Point of Defeat
 

I am on the point of giving up! The beaurocracy involved in buying a vehicle in South Africa and driving to UK has mounted to a crescendo today when I find that, on top of everything else: Carnet, visas, God knows what - UK Customs will demand about £1500 in Duty and VAT on a £5000 Second Hand Land Rover. And then there would be change of registration fees via DVLA.

Time for Plan 'B' or 'C' or whatever. I could give up driving up the West Coast Route all the way to UK.and settle for a trip around Southern Africa - Namib. Zam. Tanz. and back to SA. I could do that by Hire of course. Or I could buy a vehicle in SA and sell it there on completion. (I have an option on a RAC/AA(SA) Carnet.) Hiring, though attractive with all the stress removed, is a bit dear for me, (Unless anyone knows a cheaper option than 'Drive Africa,)'
I have previously done much of Africa by bus and bush taxi but, at 77, even I think I am getting past that! Any suggestions? Alan.

find someone who can only drive one-way, and drive their vehicle back for them. I think a lot of people are put off a UK - SA drive because of the problem of shipping a vehicle back. You can offer a solution to that problem.

.... I know it sounds expensive ridersix, but spare a thought for us Aussies who have to bear the cost of export and import shipping on top of all the other expenses most other travellers face. It's all part of the travel experience I'm afraid and needs to be factored in to the overall travel expense.

Given all of this, however, the biggest expense most travellers face is still going to be the income you forego by not working during the period you are travelling. I appreciate at 77 it's not the same for you Alan, but look at it another way - are you going to be that much happier when you die knowing that you have an extra £1500 still in your bank account to pass on to those in your will?... or will you die with a bigger smile on your face knowing you had the opportunty to do that once in a lifetime drive through Africa?

Put things into that context and the additional costs don't look too bad at all. :cool4:

Or you could buy another overlander's vehicle (with UK reg) in Sth Africa, drive it back to UK whichever route you choose and avoid any import on the UK end... maybe its a bit cheeky but we conveniently have one for sale (but its a Nissan Patrol). If its a Land Rover you're after, keep an eye out on the Hubb under the 4x4 section, maybe one will come up! Whichever way, don't give up, it is worth it!

Mark & Allison

Why not do a UK to Capetown trip on a UK registered vehicle then ship it home afterwards.. Much cheaper than your plan A..

ORRRR.. Buy a vehicle in South Africa and sell it in Nairobi for someone to head back South in.

Lots of options mate !

YOU LUCKY B....... !

If I would take a car into Denmark, I'd have to pay 180% tax on the estimated value, which would be appr. 9000£ duty +25% VAT !!!!!!!

That's just one of the associated costs you have to live with to do the trip I'm afraid - even if you drive UK to SA, you will either have to pay close to 1500 to ship the car back and fly home.
There are quite a few people who do the trip and then sell thier UK registered cars in SA though, friends of ours recently sold thiers in Capetown to a guy wanting to do the same project, so keep your eyes peeled on the forums.

If I come across anyone here in SA selling I'll let you know.

A friend of mine got a quote the other day from British 4x4 in Pretoria for Land rover hire which came to about a hundred pounds a day.

To get around import duty in to the UK I think you would be OK with any EU registered car.

Simple to import, just some paper work and change headlights, speedo to MPH etc.

For example:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vehicle-53824

Russ

You could of course simply drive the car up the West Coast to, for example, Mali, Senegal or Benin and sell the car there.

Point of defeat
 

At 77, you have had more than a bit of red-tape in your life as set-backs to get downhearted before you even begin. Perhaps ditch the Land Rover - its adding the costs worries, clearly. Drive up the East side, for a challenge take a Nissan Micra, look anonymous, drive a well made small car, with a sumpguard and six six-ply van tyres. Talk to Roger Pearce at Emgee in Jo-burg who has done it in an MGB, and took a team of Mini Coopers (Google Mini Oddyssey). Why? Because you are alone, and at 77, you dont need the constant fist-fight and worry of getting through the dodgy bits that are a constant headache - get through the Congo, and into Nigeria, the north is a worry, get through that, then what? Niger? its out of bounds on the British Government Foreign Office website and people recently have been kidnapped on the border area to prove that concern is valid. Then there is the problem of getting through Algeria, which needs a guide. Go further west, and you need so many visas, it will grind you down... the East Side has better roads, for sure, better hotels, but dont you need hot water, some comforts, at your time of life, and isnt 10,000miles an adventure in itself? Treat yourself to the excellent ferry out of Alexandria to Venice (Visemar Line).

Tell Roger Pearce to strengthen to shock mountings, renew a few joints and say he has two days of workshop time and that is it...and set off. If vintage car rallies can drive from Cape Town to Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, you will be in Nairobi in a dozen days. Ethiopia is stunning, Sudan a challenge, Egypt a load of hassle, but at least you are going to get there.

Celebrate over steak and chips in the Red Lion opposite Downing St in Whitehall.

What's the alternative - sit at home and watch the grass grow because you are worried about what a customs man is going to say when he sees your car docs and number plate at Dover? As it happens, you can drive in and drive around the UK for six months before any duty is paid, and in that time, someone has either bought your car to drive back home, or you have scrapped it. Stop worrying about the small stuff.

MK2SA have a 110 in SA. Might still be UK registered?