Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/trvltops/subsaha.toq

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
SEPTEMBER 1994:  TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS




Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire is also known as the Ivory Coast.  It is a
developing West African nation.  Tourism facilities in the
capital city of Abidjan include some luxury hotels.  Other
accommodations, especially outside the capital, may be
limited in quality and availability.  U.S. citizens are
required to have passports.  A visa is not required for a
stay of up to 90 days.  Medical facilities in Cote d'Ivoire
are adequate in Abidjan but may be limited elsewhere.  Not
all medicines are available.  Street crime of the ''grab and
run'' variety, as well as pickpocketing in crowded areas,
has increased.  Automobile accidents are one of the greatest
threats to the well-being of Americans in Cote d'Ivoire.
Night driving is particularly hazardous due to poorly lit
roads and vehicles.  Airline travel in Cote d'Ivoire and
many other parts of West Africa is routinely overbooked;
schedules are limited, and airline assistance is of varying
quality.

Djibouti

Djibouti is a developing African country.  Facilities for
tourism are limited.  Visitors to Djibouti must have
passports and obtain a visa before arrival.  Evidence of
yellow fever immunization must be presented.  Medical
facilities are limited.  Medicine is often unavailable.
Petty crime occurs in Djibouti City and elsewhere in the
country.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a developing country in West Africa.
Tourism facilities are minimal.  A passport and a visa,
obtained in advance, are required.  Medical facilities are
extremely limited.  Many medicines are unavailable.  Petty
crime is common.  The government of Equatorial Guinea has
established stringent currency restrictions, applied both on
arrival and departure from the country.  Special permits may
be needed for some types of photography.  Permits are also
required to visit certain areas of the country.

Eritrea

Eritrea is a poor but developing East African country.
Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an
independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year
long struggle for independence.  Tourism facilities in
Eritrea are very limited.  A valid passport and a visa are
required as well as evidence of yellow fever immunization.
Airport visas are unavailable.  Flights between Asmara and
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, are heavily booked and
advance reservations are recommended by the airlines.
Medical facilities in Eritrea are extremely limited.
Travelers must bring their own supplies of prescription
drugs and preventative medicines.  Street crime such as
theft and robbery is on the increase, particularly in the
city of Asmara.  While travel throughout Eritrea is
relatively safe, visitors may wish to exercise normal safety
precautions with regard to what valuables are carried and
what environs are visited.  The government of Eritrea
continues to use the Ethiopian birr as a currency.  Credit
cards are not accepted in Eritrea.  Foreigners must pay
bills in U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar denomination travelers
checks.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a developing East African country.  Tourism
facilities in Ethiopia are minimal.  A passport and a visa
are required, as well as evidence of yellow fever
immunization.  Travelers must enter Ethiopia by air, either
at Addis Ababa or Dire Dawa.  Individuals entering overland
risk being detained by immigration authorities and/or fined.
Airport visas may be obtained if 72 hours advance notice has
been provided by the traveler's sponsoring organization to
proper authorities within Ethiopia.  There is a lively black
market for hard currency in Ethiopia, despite a recent
devaluation of the Ethiopian birr.  Visitors must declare
hard currency upon arrival and may be required to present
this declaration when applying for an exit visa.  Domestic
and international air services generally operate on
schedule, although flights between Addis Ababa and Asmara
are heavily booked and may be canceled without prior
warning.  Land mines and other anti-personnel devices litter
the Ethiopian countryside, particularly along major roads.
Many persons, including foreigners, have been injured by
these devices.  If possible, travel on paved roads since
they are generally safer than unpaved roads.  Medical
facilities in Ethiopia are extremely limited.  Hospitals in
Addis Ababa suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated
equipment and shortages of supplies, particularly
medications, although physicians are generally well-trained.
Pickpocketing is rampant, and there have been numerous
reports of thieves snatching jewelry.  Banditry occurs on
roads outside major towns or cities, and may result in
violent attacks; several persons have been killed.  Certain
buildings and public places may not be photographed.

