Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Airfreight from Dubai to Addis Ababa

I have just airfreighted from Dubai to Addis Ababa and having read of horror stories these are my experience.

From Dubai used Rainbow cargo in the cargo village.Apart from having to go to the RTA office and Interpol for a letter the process took about 30 mins. Tank emptied but battery not disconnected.I ended up with a lot of empty space in the crate which meant I paid more than necessary for the airfreight.The cost was aprox 9.8 dhms/kg. bear in mind an airfreight kilo is the volume in cubic cms/6.

The transport company was Ethiopian Airlines and the bike arrived 4 days after dropping at the cargo village.

The process to collect the bike from cargo village in Addis Ababa was fairly straight forward apart from the fact that I managed to clear customs before the bike arrived but that is another story.
On presentation of the airway bill the original is given.This has to be presented at the airline import warehouse and another paper is given to get the bike.
Next stop is customs and even having and using a Carnet I had to write a letter stating that I am a tourist and when and where I will exit Ethiopia.This letter has to be taken to another office upstairs to be officially stamped and returned to customs.The carnet was then stamped and somebody from the customs comes to the holding yard and verifies the engine and chassis number. Back to customs and I was given a letter to give to the customs in Moyale when I exit.

At this point I thought I was free to go but no.I had to pay three days storeage ( about twenty dollars ).This is in spite of the airline not informing me that the bike had arrived, me discovering for myself that the bike had arrived ( internet ) and them being closed on Sundays.Evidently dangerous goods have to be collected within 48 hours and Saturday morning to Monday morning is three days.

The bike was uncrated there and then and ridden out of the compound.

I went with a local (not an agent) but I don't think it would have been problematical without.It was certainly not the hassle I was expecting,the whole process taking aprox. two hours.There was no funny business involved anywhere in the process neither implied or asked for.

Hope this is some help to somebody.

BL