yahoo
Puppy
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2010
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 0
- Bike
- Honda XL650V Transalp
So you want to ride south(ern) africa on your own steed? Then please learn from us:
We sent our bikes from Perth Australia to Johannesburg on a boat. The estimated time frame for such a journey was 35 days, estimated date 9 June.
The bikes arrived at the docks in Durban on the 6th of June so everything was on schedule. By the 13th they arrived in Jo'burg, the paperwork and payment in place.
This is when the fun started.
First our agent had to arrange a customs inspection, because we were'nt alowed near the bikes without at least two middle men involved. On the 15th the inspection was done and still there was hope.
For some reason the South african customs officials could not bring themselves to fill in a few lines on a carnet and shove two stamps next to their scribbles. It took untill today, the 21st, for them to get this sorted. Giving weak excuses such as: "We've moved premises", "We can't find the stamp" and my favourite: "The man who does the stamps is sick today".
Meanwhile back at the warehouse we're being charged over 800 rand a day for the privilege of keeping our bikes in their facility.
When asked who is going to pay the warehouse costs, all SA customs had to say is: "Eets not our prawblem". The warehouse was just as sympathetic, although they at least had a case.
In the end we had to fork out 8159 rand to get the bikes through customs and another 3500 rand in express service customs costs and warehousing for three days.
:angry4: :angry4:
In summary, if you want to come to south africa to ride a bike my advice would be to A:hire a bike B:buy one here or C: go to cape town and try your luck there.
Ranting over, tomorrow we finally get the bikes and all will be forgotten. Now time for a few Castle draughts to soothe the pain.
Ciao ciao
We sent our bikes from Perth Australia to Johannesburg on a boat. The estimated time frame for such a journey was 35 days, estimated date 9 June.
The bikes arrived at the docks in Durban on the 6th of June so everything was on schedule. By the 13th they arrived in Jo'burg, the paperwork and payment in place.
This is when the fun started.
First our agent had to arrange a customs inspection, because we were'nt alowed near the bikes without at least two middle men involved. On the 15th the inspection was done and still there was hope.
For some reason the South african customs officials could not bring themselves to fill in a few lines on a carnet and shove two stamps next to their scribbles. It took untill today, the 21st, for them to get this sorted. Giving weak excuses such as: "We've moved premises", "We can't find the stamp" and my favourite: "The man who does the stamps is sick today".
Meanwhile back at the warehouse we're being charged over 800 rand a day for the privilege of keeping our bikes in their facility.
When asked who is going to pay the warehouse costs, all SA customs had to say is: "Eets not our prawblem". The warehouse was just as sympathetic, although they at least had a case.
In the end we had to fork out 8159 rand to get the bikes through customs and another 3500 rand in express service customs costs and warehousing for three days.
:angry4: :angry4:
In summary, if you want to come to south africa to ride a bike my advice would be to A:hire a bike B:buy one here or C: go to cape town and try your luck there.
Ranting over, tomorrow we finally get the bikes and all will be forgotten. Now time for a few Castle draughts to soothe the pain.
Ciao ciao
