mteri
- Thread starter ertjies
- Start date
Border is open very much 24hours but I would advise you donot go through at night - Guys are still chasing bribes at Beit Bridge.
Avoid using one of the guys "Who offer to help you through quick quick" there has been a massive clamp down on bribery and corruption in zim in the last few weeks and they will penalise you.
You must be very patient (Under no circumstances show any form of aggrevation they will use this to their full advantage.
MAke sure you have police clearance (In writing from your local police station - it is unlikely that you will be asked for it but funny enough we got asked for it when crossing into zambia and it was a fair bit of PT getting around that one.) On your vehicle make sure you have 2 whit reflectors and on the back two red reflectors - in ZIM they donot consider the built in ones as valid reflectors and the police will hassle you about this.
You will also need to get a ZA sticker for the vehichle.
On the trailer;
For drivers side front mud guard "A white T on a black background"
Either on the same mud guard facing back or on the back of the boat a "Red T on a black background" they are very very sticky about this.
MAke sure you have red Triangles - they will ask you for them too.
Back to the border
When you arrive on the zim side guys will show you where to park and they will start hasseling you already in the parking to assit you with clearance - tell them politely "No thank you" they will get in your face just smile and give them bat.
Make sure you have the registration papers (Originals) for both trailer and car.
When you walk into the customs and immigration building you will need to join the que as you inter the dooor (It is almost infront of the door or slightly to the right).
Here you will pay the bridge toll (R80 for a car) they will give you a cream coloured form that needs to be stamped by both customs, immigration and third party.
Avoid using one of the guys "Who offer to help you through quick quick" there has been a massive clamp down on bribery and corruption in zim in the last few weeks and they will penalise you.
You must be very patient (Under no circumstances show any form of aggrevation they will use this to their full advantage.
MAke sure you have police clearance (In writing from your local police station - it is unlikely that you will be asked for it but funny enough we got asked for it when crossing into zambia and it was a fair bit of PT getting around that one.) On your vehicle make sure you have 2 whit reflectors and on the back two red reflectors - in ZIM they donot consider the built in ones as valid reflectors and the police will hassle you about this.
You will also need to get a ZA sticker for the vehichle.
On the trailer;
For drivers side front mud guard "A white T on a black background"
Either on the same mud guard facing back or on the back of the boat a "Red T on a black background" they are very very sticky about this.
MAke sure you have red Triangles - they will ask you for them too.
Back to the border
When you arrive on the zim side guys will show you where to park and they will start hasseling you already in the parking to assit you with clearance - tell them politely "No thank you" they will get in your face just smile and give them bat.
Make sure you have the registration papers (Originals) for both trailer and car.
When you walk into the customs and immigration building you will need to join the que as you inter the dooor (It is almost infront of the door or slightly to the right).
Here you will pay the bridge toll (R80 for a car) they will give you a cream coloured form that needs to be stamped by both customs, immigration and third party.
Once you have this slip join the immigration q - ask them for 30 days - at this point you should still have not filled in any documentation.
You then need to go outside the the exit door (to do this you have to walk past customs) as you exit the door you will see there is a small white (if you could call it that) on your right. Here you need to pay 3rd party R200 and you will need to get your slip stamped again.
From here you need to go back into the customs and immigration.
You will need to find a "TIP( you say it "tee eye pee")" (Temporary import Permit) a word of advise is take some carbon paper with you as a famous trick of the tout's is to make sure there is no carbon paper available.
On the "TIP" you will need to fill in your car and trailer details on the "TIP" also all the stuff you will be taking back to SA cameras, GPS etc etc etc with all the serial numbers.
Also write sporting goods on this form (This will cover your fishing tackle) they tried to hook me for this as I failed to make mention of this - but I have a way of get myself out of these things.
You then need to go outside the the exit door (to do this you have to walk past customs) as you exit the door you will see there is a small white (if you could call it that) on your right. Here you need to pay 3rd party R200 and you will need to get your slip stamped again.
From here you need to go back into the customs and immigration.
You will need to find a "TIP( you say it "tee eye pee")" (Temporary import Permit) a word of advise is take some carbon paper with you as a famous trick of the tout's is to make sure there is no carbon paper available.
On the "TIP" you will need to fill in your car and trailer details on the "TIP" also all the stuff you will be taking back to SA cameras, GPS etc etc etc with all the serial numbers.
Also write sporting goods on this form (This will cover your fishing tackle) they tried to hook me for this as I failed to make mention of this - but I have a way of get myself out of these things.
You will also need to fill in Blue forms "Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Customs declaration" this all the stuff you plan to take to zim and not bring back to SA.
Donot fill in camera's etc etc on this form as they will hook you for the duty on it (that stuff should have been filled out on your "TIP") CHeck all the blocks in section B as "no" if you check any yes boxes they hook you again.
on this blue form declare your money (don't declare it all - I think I declared just R2000)
You will then need to pay for carbon tax 16us$ or R160 - you do the math - I took us$ with me to zim as they change rands at 10-1 and everything is converted to us$. Take lots of R1, R2 and R5 coins as you will need this as change as most places in ZIM plead they have no change and you end up loosing denominations less than R10 when paying for stuff all over.
