EGYPT - taking optics into country? Latest intel needed (1 Viewer)

[Benedict Macdonald]

Dear all,

Was quite far along with planning a northern Egypt trip this week when my fixers got back to ask for photos of my bins, camera and scope, ran them back the border authorities and came back saying, you cannot legally take optics into Egypt. I am aware of 100s of birder visits to Egypt and this wasn't remotely on my radar. It's too big a financial risk to chance it at the border, so can anyone provide any advice?

With best,

Ben

 

[Butty]

Binoculars confiscated by Egyptian authorities at airport

I ran into a friend today who was just back from a birding trip to the Middle East. She was most upset that upon her arrival in Egypt authorities at the airport confiscated her binoculars claiming they had military applications. They then suggested she could buy new ones in town. Apparently a...

www.birdforum.net

 

[Ratal]

Dont. Honestly, just dont.

With Maritime Security lads the advice is thus: travel clean. No cameras. No binoculars. No scopes. No drones. No anything. Pick up your transit and go.

Do NOT do this. Just dont. THEY WILL TAKE EVERYTHING

 

[Steve Lister]

Not Egypt, but Tunisia - a well-known Shropshire birder is just back and reports that his binoculars were taken off him on entry but he got them back when leaving.