In my previous post on the Monantsa Pass border post, I mentioned that we crossed into Lesotho and planned to exit here at Caledonspoort. Only problem was that there was no border post through which to enter Lesotho at Monantsa Pass. So we arrived with no Lesotho stamp in our passports. What happened next was shocking.
There were no visible officials at the Lesotho border post. The boom gate was open. We hesitantly drove through, waiting for someone to call us back. No one did, so we entered the South African side of the border post.
We said nothing and handed our passports to the immigration official. She checked it briefly, and without any questions stamped it and handed it back to us. We got in our vehicle and drove to the police check point. The policeman asked to see my driver's licence (first time this was asked at a border post). After presenting my driver's licence, we drove through into South Africa. No one recorded, checked or verified our vehicle.
I was shocked. What we did is not right and I will not recommend it to anyone.
I thought at least the South African side should have been more alert to the strange crossing we had. Keep in mind that only months ago, several police and immigration officials were arrested at this border post for corruption (they allegedly collected money from people crossing the border illegally).
Entering South Africa from Lesotho at Caledonspoort |
Caledonspoort from the South African side |
Beautiful road from Caledonspoort to Fouriesburg |