We entered Angola through the Santa Clara border post, the main border crossing from Namibia. The Namibian side of the border was chaotic. Several people warned us to keep a close eye on the car and watch out for young border residents desperately trying to make a bit of money. I filled out the documents on the bonnet of the car while Twan stood in line, then we switched places and got our documents stamped. The officials were strict, and a Southern European looking guy advised us to only give one passport at the time through the slot in the counter. We had entered and left Namibia a few times before and it had always been easy and pleasant, but this time it was somehow more serious. After a quick stamp from customs we went through the border to the Angolan side. We parked the car and stood in line behind the same guy who advised us earlier. He told us his name was Carlos and he had been on holiday in Namibia and Zambia with his wife and two daughters. He spoke Portuguese and helped us to get through Angolan immigration without any problems, and then got us a fixer to get through customs. Angola doesn’t recognise the carnet de passage we have for the car and we therefore needed a temporary import permit. The fixer went to work while we waited in the hot car. Meanwhile, Carlos, the guy we had just met, lent us $140 worth of Kwanzas out of nowhere and gave us his details so we could visit him in Benguela. About two hours later the fixer had managed to obtain the permit and got us through the final checks. He went with us to the first petrol station where we filled our empty tank with diesel that cost us only $0.40 a litre, and we also got a SIM card. Needless to say, we managed to cross one of the most notorious, difficult borders in Africa, and did it within three hours. We drove out of Santa Clara on a badly potholed road. In fact, it was potholes with a little bit of asphalt in between now and again. We couldn’t believe that we’d made it: Angola!
No comments yet.