Carnetal Knowledge!
 

Hi guys. I'm heading very soon on a west African adventure on my xt 600 z from Ireland. First time trip on a bike.

I'm a reasonably seasoned traveler, but trying to wade through all the conflicting stories of carnet de passage is a bit of a nightmare! But to me it seems that like this( please correct me if this seems untrue!)

1. It totally possible to make through the majority of Africa without he carnet but more patience and time is needed .

2. You have to pay a small amount on all borders to get the bike in and out.

3. Some borders are fine and others more difficult but local knowledge and fellow travellers will steer you right.

My final question is, if you are paying 20-50 euros here and there at each border, would it not work much cheaper just to bit the bullet and get the carnet if the total amount when added up is more than the carnet itself?!

Hope that makes sense guys, look forward to hearing your wise words!

Dave

Entered Senegal some month ago with my 125cc classic vespa at Diama border for 25 Euro laisser passez.

Ghana didn´t want nothing, entered at Hamile border in the north-west. They asked for carnet, I played stupid about not even knowing what that in the name of god could be, so they let me through without even paying for a laisser passez. No problems so far, crossed all ghana and nobody wanted to see any document. Brilliant country, been long time ago I used normal toilets regularly !!!:thumbup1:

cheers and greetings from Ho,

chris

Just to update, we made it into South Africa without a carnet (never mentioned, asked for or anything). However MAKE SURE you get a temporary import form on the South African border (several people I know have had to insist to get one). It is impossible (ok, annoyingly time consuming) to ship your bike out without this.

Just to re-itterate Javier Carrion's line: A carnet is not needed in West Africa.

We were rarely asked for it at borders and not having one was only ever an issue entering Senegal. The countries we passed through were:
Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.

I've entered SA from Swaziland a few months ago. I tried to have my carnet stamped but they didn't want to (probably because I came from Swazi, but at the border from Moz to Swazi I only had to pay a road fee, they didn't ask for the carnet).

From SA to Nam, they don't care. From Nam to Zam, the Namibians didn't care, but the Zambians did stamp it.

HI Ibendel,

In Zambia: Did they asked for the carnet when you entered or did you asked to have it stamped?

In which country down there did you had your ENTRY first stamped?

May I ask: What bike were you riding? Thank you!