Ongeluk Nek's pass - no Lesotho border post - any alternatives

**Oilrag** · 2012/09/27, 02:49 PM

Last time we came down Ongeluks there was no Lesotho border post. Next time we went into Lesotho at Caledonpoort we had all types of trouble because we overstayed our welcome on the previous trip and did not get a exit stamp.
Anyway after a lot of convincing etc we got in. Now we have another trip and also exiting out of Ongeluks. We heard that you could get an exit stamp at a local police station or somewhere near. Does anyone know if this is true or have some details. Don't want to exit anywhere else but Ongeluks.

**Wazzy** · 2012/10/01, 03:28 PM

I've also exited through Ongeluks and didn't get a stamp. This didn't pose any issue on my next visit which was through Caledonspoort (heading for Afriski). Strange that they noticed with you...maybe just bad luck.

Interested to hear the answer though since its better to avoid this type of situation.

**Sakkie** · 2012/10/01, 03:51 PM

Isn't the SA border post there one of the neatest you've ever seen!?

Yea, no border post on the Lesotho side, although for years it's been marked on T4A. Been through there a couple of times, and nobody has ever given me grief due to no stamp. I think you just got unlucky with some "I want a bribe" official.

If it really worries you, sign out at the police station at Lazaro. That's where the road turns off to Ongeluks. I think it's also called Mothusi.

**Oilrag** · 2012/10/08, 08:08 AM

Just got back. At Ramatseliso’s Gate border post we convinced the Lesotho border official to give us a departure stamp even though we were existing later at Ongeluks. He understood the problem and obliged. If you peruse the forum and Net you will see that others have also had problems with entry/exits into Lesotho when the previous exit/entry was not stamped. Thanks for the tip about Lazaro - it would have worked for us since we were coming into Ongeluks following the Quthing river from Mount Moorosi. Could you show me in Google Earth, Mapsource or just with co-ords where in Lazaro this police station is?

**bvandyk** · 2012/10/08, 08:12 AM

On our last trip we came back through Caledonspoort. Also no entry stamp on the SA side. I queried this, and they said it's not necessary as the passport gets scanned.
Got an exit stamp on the Lesotho side though.

**Oilrag** · 2012/10/08, 08:16 AM

Scanners at Leostho border posts? Maybe at Calendonpoort but certainly not at Sani, Ongeluks, Rama. At some of the SA border posts there are scanners. Never had problems at the SA manned border posts - it was the Lesotho ones

**bvandyk** · 2012/10/08, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Oilrag

Scanners at Leostho border posts? Maybe at Calendonpoort but certainly not at Sani, Ongeluks, Rama. At some of the SA border posts there are scanners. Never had problems at the SA manned border posts - it was the Lesotho ones

No, Lesotho side is manual. Only scanners on the SA side. Thus no need for stamp on the SA side.

**MJ Pretorius** · 2012/11/07, 09:53 PM

We also had an episode in April this year when we exit at Qaha's Neck and re-entered at Ongeluksnek. Coming back through Caledonpoort the lady on the Lesotho side told us to go back out at Ongeluksnek as she was not going to stamp our passports! We got back in the car and as the police on their side saw us coming from the office let us through without checking our passports! On the SA side we explained our situation and they stamped our passports. So for a few days we were "nowhere" and then back in SA again!
We plan on visiting Lesotho again in Dec 2012 and hope all goes well at the border posts! We will not enter at Ongeluksnek, but want to stay 1 night at the Tweespruit Bushcamp at Ongeluksnek. Did anyone camped there and what is the condition of the road from the Reserve gate to the camp? Any info will be much appretiated....

Thanks
MJ