Gabon

Gabon is a developing West African nation formerly a part of
French West Africa.  French is the official language.
Facilities for tourism are limited, especially outside the
capital city.  A passport and a visa are required.  Evidence
of a yellow fever vaccination must be submitted.  Medical
facilities in Gabon are limited.  Some medicines are not
available.  Petty crime, such as robbery and mugging, is
common, especially in urban areas.

Gambia

The Gambia is a developing West African nation.  Facilities
for tourists, including one five star hotel, are adequate,
but those outside the vicinity of the capital city, Banjul,
may be limited in availability.  A passport and visa are
required.  Evidence of yellow fever immunization must be
submitted with one's visa application.  Medical facilities
are limited.  Some medicines are unavailable.  Street crime
is common, including pickpocketing and mugging.

Ghana

Ghana is a developing country on the west coast of Africa.
A passport and a visa are required.  Evidence of
immunization for yellow fever and cholera is also required.
Medical facilities in Ghana are limited, particularly
outside the capital city of Accra.  Malaria is common, as
are other tropical diseases.  Petty crime, such as
pickpocketing, is common.  Robberies often occur in public
places and at the beach.  Currency transactions with private
citizens is illegal.  Visitors arriving in Ghana with
electronic equipment, particularly video cameras and laptop
computers, may be required to pay a refundable deposit of
17.5 per cent of the value of the item prior to entry into
the country.  In some areas, possession of a camera is
considered to be suspicious.  Individuals have been arrested
for taking pictures near sensitive installations.  The
government of Ghana does not recognize dual nationality
except for minors under 21 years of age.  The wearing of any
military apparel, such as camouflage jackets or pants, or
any clothing or items which may appear military in nature is
strictly prohibited.

Guinea

Guinea is a developing coastal West African country.
Facilities for tourism are minimal.  A passport and a visa
are required.  Evidence of yellow fever immunization is
required, and the Guinean government recommends taking of
malarial suppressants.  Medical facilities are limited.
Diseases such as malaria, including cerebral malaria,
hepatitis and intestinal hepatitis disorders are endemic.
Street crime is very common.  Criminals particularly target
visitors at the airport in Conakry.  Pickpockets or persons
posing as officials sometimes offer assistance and then
steal bags, purses or wallets.  Travelers may wish to be met
at the airport by travel agents, business contacts, family
members or friends to avoid this possibility.  Permission
from the Guinean government's security personnel is required
for photographing government buildings, airports, bridges or
official looking buildings.  Credit cards are rarely
accepted in Guinea.  Inter-bank fund transfers are
frequently difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish.  The
communication system is poor.  The limited telephone and fax
lines are usually available only between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am
local time.

Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bassau is a developing nation on the west coast of
Africa.  Portuguese is the official language; French is also
widely spoken.  Facilities for tourism are minimal,
particularly outside the capital city of Bissau.  A passport
and a visa are required.  Visas must be obtained in advance;
recent visitors arriving without visas via land or air have
been turned back.  Visa applications must be accompanied by
two photos and evidence of yellow fever immunization.
Medical facilities in Guinea-Bissau are extremely limited.
Medicines often are not available.  Malaria is common, as
are other tropical diseases.  Petty thievery and
pickpocketing are increasingly common, particularly at the
airport, in markets and at public gatherings.  Thieves have
occasionally posed as officials and stolen bags and other
personal items.  Visitors should request permission from
security personnel before photographing military or police
installations.  Small U.S. currency denominations are most
useful for exchange into Guinea-Bissau pesos.  Credit cards
and travelers checks are rarely accepted in Guinea-Bissau.
Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult and time-
consuming to accomplish.  Taking pesos out of the country is
prohibited.  Travelers may have difficulty finding public
phones and receiving international calls.  Telephone
services are expensive.

