Collecting the Jeep - Mongu and Botswana
So, during our trip up to Mongu in January 2017, Elizabeth's Jeep snapped a cam / timing belt. Luckily it snapped at the base in Mongu Zambia, so there was no need to tow it anywhere (at that point!).
But, the bad news was that it could not get repaired in Mongu.
The options were -
- remove the engine and send it to Lusaka
- send it to South Africa,
- or have the Jeep transported back to Johannesburg for the repairs.
We opted for the Johannesburg route.
However, my wife and I were up in Mongu and I already had a Venter trailer with us. So, the recovery would entail us getting back to Johannesburg, hiring a vehicle trailer and going back up to Mongu to collect the Jeep. Quiet a mission.
Anyway, we decided not to panic and to continue with our planned Mongu trip and the journey back to Johannesburg.
So, when we got back to Johannesburg I really did not feel like jumping in the car and travelling all the way back to Mongu. I had decided to leave the return for a few months. However, the prospect of a job (which did not materialize) had me changing plans and arranging to go back sooner rather than later.
I could only find one place where they were prepared to rent me a car trailer where they would allow the trailer to cross the border into a foreign country. I had to cross into three foreign countries (Botswana, Namibia and Zambia).
In addition, I did not feel like travelling on my own, so luckily my Dad (85 years of age) decided to travel up with me. He is in excellent health.
The trip would up we would be staying at Francistown, Kasane and Mongu and then back down staying at Kasane, Francistown and Lephelala. I decided to take an extra day on the way back due to the heavy load of the Jeep on the trailer.
So, we left Johannesburg early and headed for Francistown. I had decided to go through the Stockpoort border post, because its much quieter (trucks are not allowed). The trip was good and we had no issues with the trailer.
The Stockpoort border post was a pleasure and the people there are always very friendly and pleasant. That goes for both the RSA as well as the Botswana side.
The road from Stockpoort into Botswana is a dirt road. However, its graded and was not an issue, except for cows crapping on the road. It seems to be their favorite place to dung it !
We were staying at Tati River Lodge in Francistown. The accommodation was great and I could park outside the room. We also had dinner there and the meal was enjoyable. However, my dad decided to have filet steak, which was not really filet, but was edible.
From Francistown we were travelling onto a camp just outside of Kasane.
However the road, if you can call it that, was in a shocking state and the potholes were huge. In places the road was nonexistent.
The establishment is called Senyati Safari Camp Botswana. I had booked a chalet here and we were hoping that we would be able to see the waterhole from the chalet.
Well, I had made a mistake with the booking and booked for the previous night. However, luckily for us, they were not full and provided us with the chalet.
The reception staff were very friendly and accommodating, this time. (on a trip later in the year with my wife, they were downright rude and unpleasant and in fact insulting)
We had an amazing chalet, full kitchen, bedroom with two twin beds, full shower, aircon and even an outside bath.
We did not try the bath ! Perhaps next time.
But, from the porch of the chalet (there are a few chairs and a table) we had a perfect view of the waterhole. So, over a whiskey and a glass of wine, we watched the elephants having a drink. We also did see a herd of buffalo. Was a fantastic evening. had a braai in the braai at the chalet.
The next morning we departed and were heading for Mongu. That entailed crossing into Namibia and Zambia.
Both border crossings went well and we had no issues.
However, if you are going into Zambia with a car and trailer, make sure to get two disks for the insurance. They wrote mine on one. More about that later.
One good thing about the route from the Zambian border to Mongu is that the bridge over the Zambezi is now completed, so no more having to wait for the pontoon.
We arrived in Mongu early afternoon at The Zambia Project - Village Of Hope Mongu.
We had two of their rooms/chalets for the duration of our stay. These were very nice and have a shower, bed, mosquito net, toilet and a small kitchen area. Power is provided, when Zambian Electricity comes to the party. We were both very comfortable.
We did not rush at getting the Jeep onto the trailer. We had a few days in Mongu and took a drive out onto the new road over the floodplain. This flood plain is known as the Zambezi or, its correct name, the Barotse Floodplain. Its very impressive and you drive for 25km across the floodplain before getting to the actual Zambezi river. (and that's just one side of the floodplain.)
(Above photo and below explanations taken from Wikipedia website.)
