Die Junie uitgawe van WEGRY met die 3e artikel van ons 4 dele reeks is nou beskikbaar in boekwinkels landwyd. In die artikel gaan dit oor ons besoek aan die grensposte na Zimbabwe, Mosambiek en Swaziland.
Sunday, 1 June 2014
June 2014 editions now available
The June edition of DRIVEOUT with the 3rd of our 4 part series is now available in book stores country wide. The article is about our visit to the border posts entering Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland.
Die Junie uitgawe van WEGRY met die 3e artikel van ons 4 dele reeks is nou beskikbaar in boekwinkels landwyd. In die artikel gaan dit oor ons besoek aan die grensposte na Zimbabwe, Mosambiek en Swaziland.
Die Junie uitgawe van WEGRY met die 3e artikel van ons 4 dele reeks is nou beskikbaar in boekwinkels landwyd. In die artikel gaan dit oor ons besoek aan die grensposte na Zimbabwe, Mosambiek en Swaziland.
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Next article in four part series now in print
Second article in a four-part series appears in the May edition of Driveout. This article is about our visit to the 17 border posts with Botswana.
Tweede artikel in reeks van vier verskyn in Mei uitgawe van
WegRY (Afrikaans) en DriveOut (Engels). In die artikel gaan dit oor ons besoek
aan al 17 grensposte na Botswana.
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Articles on SA Ports of Entry now published
The magazine articles about our tour to all the ports of entry to South Africa are now in print !
The first article of a 4 part series is now available:
WegRY the April 2014 issue (#59) - Afrikaans
Drive Out, the April 2014 issue (#75) - English
Thanks again to all the sponsors and to everyone who showed an interest and followed us.
Happy reading.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Mission completed - what now ?
Our tour to visit all the South African ports of entry started on 1 October and was completed 50 days later on 19 November 2013. We visited 73 ports of entry and documented all the relevant information about these ports.
But the ports were just beacons along an amazing journey through our beautiful country. We travelled on all kinds of roads, mostly gravel roads, experienced breath taking scenery, met extraordinary people, and stayed at wonderful places.
All of this will now be processed and presented to our main sponsor, the WegRY / Driveout travel magazine. They will decide how and when it is used, most probably not earlier than the March 2014 editions of the magazines.
In the meantime I will complete, correct, and extend this blog as best I can. I appeal to you to present me with any information related to the topics I have covered. If you have specific information such as:
Please forward this to me by commenting on this post. All comments are directly emailed to me and I will be in touch with you. I will acknowledge all valuable contributions.
Thanks for following our tour on this blog. The response was surprising and made the tour so much more rewarding. I hope to have a similar privilege again soon.
Johan Rothmann
johanrothmann@gmail.com
But the ports were just beacons along an amazing journey through our beautiful country. We travelled on all kinds of roads, mostly gravel roads, experienced breath taking scenery, met extraordinary people, and stayed at wonderful places.
All of this will now be processed and presented to our main sponsor, the WegRY / Driveout travel magazine. They will decide how and when it is used, most probably not earlier than the March 2014 editions of the magazines.
In the meantime I will complete, correct, and extend this blog as best I can. I appeal to you to present me with any information related to the topics I have covered. If you have specific information such as:
- Origin of the name of a border post
- Historic reasons why border post was established at the specific site
- Date of first use as a border post
- Corrections to information I have mentioned about a border post
- Any special experience encountered at a border post
Please forward this to me by commenting on this post. All comments are directly emailed to me and I will be in touch with you. I will acknowledge all valuable contributions.
Thanks for following our tour on this blog. The response was surprising and made the tour so much more rewarding. I hope to have a similar privilege again soon.
Johan Rothmann
johanrothmann@gmail.com
Mosselbaai - lekker plek om af te sluit
Mosselbaai is in November 2013 aangewys as die "groenste" munisipaliteit in die Wes-Kaap. Die dorp spog ook met die "beste" gemiddelde weer dwarsdeur die jaar. Tel daarby die pragtige baai wat al in 1488 deur Bartholomeu Diaz raak gesien en gebruik is, en jy wonder hoekom bly almal nie hier nie.
