Changing carnets

[frenchian]

We're in Namibia, our existing carnet runs out in May and I've been in discussion with the RAC about a new one.

The RAC will only issue the new carnet for the day after the old one runs out - they won't issue it to start a few days beforehand to have an "overlap".

So - I can't exit Namibia into Botswana stamping the old carnet out and stamping the new one in (unless I was to manage to do it at exactly midnight on the day of changeover!).
The only other way I could see was to drive all the way to Zambia while the old carnet is still valid, stamp the old one out of Namibia, enter Zam on a TIP and then activate the new carnet on the next border crossing. I'm not massively keen on this as it is going to involve a 1000-mile detour in a 40mph vehicle.

Talking to the RAC, they suggest that I could remain in Namibia even though the old carnet had expired, drive to a border, cross over and stamp the old carnet out, then "in" on the new carnet on the other side. When asked if the Namibians wouldn't have a problem with that, the answer was "so long as you have the new carnet with you it shouldn't be a problem".

This somehow doesn't seem right to me - maybe I'm being paranoid, but surely you need a "current and stamped" carnet in-hand when in a country?

Can anyone shed any light on this please? I need to book flights for my wife who is coming out to join me and I need to know where to book her flights for!:confused1:


Thanks, Ian