NASA satellite photograph showing the Barotse Floodplain as the bright green to dark blue central region. 1 The Zambezi flowing north to south through the middle of the floodplain; 2 confluence of (left to right) the Lungwebungu, Southern Kashiji, Zambezi and Kabompo Rivers, marking the start of the floodplain; 3 end of the floodplain south of Senanga; 4 Ngonye Falls on the Zambezi; 5 Mongu, capital of Barotseland; 6 Lealui, seat of the Litunga on the floodplain; 7 Limulunga, seat of the Litunga during the flood; 8 swamps and floodplain of the Lungwebungu; 9 the Kabompo drains an area of Cryptosepalum dry forest; 10Luena Flats (floodplain); 11 Luanginga River floodplain near Kalabo; 12 Lui River with narrow floodplain; 13 a broad floodplain which carries overspill from high floods of the Cuando River in Angola; 14 Cuando river and floodplain, on the border between Angola and Zambia; 15Liuwa Plain National Park; 16 The flat sandy Central Zambezian Miombo woodland west of Mongu features many pans; 17 Sioma Ngwezi National Park.[1]
The river was not too full during our visit. The rains in Angola and above send the water down the Zambezi. (it did get very flooded after we visited).
Then, it was the task of getting the Jeep onto the trailer. This was quiet a job, as we could not start the Jeep. So Elizabeth summoned 10 or so fellow Zambia Project friends and we pushed and shoved. Eventually, the Jeep crested the trailer summit and was on.
I then had the job of securing the Jeep to ensure that it did not bounce off the trailer.
I had brought quiet a few ropes and tie ratchet goodies with me, so was quiet confident that the Jeep would not move.
That was hard work, so later in the afternoon my dad and I settled down for a cold one !
From Francistown we were travelling onto a camp just outside of Kasane.
However the road, if you can call it that, was in a shocking state and the potholes were huge. In places the road was nonexistent.
The establishment is called Senyati Safari Camp Botswana. I had booked a chalet here and we were hoping that we would be able to see the waterhole from the chalet.
Well, I had made a mistake with the booking and booked for the previous night. However, luckily for us, they were not full and provided us with the chalet.
The reception staff were very friendly and accommodating, this time. (on a trip later in the year with my wife, they were downright rude and unpleasant and in fact insulting)
We had an amazing chalet, full kitchen, bedroom with two twin beds, full shower, aircon and even an outside bath.
We did not try the bath ! Perhaps next time.
But, from the porch of the chalet (there are a few chairs and a table) we had a perfect view of the waterhole. So, over a whiskey and a glass of wine, we watched the elephants having a drink. We also did see a herd of buffalo. Was a fantastic evening. had a braai in the braai at the chalet.
The next morning we departed and were heading for Mongu. That entailed crossing into Namibia and Zambia.
Both border crossings went well and we had no issues.
However, if you are going into Zambia with a car and trailer, make sure to get two disks for the insurance. They wrote mine on one. More about that later.
One good thing about the route from the Zambian border to Mongu is that the bridge over the Zambezi is now completed, so no more having to wait for the pontoon.
We arrived in Mongu early afternoon at The Zambia Project - Village Of Hope Mongu.
We had two of their rooms/chalets for the duration of our stay. These were very nice and have a shower, bed, mosquito net, toilet and a small kitchen area. Power is provided, when Zambian Electricity comes to the party. We were both very comfortable.
(Above photo and below explanations taken from Wikipedia website.)
NASA satellite photograph showing the Barotse Floodplain as the bright green to dark blue central region. 1 The Zambezi flowing north to south through the middle of the floodplain; 2 confluence of (left to right) the Lungwebungu, Southern Kashiji, Zambezi and Kabompo Rivers, marking the start of the floodplain; 3 end of the floodplain south of Senanga; 4 Ngonye Falls on the Zambezi; 5 Mongu, capital of Barotseland; 6 Lealui, seat of the Litunga on the floodplain; 7 Limulunga, seat of the Litunga during the flood; 8 swamps and floodplain of the Lungwebungu; 9 the Kabompo drains an area of Cryptosepalum dry forest; 10Luena Flats (floodplain); 11 Luanginga River floodplain near Kalabo; 12 Lui River with narrow floodplain; 13 a broad floodplain which carries overspill from high floods of the Cuando River in Angola; 14 Cuando river and floodplain, on the border between Angola and Zambia; 15Liuwa Plain National Park; 16 The flat sandy Central Zambezian Miombo woodland west of Mongu features many pans; 17 Sioma Ngwezi National Park.[1]
The river was not too full during our visit. The rains in Angola and above send the water down the Zambezi. (it did get very flooded after we visited).
Then, it was the task of getting the Jeep onto the trailer. This was quiet a job, as we could not start the Jeep. So Elizabeth summoned 10 or so fellow Zambia Project friends and we pushed and shoved. Eventually, the Jeep crested the trailer summit and was on.
