Dar Es Salaam and Windhoek: customs delays? - Horizons Unlimited

**CaptainJackSparrow** · #1 27 Nov 2007

Hi all.
It seems we'll ship our motorbikes in a container from Italy to Dar Es Salaam, and back from Windhoek (by sea or air, we are waiting some answer).

Does anyone know how long does it take to get the bikes on the road from the moment we go to take them?

And when we have to send our bikes back from Windhoek, how does it work about customs?

Do you have some advice to accelerate all that bureaucracy?

**TT-Kira** · #2 27 Nov 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainJackSparrow

Hi all.
It seems we'll ship our motorbikes in a container from Italy to Dar Es Salaam, and back from Windhoek (by sea or air, we are waiting some answer).

Does anyone know how long does it take to get the bikes on the road from the moment we go to take them?

And when we have to send our bikes back from Windhoek, how does it work about customs?

Do you have some advice to accelerate all that bureaucracy?

In Dar it will take time, patience and probably a lot of money, I have many friends who've moved there and brought vehicles in from UAE .. it's not a straightforward process!

Kira

**5 Eyes** · #3 30 Nov 2007

I flew my bike to winhoek this year and had zero problems. It was then sent by road down to cape town where I road it back to windhoek

the shipping company i used was called Elliots and I know they arre in Cape Town but they probably have some connection or office in Windhoek.
They were very good
Gary

**Vaufi** · #4 30 Nov 2007

If you've got your carnet for your bike Namibia should be no problem at all. Windhoek is more of a big village than a town ;-) Upon arrival you should try to contact customs immediately to get a date for the next day.

**CaptainJackSparrow** · #5 30 Nov 2007

Thank you all.
The most probable is that we'll ship our motorbikes from Italy to Dar Es Salaam and then from Walvis bay/Windhoek to Italy.
For sure we'll start from Italy with the carnet.

I learn that when we arrive we need an appointment with some customs official. To save time, we could call from Italy before we arrive to Dar, isn't it?

I would understand this: if we'll arrive to Dar on sunday, when can we hope to start our trip? How to reduce that time?

And if on saturday we have the flight to come back, when should we arrive to Walvis Bay to ship our motorbikes back to Italy? Or when should we arrive to Windhoek, if we'll choose the air freight for the motorbikes?

PS x Vaufi
Vaufi, it's the 3rd time you help me, the number of

s I have to pay is growing! Mmmmhhh, now I exceed

... I would ask you one more information, if you can help me. It's not about the summer trip: do you know how Silvester night is in Hofbrauhaus? Is it enjoyable? I'm thinking about it...

**Dingo** · #6 1 Dec 2007

You would be much better off to go into Mombasa in Kenya. It is a bigger port and a lot of the freight for TZ come thru there as it's easier.

Cheers
Ivan

**CaptainJackSparrow** · #7 1 Dec 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingo

You would be much better off to go into Mombasa in Kenya. It is a bigger port and a lot of the freight for TZ come thru there as it's easier.

Thank you Dingo, but what do you mean with "easier"? Do you mean it's easier to organize the shipping, or to solve customs problems?

For Dar Es Salaam, we found the cargo company and the price is reasonable (1500 euro for 20' container). We are waiting confirmation about this price and about local expenses, but it doesn't seem to be a problem, now.
As in origin we would start our trip from Lilongwe (Malawi), Dar Es Salaam is yet a "second best" (we have only 3 weeks for our trip). Mombasa would be a little more far.