Easy Tanzania border crossing
 

can anyone recommend an easy, not too busy border from Tanzania into Kenya? My carnet has expired and was hoping to cross on a slow easy border where they will let me through without a massive bribe.
Any suggestions, my car is based in Arusha right now and I have heard bribes of $1000 at the Namanga border, so any advice is much welcomed

It would be easier and cheaper to renew your carnet. However, you might be allowed to enter Kenya on a Temporary Import Permit.

There are four border crossings between Tanzania and Kenya:
Namanga (the main one between Arusha and Nairobi)
Horo-Horo/Lunga-Lunga (near the coast between Tanga and Mombasa)
Tarakea/Oloitokitok (on the north side of Kilimanjaro)
Sirari/Isebania (in the west near Lake Victoria)

I wouldn't even think about trying to bribe because your carnet has expired. You will get caught out either in Kenya or when you try to leave Kenya. They check all paperwork very carefully, are having a big anti-corruption drive, and remember Kenya is hot on the trail of potential terrorists too.

thanks for the reply and I totally understand, my carnet has expired whilst in the country and the new carnet (which i have) has not been stamped in or out. I was looking for a border that will accept the fact that I am out of date on the old carnet and will stamp it out based on the fact I have a new one to stamp in on the other side.

Avoid Namanga
 

We had exactly this issue a couple of years ago. The customs officials at Namanga tried to fleece us, we had arranged to only have the exact amount of money that we owed them in our pockets, so we turned them out so they could see that they wouldn't get any more from us. It was uncomfortable though so we've avoided Namanga like the plague ever since, even when all our papers are in order.
Our preferred crossing is Loitoktok North of Kili, the people there are not only friendly but also very helpful. A local friend has recommended using Taveta to the East of Moshi in cases like this, he's never heard of anyone having a problem there, but LOTS at Namanga.

Let us know how you get on.

Ian

thanks Ian, I will let you know how things work out,

Ben

Forgot about Taveta, but I am told the road from Taveta to Voi is not good.

We had the same issue coming out of Kenya when we had a new carnet, but the old one was as few days out of date. The customs official stamped us out on the expired carnet writing on it that we had exited on the new carnet. Then he stamped us in and out on the new carnet and wrote on that we had entered on the old carnet and exited on the new carnet. We did this at Namanga (although on the Kenyan side) and there wasn't an issue. What about getting an official letter from the RAC explaining what needs to be done in these circumstances? It is not unusual.

We have gone through Namanga, Sirari, Loitokitok and Lunga-Lunga in the past and so long as one is friendly and helpful, we have never had an issues with either the Kenyan or Tanzanian officials.

Loitokitok is a very quiet border post and everyone was friendly and helpful.

Good luck.

The Kenyan customs at Namanga are good, it's on the Tanz side that you need to be wary.


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