I then had the job of securing the Jeep to ensure that it did not bounce off the trailer.
I had brought quiet a few ropes and tie ratchet goodies with me, so was quiet confident that the Jeep would not move.
That was hard work, so later in the afternoon my dad and I settled down for a cold one !
The next morning we pulled out from Mongu early as I wanted to get to Kasane just about lunch time.
On our way, we were stopped by a fellow in a very old and dilapidated bakkie. These fellows turned out to be the local traffic police. They wanted to check my Zambian Insurance. So I produced the slip of paper and pointed to the disk which I had stuck onto the front windscreen.
They said that there had to be two disks. One for the car and one for the trailer. Even though I had paid for both and the insurance people at the border post had written both registration numbers onto the one disk, he said NO. There have to be two. The fine was 900 Zambian Kwacha. I did not have that much cash. I showed him that I only had 300 Kwacha. So he said, well, have to fine you something, so will make it 300 Kwacha. He duly completed and handed me an official receipt and I parted with the 300 Kwacha.
Then it was onto the border.
At the border, we were still early, there was hardly anyone. I was pleased to see no queue and we progressed through passport control with no issues at all.
However, the Jeep !
As it had been in Zambia for almost two years, it had a TIP (temporary import permit). So this necessitated checking the system and booking/logging the Jeep out of Zambia. Sounded like a simple process to me !
For this process you have to have an agent !
So I called Elizabeth and she put me in touch with the agent who had arranged the TIP for her. A very nice fellow indeed. However, there was a cost to this of 750 Kwacha (a processing fee) - luckily there is an ATM at the border..
Also, the system was down (broken!!). So we were told, wait for the system. It was still 09h00, so I was happy to wait a while.
At about 11h00 the agent informed us that the system was up, but extremely slow. So he was going home (he assure me a short way from the border) as he had much better signal at home and could log into the system. At 12h45 he was not back and I could not raise him on the phone. To make matters worse, he had the car papers. I found the Border Post Manager, but he said its lunch time, come back to him at 14h00. At 14h00 I went back to him and advised him of my problem. He said, the systems UP. I called the agent, and he came back from his home.
Well, the simple process took another three hours to finalize. The issue was that I had a booking in Kasane and the Botswana border post closed at 18h00. It was now 17h00 and I was still in Zambia, Still had to cross into Namibia, out of Namibia and into Botswana, also driving 85km's to get to the Botswana border (and I had a Jeep on a trailer and dodgy roads).
I had the necessary forms from the agent. To print a receipt for the payment entailed the agent opening his laptop (in his car), connecting and starting a portable printer and then printing the form. I did not have the time, so told him if he wanted payment he had better meet me at the Namibian border with the receipt.
As I was about tio leave the Namibian border (after paying the road tax and havuing our passports stamped) the agent arrived with the receipt. I gave him the cash.
We then had to navigate Katima Mulilo and head for the Botswana border. Well we made it through into Botswana at 17h58. Just in time.
But now it was getting dark and the road to Senyati is sandy. However, we made it there and we were given the same chalet again. So had an enjoyable evening watching the elephants at the waterhole. The Jeep was still on the trailer and had not moved.
We could not braai, as you cannot bring meat from Namibia into Botswana (and it was too late to stop and shop in Kasane). So I made a concoction of goodies which turned out ok.
The next day it was a slow drive on very bad potholed roads to Fransistown. On the way we stopped off at Nata Lodge for an early lunch.(that was just 2 days before Nata Lodge was closed due to flooding),
We again stayed at Tati River Lodge and we had the exact same room as we did on the way up. Again I was able to park outside the room.
After a very nice breakfast we headed for Lephelala and the Palm Park Hotel.
This was the homeward leg of the trip. I had decided to go through Stockpoort again. However as we neared Palapye in Botswana the heavens opened and it looked as if it was going to rain for a few days. Turned out it was the tail end of some cyclone. So instead of taking the trailer with the Jeep on a muddy dirt road, we decided to stick to the tar and go through Martins Drift. It was ok.
The Palm Park Hotel is a very nice hotel and we had a huge room overlooking a very green garden. Dinner was had at the hotels Ocean Basked restaurant and it was enjoyable.
Finally, we made it home and the Jeep was safely back in Johannesburg.
My Chevrolet was a little dirty after the trip so I decided to have it washed professionally.
Then it was, what to do with the Jeep !
We decided to fix the cam belt and sell the Jeep.
I took it to Car Service City Clearwater Shop 11, Clearwater Crossing, New Century Avenue, Strubens Valley (Behind Makro). The fellow there repaired the Jeep, as well as replacing the front suspension coil springs and all the bushes. It rode and sounded fantastic when it came back.