Die hawe bedien sedert die vroegste dae van die Hollandse settelaars die Suid-Kaap en Klein-Karoo. Meer as 800 ton volstruis vere is jaarliks deur die hawe uitgevoer tydens die bloei tydperk van die volstruis bedryf.
Tydens ons besoek was daar 'n Duitse plesier boot in die hawe. Die toeriste word toegelaat om die boot te verlaat en met behulp van spesiale identiteitskaarte toegang na die dorp te kry. Geen immigrasie beheer word in so geval toegepas nie. Immigrasie amptenare van George word wel ingeroep wanneer onwettige immigrante deur die polisie in hegtenis geneem word, voordat hulle in die hof moet verskyn, of wanneer skeeps bemanning vir langer tye aan wal gaan.
Hawe sekuriteit is streng en ons kon net op 'n afstand na die aktiwiteite kyk. Dit was egter 'n paslike afsluiting van die 73 grensposte wat ons tydens die toer besoek het.
Die hawe bedien sedert die vroegste dae van die Hollandse settelaars die Suid-Kaap en Klein-Karoo. Meer as 800 ton volstruis vere is jaarliks deur die hawe uitgevoer tydens die bloei tydperk van die volstruis bedryf.
Tydens ons besoek was daar 'n Duitse plesier boot in die hawe. Die toeriste word toegelaat om die boot te verlaat en met behulp van spesiale identiteitskaarte toegang na die dorp te kry. Geen immigrasie beheer word in so geval toegepas nie. Immigrasie amptenare van George word wel ingeroep wanneer onwettige immigrante deur die polisie in hegtenis geneem word, voordat hulle in die hof moet verskyn, of wanneer skeeps bemanning vir langer tye aan wal gaan.
Hawe sekuriteit is streng en ons kon net op 'n afstand na die aktiwiteite kyk. Dit was egter 'n paslike afsluiting van die 73 grensposte wat ons tydens die toer besoek het.
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| Streng sekuriteit by die hawe se ingang |
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| Duitse plesierboot in Mosselbaai hawe |
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Port Elizabeth - not a friendly experience
After the nice visit to the harbour and airport of East London, we continued our journey along the coast towards Port Elizabeth.
Along the way we stayed over at Green Fountain Farm Resort, just before Port Alfred. Amazing place, owned and managed by amazing people, Rob and Frieda Greyling. Look at www.greenfountainfarm.co.za for more information.
First port of entry on our agenda for the day, was Port Ngqura, 20 km north of Port Elizabeth. The harbour is situated at the mouth of the Coega river. It is part of the plans of the Coega Development Corporation and is South Africa's newest harbour. This first commerial cargo ship moored here in October 2009. The harbour was officially opened on 16 March 2012.
But that is about as far as we got here. Despite numerous attempts at various offices and gates, we could not get more information or pictures, and did not gain entry into the harbour area. We were invited to submit a written request to visit the port, which will then be proccessed within 48 hours - not suitable for our tour ...
At Port Elizabeth Harbour, South Africa's third biggest after Durban and Cape Town, we had a similar experience with no better luck. Transnet's access control was strictly enforced and we could not see much nor gained entry or access to information. We were told that when luxury cruise liners visit the harbour, the general public is allowed access with little control over cameras. Despite this, I could not convince them to allow us similar access.
Port Elizabeth International Airport, previously known as the HF Verwoerd Airport, gave us a more welcome feeling. The staff at the information desk were eager to provide us with all the information we needed or to introduce us to the right people.
There are no sheduled international flights to/from Port Elizabeth. When international passengers do arrive on chartered or private flights, the immigration staff (based in town) will be called out to process their airports. Most of the domestic airlines offer scheduled flights to and from all the major centres of South Africa.
Along the way we stayed over at Green Fountain Farm Resort, just before Port Alfred. Amazing place, owned and managed by amazing people, Rob and Frieda Greyling. Look at www.greenfountainfarm.co.za for more information.
First port of entry on our agenda for the day, was Port Ngqura, 20 km north of Port Elizabeth. The harbour is situated at the mouth of the Coega river. It is part of the plans of the Coega Development Corporation and is South Africa's newest harbour. This first commerial cargo ship moored here in October 2009. The harbour was officially opened on 16 March 2012.