Kenya

Kenya is a developing East African country known for the
wildlife in its national park system.  Tourist facilities
are widely available in Nairobi, on the coast, and in the
game park and reserves.  A passport and a visa are required.
Visas may be  obtained in advance at any Kenyan embassy or
consulate, or upon arrival at a Kenyan port of entry.
Evidence of yellow fever immunization may be requested.
Adequate medical services are available in Nairobi.  There
is a high rate of street crime against tourists in downtown
Nairobi, Mombasa and at the coastal beach resorts.
Pickpockets and thieves are also involved in ''snatch and
run'' crimes near crowds.  Kenyan currency may not be taken
out of the country and is sometimes difficult to exchange
for dollars upon departure.  Security in the Masai Mara game
reserve has deteriorated, with attacks by armed bandits on
several camp sites.  Visitors should use only reputable
travel firms and knowledgeable guides and avoid camping
alone.  Water in Nairobi is potable.  In other parts of the
country, water must be boiled or bottled.  Travel by
passenger train in Kenya may be unsafe, particularly during
the rainy season, because of the lack of routine maintenance
and safety checks.

Lesotho

Lesotho is a developing country in southern Africa.
Facilities for tourists are limited.  Visas are required and
may be obtained at a Lesotho diplomatic mission prior to
arrival in Lesotho.  Americans arriving without visas have
not been inconvenienced but must obtain a visa at the
immigration and passport office in Maseru after entering the
country.  Medical facilities are minimal.  Many medicines
are unavailable.  Deteriorating economic conditions in the
country, aggravated by the return of large numbers of
unemployed miners from South Africa, have caused an increase
in armed robberies, break ins, and auto thefts.  This occurs
primarily in the capital city of Maseru but can occur
elsewhere as well.  Traveling alone or at night is
particularly dangerous.

Liberia

Liberia is a developing West African country which has
suffered internal strife for the past several years.
Tourism facilities are poor, and in some cases, non-
existent.  At the time of publication, U.S. citizens were
warned to avoid travel due to unsettled security conditions.
Travelers are required to have a passport and a visa prior
to arrival.  Evidence of yellow fever vaccinations are
required.  An exit permit must be obtained from Liberian
immigration authorities upon arrival.  Medical facilities
have been disrupted.  Medicines are scarce.  Monrovia's
crime rate is high,  Foreigners, including U.S. citizens,
have been targets of street crime.  Lodging, water,
electricity, fuel, transportation, telephone and postal
services continue to be uneven in Monrovia.

Madagascar

Madagascar is a developing island nation off the east coast
of Africa.  Facilities for tourism are available, but vary
in quality.  Passports and visas are required.  Evidence of
yellow fever immunizations must be submitted.  Medical
facilities are minimal.  Many medicines are unavailable.
Street crimes poses a risk for visitors, especially in the
city of Antananarivo.  Reported incidents include muggings
and purse snatching.  These crimes generally occur in or
near public mass transit systems, and against individuals
walking at night in the Antananarivo city center.
Foreigners who remain near or photograph political
gatherings or demonstrations, especially in towns outside
Antananarivo, may be at risk.

Malawi

Malawi is a developing African nation.  Facilities for
tourists exist, but are limited.  A passport is required.
Visas are not required for a stay of up to one year.  Strict
dress codes apply to anyone visiting Malawi.  Women must
wear dresses that cover the shoulders, arms and knees and
may not wear slacks except in specifically designated areas.
Men with long hair cannot enter the country.  Medical
facilities are limited.  Some medicines are in short supply.
Petty crime, including purse snatching, occurs in urban
areas.

Mali

Mali is a developing West African nation with a new
democratically elected system of government.  Facilities for
tourism are limited.  A passport and a visa are required.
Medical facilities are limited.  Many medicines are
unavailable.  Petty crime, including pickpocketing and purse
snatching, is not uncommon.  Incidents of banditry and
vehicle theft have been reported along major travel routes,
near the principal cities and in smaller towns.  Victims
have included foreigners.  The roads from Bamako to Mopti,
Douentza, Koutiala, Sikasso, and Bougouni, and a few other
roads are paved.  Road conditions on other routes are poor,
particularly in the rainy season from mid-June to mid-
September.  Driving is hazardous after dark, and nighttime
travel may be dangerous.  Photography is no longer
restricted, except for military subjects.  However,
interpretation of what may be considered off limits varies.
Other subjects may be considered sensitive from a cultural
or religious viewpoint, and it is helpful to obtain
permission before taking pictures.  The Malian currency is
the CFA franc which is exchangeable for French francs at a
fixed rate.  Exchange of dollars in cash or travelers checks
is slow and often involves out-of-date rates.  Use of credit
cards is limited to payments for services at only two hotels
in Bamako.  Cash advances on credit cards are performed by
one bank in Mali, the BMCD Bank in Bamako, and only with a
''VISA'' credit card.  International calls are expensive and
difficult to make outside of Bamako.   Collect calls cannot
be made from Mali.  Calls to the United States cost
approximately ten dollars a minute.