I then put the Jeep onto OLX and it sold in 5 days.
On our way, we were stopped by a fellow in a very old and dilapidated bakkie. These fellows turned out to be the local traffic police. They wanted to check my Zambian Insurance. So I produced the slip of paper and pointed to the disk which I had stuck onto the front windscreen.
They said that there had to be two disks. One for the car and one for the trailer. Even though I had paid for both and the insurance people at the border post had written both registration numbers onto the one disk, he said NO. There have to be two. The fine was 900 Zambian Kwacha. I did not have that much cash. I showed him that I only had 300 Kwacha. So he said, well, have to fine you something, so will make it 300 Kwacha. He duly completed and handed me an official receipt and I parted with the 300 Kwacha.
Then it was onto the border.
At the border, we were still early, there was hardly anyone. I was pleased to see no queue and we progressed through passport control with no issues at all.
However, the Jeep !
As it had been in Zambia for almost two years, it had a TIP (temporary import permit). So this necessitated checking the system and booking/logging the Jeep out of Zambia. Sounded like a simple process to me !
For this process you have to have an agent !
So I called Elizabeth and she put me in touch with the agent who had arranged the TIP for her. A very nice fellow indeed. However, there was a cost to this of 750 Kwacha (a processing fee) - luckily there is an ATM at the border..
Also, the system was down (broken!!). So we were told, wait for the system. It was still 09h00, so I was happy to wait a while.
At about 11h00 the agent informed us that the system was up, but extremely slow. So he was going home (he assure me a short way from the border) as he had much better signal at home and could log into the system. At 12h45 he was not back and I could not raise him on the phone. To make matters worse, he had the car papers. I found the Border Post Manager, but he said its lunch time, come back to him at 14h00. At 14h00 I went back to him and advised him of my problem. He said, the systems UP. I called the agent, and he came back from his home.
Well, the simple process took another three hours to finalize. The issue was that I had a booking in Kasane and the Botswana border post closed at 18h00. It was now 17h00 and I was still in Zambia, Still had to cross into Namibia, out of Namibia and into Botswana, also driving 85km's to get to the Botswana border (and I had a Jeep on a trailer and dodgy roads).
I had the necessary forms from the agent. To print a receipt for the payment entailed the agent opening his laptop (in his car), connecting and starting a portable printer and then printing the form. I did not have the time, so told him if he wanted payment he had better meet me at the Namibian border with the receipt.
As I was about tio leave the Namibian border (after paying the road tax and havuing our passports stamped) the agent arrived with the receipt. I gave him the cash.
We then had to navigate Katima Mulilo and head for the Botswana border. Well we made it through into Botswana at 17h58. Just in time.
But now it was getting dark and the road to Senyati is sandy. However, we made it there and we were given the same chalet again. So had an enjoyable evening watching the elephants at the waterhole. The Jeep was still on the trailer and had not moved.
We could not braai, as you cannot bring meat from Namibia into Botswana (and it was too late to stop and shop in Kasane). So I made a concoction of goodies which turned out ok.
The next day it was a slow drive on very bad potholed roads to Fransistown. On the way we stopped off at Nata Lodge for an early lunch.(that was just 2 days before Nata Lodge was closed due to flooding),
We again stayed at Tati River Lodge and we had the exact same room as we did on the way up. Again I was able to park outside the room.
After a very nice breakfast we headed for Lephelala and the Palm Park Hotel.
This was the homeward leg of the trip. I had decided to go through Stockpoort again. However as we neared Palapye in Botswana the heavens opened and it looked as if it was going to rain for a few days. Turned out it was the tail end of some cyclone. So instead of taking the trailer with the Jeep on a muddy dirt road, we decided to stick to the tar and go through Martins Drift. It was ok.
The Palm Park Hotel is a very nice hotel and we had a huge room overlooking a very green garden. Dinner was had at the hotels Ocean Basked restaurant and it was enjoyable.
Finally, we made it home and the Jeep was safely back in Johannesburg.
My Chevrolet was a little dirty after the trip so I decided to have it washed professionally.
Then it was, what to do with the Jeep !
We decided to fix the cam belt and sell the Jeep.
I took it to Car Service City Clearwater Shop 11, Clearwater Crossing, New Century Avenue, Strubens Valley (Behind Makro). The fellow there repaired the Jeep, as well as replacing the front suspension coil springs and all the bushes. It rode and sounded fantastic when it came back.
I then put the Jeep onto OLX and it sold in 5 days.
No comments:
Post a Comment