Donot fill in camera's etc etc on this form as they will hook you for the duty on it (that stuff should have been filled out on your "TIP") CHeck all the blocks in section B as "no" if you check any yes boxes they hook you again.
on this blue form declare your money (don't declare it all - I think I declared just R2000)
You will then need to pay for carbon tax 16us$ or R160 - you do the math - I took us$ with me to zim as they change rands at 10-1 and everything is converted to us$. Take lots of R1, R2 and R5 coins as you will need this as change as most places in ZIM plead they have no change and you end up loosing denominations less than R10 when paying for stuff all over.
In the past your "TIP" and Blue form was stamped inside the building when we went through there was a funny green cage under the parking lot roof where we took it to be stamped and cleared.
You might also need to clear "CID" just check with the customs guy he will point you in the right direction.
You then jump in your car and proceed to the gate. Here you will be stopped by another customs official this is where they tried to get some cash out of us.
Luckily I had filled in my own forms (important that you do this you need one TIP for Vehicle and trailer and blue forms for every individual even if they tell you otherwise).
I was called a "Liar" (suupposedly I had not filled in my own forms) I was told I had not declared the fishing stuff.
You must have lots of patience and you must be sure all your stuff is in order and don't get mad they love this....
I told him give me the form and I will go back to customs and have them fill "SPorting goods" - to which I got the reply "ahhhh but sah today I will let you go."
Be prepared to unpack everything in both your car and boat - it is unlikely to happen but in the event that it does you are prepared for it.
If they start hasseling for you all you need say loudly "So what is it are you looking for a bribe" - they don't like their mates to hear.
This sounds like lots of PT but it is much easier thatn it sounds prepare for the worst and then everything is okay. The whole SA/ZIM process took us 1 hour to clear.
BE warned get to the border before 10am as this is when the busses arrive and that is a real nag merry.
You might also need to clear "CID" just check with the customs guy he will point you in the right direction.
You then jump in your car and proceed to the gate. Here you will be stopped by another customs official this is where they tried to get some cash out of us.
Luckily I had filled in my own forms (important that you do this you need one TIP for Vehicle and trailer and blue forms for every individual even if they tell you otherwise).
I was called a "Liar" (suupposedly I had not filled in my own forms) I was told I had not declared the fishing stuff.
You must have lots of patience and you must be sure all your stuff is in order and don't get mad they love this....
I told him give me the form and I will go back to customs and have them fill "SPorting goods" - to which I got the reply "ahhhh but sah today I will let you go."
Be prepared to unpack everything in both your car and boat - it is unlikely to happen but in the event that it does you are prepared for it.
If they start hasseling for you all you need say loudly "So what is it are you looking for a bribe" - they don't like their mates to hear.
This sounds like lots of PT but it is much easier thatn it sounds prepare for the worst and then everything is okay. The whole SA/ZIM process took us 1 hour to clear.
BE warned get to the border before 10am as this is when the busses arrive and that is a real nag merry.
The new thing in ZIM is toll gates - going to Mteri you will definately pass one maybe 2 if you go to masvingo.
US$ 1 or R8 no change.
Petrol US$ 1.20 PER LITER.
They have a just had a big blitz in ZIM with the cops looking for bribes - we travvelled 3000km and only got stopped for "TIP" and drivers liscence.
However if you think they are trying to pull a fast one on you ask them for their Name rank and which police station they are from - tell them you are going to report them to the ZRP public relations dept - they will immediately back off........
Watch out for Pot Holes - roads are in a sad state of affairs in Places.
Exchange rate is 8-1 hassel the guys at shops etc for the right money change.
Otherwise it is a great country
US$ 1 or R8 no change.
Petrol US$ 1.20 PER LITER.
They have a just had a big blitz in ZIM with the cops looking for bribes - we travvelled 3000km and only got stopped for "TIP" and drivers liscence.
However if you think they are trying to pull a fast one on you ask them for their Name rank and which police station they are from - tell them you are going to report them to the ZRP public relations dept - they will immediately back off........
Watch out for Pot Holes - roads are in a sad state of affairs in Places.
Exchange rate is 8-1 hassel the guys at shops etc for the right money change.
Otherwise it is a great country
Ryan wrote:
Even 15" is big!
Do you mould your own or do you "cut and paste" the 7" mods (?) which are the biggest commercially available, I think ...
Bet the 10" Lunker City FinS-Fish (fluke-style lure) would also work!
My Mteri tackle setup is usually a pitching or flipping stick with 50lb test braid and a 0.40 - 0.45mm diameter mono or fluoro leader! Depending on the brand, that works out at 20 - 30lb test.
Remember Superline hooks, too! Else you'll straighten a lot of normal hooks on those Zim piggies with that tackle!
Ryan, where do you get 15' Senkos?Our problem with fishing.....
Our line was too light - zim guys fish minimum 15lb line.
BIG BIG plastics - 15' senkos did the trick.
Colours - zim guys only use 2 colours Green Pumpkin and June bug.
Happy hunting
Even 15" is big!
Do you mould your own or do you "cut and paste" the 7" mods (?) which are the biggest commercially available, I think ...
Bet the 10" Lunker City FinS-Fish (fluke-style lure) would also work!
My Mteri tackle setup is usually a pitching or flipping stick with 50lb test braid and a 0.40 - 0.45mm diameter mono or fluoro leader! Depending on the brand, that works out at 20 - 30lb test.
Remember Superline hooks, too! Else you'll straighten a lot of normal hooks on those Zim piggies with that tackle!