Mauritania

Mauritania is a developing country in northwestern Africa.
Evidence of yellow fever immunization and proof of
sufficient funds are required.  Medical facilities in
Mauritania are limited.  Medicines are difficult to obtain.
Petty crime exists.  Local currency may not be imported or
exported.  Credit cards, other than American Express, are
not acceptable in Mauritania.  American Express cards can
only be used at a few hotels in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.

Mauritius

The Republic of Mauritius is a developing nation with a
stable government and growing economy.  Facilities for
tourism are largely available.  Although the spoken
languages are French and Creole, English is the official
language.  A passport, an onward/return ticket and evidence
of sufficient funds are required for entrance to Mauritius.
U.S. citizens do not need visas for a stay of three months
or less for business or tourism.  Petty crime is common in
Mauritius.

Mozambique

Mozambique, a less developed country in southern Africa,
ended a 17-year civil war in October 1992 with the signing
of a peace agreement between the government and the rival
rebel group.  Facilities for tourism are severely limited
outside of Maputo.  Travel by road outside of the major
urban areas is possible; however, road conditions vary
greatly.  A passport and a visa are required.  Visas must be
obtained in advance from a Mozambican embassy or consulate.
Medical facilities are minimal.  Many medicines are
unavailable.  Maputo's special clinic, which requires
payment in hard currency, can provide general non-emergency
services.  Economic conditions in the country, spotty police
protection, and years of war have caused an increase in
violent and armed robberies, break-ins, and auto thefts.
Victims, including members of the foreign community, have
been killed.  Traveling alone or at night is particularly
risky.  Currency can be converted at locations authorized by
the Mozambican government.  Currency conversions on the
black market are illegal and very risky.  Credit cards are
not widely accepted in Mozambique.  Some merchants prefer to
be paid in U.S. dollars.

Namibia

Namibia is a southern African country with a moderately
developed economy.  Facilities for tourism are available.  A
passport, an onward/return ticket and proof of sufficient
funds are required for entrance into Namibia.  A visa is not
required for tourist or business visits.  Medical facilities
are relatively modern, especially in the city of Windhoek.
Some petty crime occurs.

Niger

Niger is a developing, inland African nation whose northern
area includes a part of the Sahara Desert.  Tourism
facilities are minimal, particularly outside of Niamey.  A
passport and a visa are required to enter Niger.  Visas are
valid for a period of one week to three months from the date
of issuance, depending on the type of visa and category of
traveler.  Although yellow fever and cholera vaccinations
are not required for visa issuance, they are required for
entry into Niger.  Medical facilities are minimal in Niger,
particularly outside the city of Niamey.  Some medicines are
in short supply.  Armed bandits operate in northern Niger,
and a number of people have been killed.  Thieves and
pickpockets are especially active in tourist areas.  Care
must be taken in walking city streets anywhere in the
country at any time, but especially at night.  There have
been incidents of groups of men assaulting women who are, or
appear to be, African, and who are wearing garments other
than the traditional ankle-length wrap known as ''pagnes.''
U.S. citizens are generally not specific targets of these
assaults.  Tourists are free to take pictures anywhere in
Niger, except near military installations, radio and
television stations, the Presidency Building, and the
airport.  There are no laws restricting currency
transactions in Niger.  Local currency (the CFA Franc) or
foreign currency, up to the equivalent of four thousand U.S.
dollars, can be taken into or out of Niger without violating
the law.  International telephones service to and from Niger
is expensive and  callers experience delays getting a line.
Telefaxes are often garbled due to poor quality.

