Carnet options for long term storage of overland truck in southern Africa?
 

Hi,

I'm after some advice regarding longer term storage of our old (left hand drive) truck and how this affects the carnet. We currently have our UK registered truck parked in Namibia. The carnet has been stamped when we crossed the border from Angola and it is valid until next December.

Ideally we'd like to store our truck somewhere in the South of Africa (Namibia, SA, Malawi, etc) so that we can use it for another trip in a few years time. Are there any other options other than flying down once a year with a new carnet, leave Namibia to enter Zambia (for example) only to go back to Nambia again?

I have heard that it's possible to get the old carnet stamped out and a new carnet stamped in (in Windhoek) but this still means I have to fly down every year.

I also know that some countries (i.e. Malawi) can issue a temporary import permit (TIP) instead of using the carnet. If I went this route, would I get problems when leaving the country in let's say 3 or 4 years? is there any validity period on a TIP?

I am planning to fly back to Namibia for a few weeks in a month time and wonder what to do.

Any info regarding good storage places and carnet options very welcome...

Many thanks,

Micha

i thought you could extend a carnet for another year whilst travelling? that's what we're going to do next year...

We had a Zim reg'd 4x4 in Kenya for 3 years - we bought our carnet in Nairobi through the AA and just renewed it every year - the AA have branches all over Africa so I'd start by taling to the AA in Namibia, SA etc. about transferring it to a local carnet.

You can get a TIP - usually limited to 3 months although I have been issued for a 12 month TIP entering SA once. However I have always found the AA excellent for dealing with rather than any government departments.

I did the same thing as you are planning for 3 years, and have now moved my vehicle to Zambia. The SACU countries are more awkward about replacing carnets than anywhere else in Africa. Talk to Paul Gowen at the RAC in Bristol.....SA have just clamped down on this procedure, and you really are better off out of the SACU area now.

As for storage in Namibia, the Trans-Kalahari camp-site halfway between the Airport and Windhoek (on the left as you head out of Windhoek, just after a big Taxidermy place) stores up to 80 vehicles under cover in secure locked sheds for very reasonable rates.

Mike

Hi and thanks for your replies...

I bought a new carnet from the RAC in Bristol and went to the customs office in Windhoek. There they stamped my old carnet out and the new one in, so I didn't have to leave the SACU region at all. Although the person had to look up the procedure of how to do it I was out in about half an hour.

It's now parked in a private place in Namibia until my return later this year. Not sure if I can do the same procedure for another year, if not I consider going up to Zambia.

Mike, any good places to leave a truck in Zambia for a year?

With regards to the Trans-Kalahari Inn near the Airport, I have met several overlanders who have not reported good things about vehicle storage there. One guy's truck (locked up in an also locked up garage) was broken into and the Kalahari Inn owner refused any responsibility. We left our vehicle at the Ondekaremba guest farm (15 minutes from the airport). Nice people there...

Cheers, Micha