But that is about as far as we got here. Despite numerous attempts at various offices and gates, we could not get more information or pictures, and did not gain entry into the harbour area. We were invited to submit a written request to visit the port, which will then be proccessed within 48 hours - not suitable for our tour ...
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| Road entrance to Port Ngqura |
 |
| Permits required to gain entrance here |
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| Coega Development Corporation - burocratic red tape galore! |
At Port Elizabeth Harbour, South Africa's third biggest after Durban and Cape Town, we had a similar experience with no better luck. Transnet's access control was strictly enforced and we could not see much nor gained entry or access to information. We were told that when luxury cruise liners visit the harbour, the general public is allowed access with little control over cameras. Despite this, I could not convince them to allow us similar access.
 |
| Port Elizabeth harbour - no entry here |
 |
| The word 'Welcome' has different meanings for different people |
Port Elizabeth International Airport, previously known as the HF Verwoerd Airport, gave us a more welcome feeling. The staff at the information desk were eager to provide us with all the information we needed or to introduce us to the right people.
There are no sheduled international flights to/from Port Elizabeth. When international passengers do arrive on chartered or private flights, the immigration staff (based in town) will be called out to process their airports. Most of the domestic airlines offer scheduled flights to and from all the major centres of South Africa.
East London - the friendly little city
After reaching the top of Sani Pass, the last of our border posts by road, we headed south along the coast to complete the tour with the last harbours and airports. First stop was East London. We experiened it as a clean, friendly city, not too big and not too small either.
The unique harbour 'in' the mouth of the Buffalo river, South Africa's only river harbour, has international status. This is mainly due to the international cargo ships serving the motor industry, specifically Mercedes Benz, whose manufacturing plant keeps this city alive. Ships with a capacity of 5,000 cars can often be seen leaving the harbour. Its not only motor cars though, as the port also boasts the biggest export grain elevator of all SA ports.
Immigration officials from the Dept of Home Affairs are based in town. They are called out when crew from international ships want to disembark, or when the occasional cruise ships visit the harbour.
There are plans to establish a waterfront boardwalk with restaurants and other entertainment on the eastern side of the harbour. This can only make East Londen more attractive.
East London airport, only 10 minutes drive from the harbour, was previously known as the Ben Schoeman Airport. After the democratic elections in 1994, it was renamed to East London International Airport.
The airport is neat and tidy and quite busy on the Sunday morning that we were there. There are daily domestic scheduled flights by SA Airlink, SA Express and Kulula to all the major centres of South Africa. No scheduled international flights, and according to the airport manager on duty, and much to our surprise, it has no immigration processes to deal with international passengers. I will certainly verify this as it is listed by the Dept of Home Affairs as an international airport.
The unique harbour 'in' the mouth of the Buffalo river, South Africa's only river harbour, has international status. This is mainly due to the international cargo ships serving the motor industry, specifically Mercedes Benz, whose manufacturing plant keeps this city alive. Ships with a capacity of 5,000 cars can often be seen leaving the harbour. Its not only motor cars though, as the port also boasts the biggest export grain elevator of all SA ports.
Immigration officials from the Dept of Home Affairs are based in town. They are called out when crew from international ships want to disembark, or when the occasional cruise ships visit the harbour.
There are plans to establish a waterfront boardwalk with restaurants and other entertainment on the eastern side of the harbour. This can only make East Londen more attractive.
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| Eastern side of East London harbour |
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| Looking at the western side of East London harbour - for the motor industry |
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| Waterfront development planned for this section of East London harbour |
East London airport, only 10 minutes drive from the harbour, was previously known as the Ben Schoeman Airport. After the democratic elections in 1994, it was renamed to East London International Airport.
The airport is neat and tidy and quite busy on the Sunday morning that we were there. There are daily domestic scheduled flights by SA Airlink, SA Express and Kulula to all the major centres of South Africa. No scheduled international flights, and according to the airport manager on duty, and much to our surprise, it has no immigration processes to deal with international passengers. I will certainly verify this as it is listed by the Dept of Home Affairs as an international airport.
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| The signage does not display 'International' status |
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| East London is also known as Buffalo City |
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