Nigeria

At the time of publication, Nigeria, with limited facilities
for tourism, poses  risks for travelers.  A passport and a
visa are required of U.S. citizens and all other foreigners.
Evidence of yellow fever and cholera vaccinations are also
required.  Airport visas are not available.  Violent crime
affecting foreigners is an extremely serious problem,
especially in Lagos and the southern half of the country.
Visitors, as well as resident Americans, report widespread
armed muggings, assault, burglary, carjackings and
extortion, often involving violence.  A variety of diseases
poses a serious health threat.  The public is not always
informed in a timely manner about outbreaks of typhoid,
cholera and yellow fever.  Malaria, including potentially
fatal cerebral malaria, and hepatitis are endemic.  Medical
facilities are limited; not all medicines are available.
Permission is required to take photographs of government
buildings, airports, bridges or official looking buildings.
Permission may be obtained from Nigerian security personnel.
Credit cards are rarely accepted and, because of the
prevalence of credit card fraud in Nigeria and perpetrated
by Nigerians in the United States, their use is generally
ill advised.  It is often necessary to bring travelers
checks or currency in sufficient amounts to cover the trip.
Interbank transfers are frequently difficult, if not
impossible, to accomplish.  The government of Nigeria has
fixed an artificially high official rate for the local
currency, the naira (in terms of its value in exchange for
foreign currencies).  Persons seeking to trade at lower
rates on the ''black market'' could be arrested or shaken
down.  To avoid problems,  exchange dollars for local
currency only at the official rate and at approved exchange
facilities, usually including major hotels.  Visitors may
also wish to obtain a copy of ''Tips for Business Travelers
to Nigeria.''  This publication is available free of charge
by sending a self addressed, stamped envelope to the Office
of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520-4818.

Rwanda

Rwanda is a central East African country torn by ethnic and
political strife.  A three month civil war ended in mid-
July.  Much of the country's basic infastructure┌telephones,
water distribution, electricity, etc.┌was destroyed in the
war.  Medical facilities are severely limited and extremely
overburdened.  Almost all medical facilities in the capital,
Kigali, were destroyed during the civil war.  Looting and
street crime are common.  There are no civilian law
enforcement authorities functioning in Rwanda at this time.
Clean water and food are unavailable on a regular basis, and
only rudimentary lodging can be found.  At the time of
publication, the Department of State warned U.S. citizens to
avoid travel due to the unsettled conditions following the
aftermath of the civil war.

Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe is a developing island nation off the
west coast of Africa.  Facilities for tourism are not widely
available.  A passport and a visa are required.  There is no
charge for tourist or business visas for visits of up to two
weeks.  Evidence of yellow fever immunization must be
submitted.  Medical facilities in Sao Tome and Principe are
limited.  Some crime occurs.

Senegal

Senegal is a developing West African country.  Facilities
for tourists are widely available although of varying
quality.  A passport is required.  Visas are not required
for stays of less than 90 days.  However, a visa is required
if traveling to Senegal from Mauritania, regardless of
length of stay.  U.S. citizens need onward/return tickets
Medical facilities are limited, particularly in areas
outside the capital, Dakar.  Street crime in Senegal poses
moderate risks for visitors.  Most reported incidents
involve pickpockets, purse snatchers and street scam
artists.

