Country Information

Capital: Harare

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 263
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: General emergencies – 999 Police – 995, Ambulance – 994, Fire – 993

Tourist information: Zimbabwe Tourist Development Corporation (ZTDC), PO Box 8052, corner of Jason Moyo Avenue and Fourth Street, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: (4) 793 666 Fax: (4) 793 669

Passport information: Valid passport required by all with at least 6 months from date of entry. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except: nationals of E.U. countries (except nationals of Finland, Portugal and Greece who do need a visa.) Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, French Overseas Territories, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa and Zambia. NOTE: Citizens of the former Yugoslavia should contact the Zimbabwean diplomatic representation in order to obtain up to date information on visa requirements

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in certain areas throughout the year in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and Rabies. Incidence of AIDS is high, Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.

Food & drink: Piped water in urban areas is considered drinkable. Normal precautions should be observed with food. In rural areas water is untreated and not safe to drink. All fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Zimbabwe Dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
Exchange: Major currencies at hotels and banks.. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to Z$500.
American Express, Diners Club and Visa are all widely accepted. Banks and major hotels will exchange Travellers cheques. US dollars are the preferred form of currency.
ATM availability: Over 75 locations.

Cost of living: Lower prices can be found away from the tourist centres if you are willing to live simply.

Languages: English, Shona and Ndebele.

Weather: Set – Oct = Hot, dry season. Rainy season = Nov to Mar. Best time to visit = Apr – May and Aug – Sept

Electricity: 220/240 Volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Up to 1 week to Europe by airmail.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Domestic flights run between the main cities. ROADS: Excellent road network. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required and vehicle identification. BUS: Services are provided in most parts of the country. NOTE: If you are white and use the rural bus services you may provoke attention. RAIL: Daily between the main cities.

Special information: HIGH RISK: There have been serious violent incidents connected with election campaining including attacks on white by-standers and illeagal mass occupation of white owned land by supporters of the ruling party. Some white farmers have been kinapped and murdered; one of them outside a police station; therefore police protection connot be guaranteed. Avoid large crowds and demonstrations as they could turn violent without warning. Avoid rural areas without checking the local situaion. Petty crime is prevalent in Harare. Be careful at ATM machines. Backpackers are at risk in the main tourist areas. Visitors should exercise extreme caution if travelling in eastern and southern areas due to severe flooding damage from January to March.

Capital: Kingstown

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 809 Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: St Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Tourism, PO Box 834, Bay Street, Kingstown, St Vincent Tel: 457 1502 Fax: 456 2610.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of the UK holding a driver’s licence or birth certificate. Nationals of the USA and Canada holding a driver’s licence, birth certificate or voter’s registration card. Nationals of France holding a national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required length of stay decided by immigration authority on arrival. If necessary check with Consulate or High Commission before finalising travel arrangements.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents. All major credit cards are widely accepted. All major currencies are accepted in travellers cheques.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Caters or all types of budget. Accommodation varies from luxury hotels to rugged log cabins in the interior.

Languages: English

Weather: Tropical climate with trade winds cooling the hottest months, which are June and July.

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Up to 2 weeks.

Transport: SEA: Yacht chartering is easily arranged and one of the bet ways to explore the Grenadines. ROAD: BUS: Services run regularly throughout St Vincent. TAXI: These are shared and charge standard rates (fixed by the government) CAR HIRE: Easily arranged by a number of national and international firms. DOCUMENTATION: A local licence is required and can be obtained on presentation of a local licence at the airport or the police station in Bay Street, Kingstown.

Special information: Good West Indian cuisine is found on St Vincent.

Capital: Caracas

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 58
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Doctor – 02 483 7021, Ambulance – 02 545 4545

Tourist information: Refer to the Venezuelan Consulate, 56 Grafton Way, London W1P 5LB Tel: (0171) 387 6727 Fax: (0171) 383 3253

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid for at least 6 months. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except the following countries who do require a 90 day tourist card issued from an authorised sea or air carrier: Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan (China) and Trinidad and Tobago. Nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece and Portugal who do require visas)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine. Take care not to be bitten by mosquitoes
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is not required as a condition of entry but is recommended to all visitors who plan to travel out side of the urban areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink

Currency: Bolívar (B) = 100 centimos
Visa, MasterCard and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are easily exchanged
ATM availability: Over 1500 locations

Cost of living: Caters for all travellers and budgets

Languages: Spanish. English, French, German and Portuguese

Weather: Most pleasant time is from Jan – Apr. Raining season = May – Dec

Electricity: 110 Volts AC 60 Hz American 2 pin type plugs are used

Post: 3 – 7 days to Europe. Internal mail can often take longer and surface mail to Europe may take up to one month

Transport: FLIGHTS: Connects all the major centres and is regarded as the most convenient form of internal transport. NOTE: The services are in heavy demand and may be overbooked. Passengers are advised to confirm seats well in advance. ROAD: Between main cities are of a high standard CAR HIRE: Available at the airport and in the major cities but is expensive. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Venezuela is still devastated by the floods and mudslides of mid December. Thousands remain homeless but there has been no serious outbreaks of disease. The coastal area around Caracas will be inaccessible to casual visitors for the forseeable future.

