Buying a car in Kenya to drive to Namibia

[Alps2Africa]

On our way from Switzerland to Namibia, we were arrested at the Libyan-Egyptian border for having illegal equipment in the car and then deported. I'm trying to find a way to transport the car out of Egypt, but it might not be possible/economical.

So another option I'm looking at is flying to Kenya, buying a car there and driving it to Namibia. Some questions about this that I hope someone can answer:

- How easy is it for a foreigner to buy/register a car in Kenya? Alternatively, would someone living there be willing to buy it for me and write a permit for me to drive it?
- How easy/fast is it to get a carnet in Kenya?

I am aware that the carnet requires a deposit, but I'm planning to buy a pretty cheap car. The plan would be to drive the car to Namibia or SA and import it or have it destroyed under customs supervision in order to get the deposit back.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[cruiser guy]

No info on buying a car in Kenya but I am interested in what sort of items got you in trouble in Libya/Egypt when crossing.

[Alps2Africa]

Cruiser guy, we had a DIJ Phantom quadcopter/drone with attached GoPro, plus two Motorola TLKR handheld radios. Both of which are apparently illegal in Egypt (although no-one was ever able to tell us exactly why the drone is illegal).

However, they are simply super-paranoid at the moment especially at the Libyan border. They were also very suspicious of our GoPros (because they are "so tiny") plus of the fact that we had five cameras between the two of us.

There's some more info on our Facebook page once I get around to write it up

[kpredator]

4x4 café Africa,
good luck
kp

[priffe]

Arrested & deported for possessing a toy, holy moly. :
Isn't there an embassy in Kairo to help you?
Did you see other travellers/tourists crossing Libya?

I hope you get your car back; should be possible with the right connections.

[Atlas]

Contact Karen Camp.They have about 10 4x4's for sale there. +254 0208833475

[cruiser guy]

Originally Posted by Alps2Africa

Cruiser guy, we had a DIJ Phantom quadcopter/drone with attached GoPro, plus two Motorola TLKR handheld radios. Both of which are apparently illegal in Egypt (although no-one was ever able to tell us exactly why the drone is illegal).

However, they are simply super-paranoid at the moment especially at the Libyan border. They were also very suspicious of our GoPros (because they are "so tiny") plus of the fact that we had five cameras between the two of us.

There's some more info on our Facebook page once I get around to write it up

The hand held radios are illegal?!?! We use radios in the city so we can find each other if we get separated (that's easy to do in crowded areas).

I wonder what the deal would be with a dash cam? We just got one because when you're a foreigner and you have a vehicle accident you're automatically at fault (we all know the locals are stellar drivers ). I figure the dash cam will give me some video evidence if necessary.

I can see they might have an issue with a camera equipped "drone" with all the crap going on there though I understand also the reason you might want to take it.

I hope you get the vehicle back.

[Alps2Africa]

Originally Posted by cruiser guy

The hand held radios are illegal?!?! We use radios in the city so we can find each other if we get separated (that's easy to do in crowded areas).

I wonder what the deal would be with a dash cam? We just got one because when you're a foreigner and you have a vehicle accident you're automatically at fault (we all know the locals are stellar drivers ). I figure the dash cam will give me some video evidence if necessary.

I can see they might have an issue with a camera equipped "drone" with all the crap going on there though I understand also the reason you might want to take it.

I hope you get the vehicle back.

Yes, the radios are very illegal. If you go through Egypt I highly advise you to forward them by mail to Sudan or something - as we've seen. the Egyptians are quite trigger-happy at the moment.

If you decide to take a dashboard cam, I'd suggest you take it off and store it in the glove box or something while going through customs. Even if they are not illegal, border police in any country can get very cross if they think you are filming them (and who's to tell if the camera is on or not). Same thing goes for GoPro helmet cams on motorbikes.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by cruiser guy

though I understand also the reason you might want to take it.

Well I can't see any good reason for possession of such technology fitted with a camera.
Drones of this nature are a major (political) concern in places such as the United States - for invasion of privacy reasons alone - so why shouldn't they be so in countries such as Egypt?

[Alps2Africa]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Well I can't see any good reason for possession of such technology fitted with a camera.

Uhm, for taking pictures?

Like this, for example: A quadcopter's view of Niagara Falls | Crave - CNET (filmed in the USA, natch).

Expounding on the difference between "a major concern ... for invasion of privacy reasons" and "arrested and thrown in jail for five days" is left as an exercise for the reader, because I can't be bothered.