Seychelles

Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the
east coast of Africa.  The principle island of Mahe has a
population of about 50,000.  The two other islands, with
significant permanent populations, are Praslin and La Digue.
Facilities for tourism are generally well developed.  A visa
is required and may be issued on arrival for a stay up to
one month.  There is no charge.  The visa may be extended
for a period of up to one year.  Medical facilities in
Seychelles are limited, especially in the isolated outer
islands, where doctors are often unavailable.  Petty crime
occurs, although violent crime against tourists is
considered to be rare.   Keep valuables in hotel safes and
close and lock hotel windows at night, even while the room
is occupied to minimize the risk of crime.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a developing country which has few
facilities for tourism and poses considerable risks for
travelers.  Military activity and banditry affect large
parts of the country outside Freetown.  Telephone service is
unreliable.  A passport and a visa are required.  Airport
visas are not available upon arrival in Sierra Leone for
U.S. citizens; visas must, therefore, be obtained in advance
from a Sierra Leonean embassy or consulate.  Yellow fever
immunizations are required.  Malaria suppressants are
recommended.  Travelers must declare foreign currency being
brought into Sierra Leone.  Declaration is made on an
exchange control form which must be certified and stamped at
the port of entry.  Medical facilities are limited and
medicines are in short supply.  Sterility of equipment is
questionable, and treatment is often unreliable.  Petty
crime and theft of wallets and passports are common.
Requests for payments at military roadblocks are common.
Permission is required to photograph government buildings,
airports, bridges or official-looking buildings.  Areas
forbidding photography are not marked or defined.

Somalia

At the time of publication, U.S. citizens were warned not to
travel to Somalia.  The Liaison office in Mogodishu ceased
operations in September 1994.  No visas are required for
entry into Somalia.  Anyone entering Somalia must receive
immunization against cholera, typhoid, and yellow fever, and
obtain a doctor's advice regarding any other immunizations
that might be necessary.  There are virtually no health
facilities or medicines available in Somalia.  Looting,
banditry, and all forms of violent crime are common in
Somalia, particularly in the capital city of Mogodishu.
Electricity, water, food, and lodging are unobtainable on a
regular basis.

South Africa

Although South Africa is in many respects a developed
country, much of its population, particularly in rural
areas, lives in poverty.  There are adequate facilities in
all urban centers, game parks and areas most commonly
visited by tourists.  Food and water are generally safe, and
a wide variety of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals are
readily available.  Road conditions are generally good, but
there is a very high incidence of highway casualties,
especially over holiday weekends.  A passport valid for at
least six months is required, but a visa is not required for
visits for holiday, business or transit purposes.  Visas are
required, however, for extended stays, employment, study and
for diplomatic and official passport holders.  Evidence of a
yellow fever vaccination is necessary if arriving from an
infected area.  Medical facilities are good in urban areas
and in the vicinity of game parks and beaches, but may be
limited elsewhere.  There is continuing and significant
street crime such as muggings, pickpocketing, and random
street violence, which affects foreigners as well as local
residents, especially in the center of major cities such as
Johannesburg.

Sudan

Sudan is a large under-developed country in northeastern
Africa.  Tourism facilities are minimal.  A passport and a
visa are required to enter Sudan.  The Sudanese government
recommends that malarial suppressants be taken, and that
yellow fever, cholera and meningitis vaccinations be in
order.  Visas are not granted in passports  showing Israeli
visas.  Travelers are required to register with police
headquarters within three days of arrival.  Travelers must
obtain police permission before moving to another location
in Sudan and must register with police within 24 hours of
arrival at the new location.  The exchange of money at other
than an authorized banking institution may result in arrest
and loss of funds though unscrupulous black marketeers.  A
permit must be obtained before taking photographs anywhere
in Khartoum, as well as in the interior of the country.
Photographing military areas, bridges, drainage stations,
broadcast stations, public utilities, and slum areas or
beggars is prohibited.  Disruption of water and electricity
are frequent.  Telecommunications are slow and often not
possible.  Unforeseen circumstances such as sandstorms and
electrical outages may cause flight delays.

Swaziland

Swaziland is a small developing nation in southern Africa.
Facilities for tourism are available.  A passport is
required.  Visas are not required of tourists planning to
stay less than 60 days.  Temporary residence permits are
issued in Mbabane.  For longer stays, visitors must report
to immigration authorities or to a police station within 48
hours of arrival, if they are not lodged in a hotel.  Yellow
fever and cholera immunizations are required for visitors
arriving from an infected area.  Anti-malarial treatment is
recommended.  Medical facilities are limited.  Petty street
crime, primarily theft of money and personal property occurs
with some frequency.