Concargo, leading experts in Supply Chain Management activities, has recently added four new routes to its Over Border Road Freight service offering, namely Angola, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Of these the Angolan road service has proven to be a very popular alternative to sea freight for shippers given the lengthy berthing delays and port congestion problems currently being experienced in Luanda.

The destinations currently serviced in Angola are Lubango, Benguela, Lobito, Porto Amboim and Luanda. At this stage only full loads can be accommodated; both Flat deck, as well as containerized, using Tri-axles, Superlinks and Stepdecks. The trucks travel in convoy and are accompanied by a supervisor and diesel mechanic in an escort vehicle. Radio communication with the escort vehicle is maintained and clients can receive regular tracking reports.

The route from South Africa is via Namibia, entering through Nakop if travelling from Gauteng or KZN, and through Noordoewer if travelling from the Western Cape. Concargo has a Namibian Road Bond facility that allows them in-transit clearance through Namibia. They cross into Angola at the Oshikango - Santa Clara border crossing. Transit from Cape Town or Johannesburg takes approximately 14 days allowing four days for customs clearance into Angola.