A simple trip to the Border, but not So Simply… not on Friday 13th.
After a good breakfast we head off south to the border post of Noordoewer approximately 130 km short of Springbok in South Africa. The border is naturally marked by the Orange River.
We approached the Namibian immigration out and were told that Martins should have had a Visa for Namibia and this hadn’t been noticed when we were granted entry from Angola. The officer on duty asked that Martins not return to Namibia unless he obtains a visa from Pretoria or some other Namibian Embassy, then lets us go across the bridge to the South African entry side. Charlie and I were permitted entry but Martins was denied. Apparently he requires a Visa. 19 countries and the last border crossing and we run into problems. Martins had been continuously told by other European travellers that he didn’t require a visa as Latvia was part of the European Union and all countries included are exempt,. Had we called in at Windhoek we would have double checked, but with the comfort from the Dutch, Germans and South African travellers all saying that it wasn’t required we gave Windhoek a wide birth. We have since been told by a Namibian immigrations Lauwer that the Law clearly states that all members of the European Union are exempt and that the officials at both the Namibian and South African border were incorrect to refuse entry and that we should take this story to the Papers.
But in the mean time, Charlie has a Plane to catch on the 15th, Martins is grounded on the Orange River Bridge, denied entry into S Africa and not allowed back into Namibia. What to do…. Having stamped into S Africa and then back out, Charlie and I check back into S Africa and drive 130 km into Springbok to hire a car to take him into Cape Town. I then drive 130km back to the border and leave S Africa again and catch up on the latest with Martins. He has now been granted a temporary 5 day visa and told to report to Windhoek 800 km North and apply for both visas.
We arrive at Granau Country Guest house at sunset and put up tents.
The town of Granau has 400 inhabitants with 30 white Africans. The proprietor’s were very friendly and agreed to cook our Oryx, which they made a fantastic job of and to give you some idea of costs I have copied the bill we paid in the morning.
N$ £
Camping x 2 90.00 6.43
Grilling+Chips*2 60.00 4.29
Double J&B R 8.50 0.61
5 bottles Taffel L 42.50 3.04
Coke 7.00 0.50
Full Eng Break x 2 54.00 3.86
Total Bill 18.71
Even in Namibia although more expensive than some African countries at £9.35 per head for all the above you cant complain.
Scorpions, in the car park and camping area, mainly Hadogenes, venom very weak, but apparently according to our host can still cause sickness and put you out of action for up to a weak. The thick tailed scorpions we haven’t seen but are about and are responsible for a handful of deaths annually.
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