Ariamsvlei Leaves Bad Taste

MY wife and I recently visited Namibia from Australia, and we have been to your country twice before and always have an enjoyable time and we pass on our experiences to our friends and encourage them to visit.

But, I must mention the Border Post at Ariamsvlei. This place really lets the country down.
When passing through the South African side I couldn’t help notice the freshly painted offices, well kept and clean surrounds and the Officers in neat and tidy uniforms and pleasant greetings and a smile. What a difference on the Namibian side, most of the Officers were not in uniform, the place was dirty and in the Customs Office a door was hanging off with a hand written sign “Door broken don’t use”. Don’t put up a sign, fix the door!
Then to top it off when we walked into the Office to pay our Road Tax there were three people in there fast asleep. And when I coughed to arouse them I was served grumpily as if to protest at being woken up.
Really, a Border Post is the front line and should be neat and tidy and manned by helpful and courteous staff in Uniform, not attended by the type of people with attitudes that we experienced. It leaves such a bad impression.
Apart from that experience, as I said we thoroughly enjoyed your country.
 
Ivan and Pam Langdon
Via e-mail

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