I had heard of this problem before with Tunisia, but not Jordan. I ended up backing out of a planned trip to Tunisia a few years ago because I couldn't get a straight answer on whether bins, scopes, DSLRs with telephoto lenses, laptops etc were alllowed in. I tried the Tunisian Tourism Authority offices in London and Tunis, and the British Consulate in Tunis as well. The consulate seems to think that getting your stuff confiscated couldn't possibly happen, but couldn't advise on a surefire means of ensuring things would be OK. The Tunisian tourism authorities in London told me everything would be fine on the phone but when I asked for that in writing refused. Their Tunis-based counterparts told me that I would need to hire an official guide for my trip in order to be able to bring optics in ... but then I guess tourism authorities do exist to maximise the amount of money tourism brings in to their country, so they were only doing their job...
Tom, you could try the equivalent organisations in respect of Jordan. You never know, you might have better luck.
anyone know if this is still an issue in Jordan. Have heard it is now in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, so maybe spreading as a problem.
A bit more dsicussion here: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=379886
Some friends of mine went, and their companion had his big camera retained til departure.
anyone know if this is still an issue in Jordan. Have heard it is now in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, so maybe spreading as a problem.
How did you get on? It's a country i'd really love to visit.Thanks. Think Ill settle for bins and bridge camera. Just not worth the risk. Will report back in late October. Flights just booked.
Good to know- was seriously considering Jordan for a visit soon .Update on the problem of getting optics to Jordan: our friends have just returned from the border crossing in Eilat/Aqaba - they tried to enter Jodan with DSLRs with long lenses and birding scopes and were not allowed to enter, ended up returning to Israel. At one point they were told that at least binoculars will be permitted, but that was later also rescinded - and without any optics whatsoever they decided that it's not worth even entering the country. Sadly the Israeli exit fee is non-refundable ...
We were quite considering Jordan, but seeing that this is still going on, crazier than ever, we can't really be bothered.
That's the way I entered in 99, on foot, no issues at all then.Update on the problem of getting optics to Jordan: our friends have just returned from the border crossing in Eilat/Aqaba -
Huge thanks for this. Was seriously considering returning but this makes it a non-starter.Update on the problem of getting optics to Jordan: our friends have just returned from the border crossing in Eilat/Aqaba - they tried to enter Jodan with DSLRs with long lenses and birding scopes and were not allowed to enter, ended up returning to Israel. At one point they were told that at least binoculars will be permitted, but that was later also rescinded - and without any optics whatsoever they decided that it's not worth even entering the country. Sadly the Israeli exit fee is non-refundable ...
We were quite considering Jordan, but seeing that this is still going on, crazier than ever, we can't really be bothered.
We have just returned from birding in Jordan, we had 4 pairs of bins, scope and telephoto camera.Huge thanks for this. Was seriously considering returning but this makes it a non-starter.
I meant Burqu not Burqa
It was every birder's dream, so many birds we could hardly take it all in. We did not go up hillock, you can drive 90% around the lake and as we approached the ruins we realised that was the end of the road so we turned around. Would definitely like to go back but I presume it is a hit and miss destination with the water levels and we struck lucky.Di you climb up the hillock to the ruins and use that as a vantage point overlooking the waters? Stunner of a place, and one I recommend to all birders to see on a migration period!