Capital: Ashgabat

Time zone: GMT + 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 7 (3632 for Ashgabat).
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 03

Tourist information: Intourist, 219 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, London E14 9PD Tel: (0171) 538 8600 Fax: (0171) 538 5967.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except holders of valid passports of CIS countries. Visas should be obtained well in advance of intended travel and be specifially valid for ‘travel throughout Turkmenistan if you intend to leave Ashgabat. Visitors are usually asked to produce hotel bookings or a letter of invitation if on business.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Has been reported
Other Health Risks: Cholera is a particular risk in Turkmenistan, medical advice is recommended. Diphtheria and Rabies are also potential dangers.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: 1 Manat = 100 tenge
Exchange: The preferred hard currency is US Dollars. Visitors may find it hard to change other currencies. A cash only economy exists.
NOTE: Import of local currency is prohibited.
Credit cards are not accepted. Only travellers cheques drawn on banks with special arrangements with the Turkmen National Bank are accepted. ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Exploitative for the traveller.

Languages: Turkmen. Russian is also spoken.

Weather: Extreme Continental climate. Summers are very hot and dry and winters are very cold.

Electricity: 20 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are usually the round 2 pin type.

Post: Mail to the USA and Western Europe can take anything from two weeks to two months.

Transport: ROAD: Roads outside of the cities are in poor condition. BUS: Services are available to all major towns. TAXI: They can be found in all major towns. Many are unlicensed and fares should be agreed in advance. As many of the street names have changed since independence it is advisable to use both old and new names. DOCUMENTATION: When car hire is available an IDP will be required.

Special information: Carry your passport at all times. Bread should never be placed upside down. Shoes must be removed on entering someone’s home. Shorts are rarely seen. If worn by women they may attract unwelcome attention. In common with other Moslem countries drunkeness is not approved of and could be punished.

Capital: Tunis

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 216 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Tunisian National Tourist Office, 77a Wigmore Street, London, W1H 9LJ Tel: (020) 7224 5561 Fax: (020) 7224 4053

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of Australia, Algeria, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Gilbert Islands, Guernsey, Guinea Republic, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Former Yugoslavia, Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Montserrat, Morocco, Niger, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Romania, St Helena, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Not present.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for visitors over one year of age travelling from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TD) = 1000 millimes
Exchange: All banks and most 3 star and above hotels. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted in major international currencies.
ATM availability: Over 35 locations.

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay more then locals but bargains can be found at the Souks. Traditionally Tunisia has been considered inexpensive, but large hotels are now comparable with Southern Mediterranean prices.

Languages: Arabic, English and French are widely spoken.

Weather: Warm climate throughout the year with higher temperatures inland which can be very hot. Winter has the highest rainfall.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50Hz. Plugs: 2 pin continental.

Post: 3-5 days airmail to Europe. Poste Restante operates in the main cities.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Regular daily domestic flights operate. ROAD: Extensive road network. The Garde Nationale will assist breakdowns free of charge. It is forbidden to drive in the Sahara without first contacting the Garde Nationale. DOCUMENTATION: log books, valid national driving licence and green cards are required. RAIL: Regular trains operate between Tunis and the major cities. Tickets must be purchased before the journey or double far will be charged.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that dress can be informal but Islam conventions must be respected when visiting religious monuments. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photos of military installations.

Capital: Nuku’alofa

Time zone: GMT + 13

Telephone services: Country Code: 676 Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All emergency services – 911.

Tourist information: Tonga Visitor’s Bureau, PO Box 37, Vuna Road, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, Tel: 21733 Fax: 22507.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Regulations may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa are issued on arrival to nationals of all countries.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Competent medical and dental facilities are available. Hepatitis A and B occur. Health insurance is recommended.

Food & drink: Water outside of Nuku’alofa is untreated and not safe to drink. Dairy products are pasteurised.

Currency: Pa’anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Credit cards have limited use. Travellers cheques are accepted at some hotels and tourist shops. Australian dollar cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Relatively cheap

Languages: Tongan and English

Weather: Marginally cooler than most tropical areas. The best time is May to November. Heavy rains occur between Dec and Mar.

Electricity: 240 Volts Ac 50 Hz.

Post: 10 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: Royal Tongan Airlines operate regular flights between the main cities. SEA: Ferries sail between all the island groups. Schedules are subject to change according to demand and the weather. ROAD: A good network of metalled roads exists. Horses are often used. CAR HIRE: May be arranged through a number of agencies. DOCUMENTATION: A local licence is required from the police traffic department on production of a valid international or national driving licence, the fee and a passport. Min driving age = 18.

Special information: Shorts are not acceptable in towns. Visitors are not expected to tip.