Border Crossing Report Botswana > Zimbabwe
 

Crossed in Feb at Kazungula with a Hertz hire car from S Africa. I'm a UK national as is my wife/line manager who often lets me out to play on my Tiger XC...

No problems getting into Botswana or exiting Zim at Beitbridge but this was a different kettle of fish. Thieving corrupt border officials at immigration who denied getting our cash ($75) for the double entry visas. A three hour stand off in the heat until they issued them. Despite the provocation, at all times we were polite and calm but firm. "I'm sure that there has been a genuine mistake on your part etc etc..".

I would have written the serial numbers of the banknotes down and videod the handover if I had known.

Customs for the car was slow but straightforward. We had all the paperwork including Hertz permission for Zim. They insisted we pay for a commercial vehicle guarantee for the car ("it's a hire car so it's commercial"). Bought this from a dodgy looking rep with a Hertz lanyard (yeah) around his neck hanging around the border post. Road tax, carbon tax, third party insurance on top.Great to see the Mugabe government taking such an interest in environmental protection by charging carbon taxes ;-) There are also toll gates on main roads. Also dustbin sized holes. Tolls probably end up in same place as those carbon taxes.

Police checkpoint a mile down the road from the border looking for the minutest issue such as rear number plate lights not working in the dazzling sunlight, front reflector strips, two hazard triangles and a fire extinguisher. More checks everywhere - generally stopped five times a day by the cops.

Left the car in Zim and crossed on foot into Zambia at Vic Falls. No issue with leaving the car in Zim for a short while.

The ordinary Zim people on the other hand are delightful.