibus that departs at 07:00 for a two-day drive to Addis Ababa: -USD25. Bus arrive in 15 Kombolcha at 16:00 for the night then depart Kombolcha the next day at 06:00 to arrive in 16 Addis Ababa at 14:00. From Addis Ababa, take the two-day bus to Moyale, the Kenya-Ethiopia border town. Depart at 07:00: -USD25-30. Bus stops at 17 Dilla for the night then depart the next day at 08:00 to arrive in 18 Moyale at 15:00.

Kenya

Cross the Ethiopia-Kenya border. Take the 10:00 bus to 19 Nairobi: -USD30. Arrive at 12:00 the following day. The train from Nairobi to 20 Mombasa departs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 19:00: -USD45 for second-class sleeper. Arrive in Mombasa at 10:00. From

Stay safe

Check the current political situation. As of 2019, travel warnings are in effect at least for Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Alexandria Crime is rarely violent in Alexandria. Don't flash valuables or expensive items. Women are expected to dress modestly and cover their heads when entering mosques. Tourists may be harassed. Dial 123 in an emergency.

Cairo Cairo is a fairly safe city but women may be subject to catcalling. Dial 122 in an emergency. for consular assistance please see Cairo#Embassies

Giza Giza attracts millions of tourists each year to the Giza Pyramids, as well as a lot of pickpockets and con artists. Offers of unsolicited help may be in expectation of a tip. Wear headphones: they make strangers easier to ignore. Avoid eye contact and keep walking when someone tries to harass you. Don't climb the pyramids! It's illegal and dangerous. Bring bottled water. Choose a camel or donkey ride carefully.

Luxor Luxor is known as the hassle capital of Egypt. Tour guides inside temples will demand a tip for guiding you. Scarf sellers will try to pickpocket you. Ask a local for directions or info, not a taxi driver or tour guide. Women travelling alone should exercise extreme caution. Luxor merchants are infamously manipulative and aggressive. Pretend to speak an obscure language such as Azerbaijani when being hassled. If you do speak an uncommon language, use it! If not, fake it.

Aswan Aswan is much safer than Cairo and Luxor.

Wadi Halfa Wadi Halfa is a pretty small town with low crime. Just avoid pickpockets, and remember that alcohol is illegal.

Khartoum Khartoum is a safe and dirty city. for consular assistance please see Khartoum#Embassies

Gedaref

Metema Metema is a small border town with a few shops and hotels. Locals will perceive foreigners as very wealthy, and there are lots of pickpockets.

Gondar A very common scam in Gondar is where young Ethiopian men will invite you for a night of "authentic" Ethiopian music. However, they will take you to an obscure bar where you are the only patron. You will be prodded into buying drinks for all the locals and tipping the musicians.

Bahir Dar Like most of Ethiopia,