Country Information

Capital: Kinshasa

Time zone: Kinshasa and Mbanaka GMT + 1 Haut Zaïre, Kasai, Kivu and Shaba GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 243 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Office Nationale du Tourisme, BP 9502, 2a/2b avenue des Orangers, Kinshasa-Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo Tel: (12) 30070

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. Obtain prior to travel.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year round in the Falciparum variety throughout the country. Reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers over one year of age.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Plague, 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Currency: Zaïre (Z) = 100 makuta has been replaced by the Congolese franc (July 1999).
Exchange: There is a large market for exchanging money but this is illegal.
NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. The purchase of airline tickets can only be made with officially exchanged money.
All major credit cards are accepted on a limited basis in Kinshasa, only. Travellers cheques are accepted in large towns and cities. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: All travellers are considered extremely wealthy by local people and will be charged accordingly

Languages: French and many local dialects.

Weather: North: Dry season = Dec – Mar. South: Dry season = May – Oct. It can be humid throughout the year.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50 Hz

Post: Takes 4 – 18 days to reach Europe.

Transport: There are indefinite restrictions on tourist travel within DRC. Overland journeys by hitchhiking or local public transport or foreign vehicle are forbidden. Nothing runs on time. Don’t take any roads marked on a map as anything other than a possibility. ROADS: These are amongst the worst in Africa. Drivers are required to move as far off the road as possible when the Presidential cavalcade approaches. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended. RIVER: This is one of the best ways to travel, although can be unreliable due to river shortages.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: Eastern Zaire should be considered a war zone. There is extreme risk in DRC and you are recommended not to travel there. If travel is essential this should only be to Kinshasa and you should only travel in daylight.

Capital: Kabul

Time zone: GMT + 4.5

Telephone services: At the time of writing no services were available.

Emergency telephone numbers: At the time of writing no services were available.

Tourist information: Afghan Tourist Organisation (ATO), Ansari Wat, Shar-i-Nau, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: (9251) 30323.

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of Afghanistan holding official passports. Travellers holding re-entry permits issued by Afghanistan. Travellers holding confirmed onward tickets and continuing their journey to another country by the same aircraft within 2 hours.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid, Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the falciparum and vivax varieties.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required if arriving from endemic or infected areas. Travellers arriving from non endemic areas should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Cholera, tick born relapsing fever, Typhus, and Rabies are all present.

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: Afghani (Af) = 100 puls.
Credit cards and travellers cheques are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Limited accommodation and commodities in Kabul. All are inexpensive

Languages: Pashtu and Dari Persian. English, French, German and Russian are also spoken

Weather: Regions above 2500m are extremely cold. There are considerable differences between temperatures in the summer and winter and between day and night in lowland regions and the valleys

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: No postal, telephone, fax or telex services available.

Transport: Buses, trolley buses and taxis operate in Kabul. It is essential to check these services with the relevant airline offices

Special information: EXTREME RISK: No travellers should enter Afghanistan and great care is needed in bordering countries and especially regions close to the international border with Afghanistan.

Capital: Sofia

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 359
Outgoing Code: 00, some calls go through the international operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 150, Fire – 160, Police – 166

Passport information: A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity at time of departure is required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Visa required by all.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: Lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki. Exchange: A bordereau receipt will be given and must be kept until departure. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Amounts of currency over US$ 1000 have to be declared. Diners Club American Express and Visa have limited acceptance. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in major banks. US dollars and Pound sterling are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations (MasterCard/Cirrus only).

Cost of living: Inexpensive when compared with Western Europe.

Languages: Bulgarian. English is spoken in resorts. Turkish, Russian, French and German may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are the warmest with some rainfall. Winters are cold with snow. Rain falls frequently in the Spring and Autumn.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are 2 pin.

Post: 4 days to 2 weeks to Western Europe

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air travel is only slightly more expensive than rail and more convenient. RAIL: Reservations are essential, 1st Class is advisable. ROAD: Speed limits are strictly enforced as are drinking and driving penalties. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged through hotels. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP should be obtained although foreign driving licences are acceptable for short journeys. A ‘Green’ card is compulsory.

Special information: A nod of the head means “No” and shaking the head means “Yes”. Dress should be conservative but casual. It is advisable to register with the police, a hotel or guest house within 48 hours of arrival. Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Exercise caution in Sofia particularly at night.

Capital: St John’s

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 268

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 999/911

Tourist information: Antigua Department of Tourism, PO Box 363. Nevis Street Friendly Alley, St John’s, Antigua Tel: 462 0480 or 462 0029 Fax: 462 2483.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA do not require a passport providing they have other documents with proof of their identity. Passports have to valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required if stay is longer than 6 months.

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

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: US$ and Sterling can be exchanged at hotels and larger shops.
CC: Accepted TC: Exchanged at banks, large hotels and shops.
ATM availability: Over 70 locations.

Cost of living: Can be very expensive, especially in the tourist centres. Accommodation is cheaper in the summer than in the winter

Languages: English, English Patois is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical, warm climate. Rainfall is minimal.

Electricity: 1220/110 volts AC 60 Hz. American style 2 pin plugs are generally used. Some hotels have outlets for 240 volts to be used in which case European type 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: 5 – 7 days.

Transport: ROAD: Mostly all weather. Buses are irregular. TAXI: Available everywhere charging standard rates, US$ commonly accepted. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged before arrival although is easy to arrange on arrival. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable but a local licence must be obtained.

Special information: Embracing is the common method of greeting friends and family. Dress should be appropriate for the occasion and location i.e. keep beachwear for the beach / pool. Special events such as International Sailing Week and Tennis Weeks require accommodation to be booked well in advance.

Capital: Manama

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 973
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Bahrain Tourism Company (BTC) PO Box 5831, Manama, Bahrain Tel: 530 530. Fax: 530 867

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

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Citizens of the UK for a maximum of 4 weeks (providing their full passport is valid for 6 months).

Health information: Health Risks: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, typhoid fevers and hepatitis A and B occur

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

Currency: Dinar (BD) = 100 fils All credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: Can be relatively cheap if you travel around by foot and make purchases from the souk. Accommodation ranges from the deluxe to cheaper family-run guest houses

Languages: Arabic. English may also be spoken

Weather: Summers are very hot. Winters are much cooler. Rainfall is only likely in the winter. Spring and autumn are pleasant

Electricity: 230 volts AC, single phase and 400 volts, 50 Hz. (Awali – 100 volts AC, 60 Hz. Plugs are normally the 13-amp pin type

Post: 3 – 4 days to Europe

Transport: SEA: Transport between the smaller islands is by motor boat or dhow. ROAD: Manama is served by an excellent road system. BUS: Routes now serve most towns and villages. TAXI: Identifiable by their orange and red colouring. Those waiting outside hotels may charge more and between midnight and 0500 – fares increase by 50 %.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys. Normally Bahrain is relatively liberal in comparison to other Gulf countries. Non Muslims may not enter mosques except during prayer times. Violent crime is quite rare but visitors should avoid village areas especially after dark. It is polite to drink 2 small cups of tea when offered.

Capital: The Valley

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 264

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 911

Tourist information: Anguilla Tourist Office 3 Epirius Road London SW6 7UJ Tel: (020) 7937 7725 Fax: (020) 7938 4793.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa May be required by some nationals check with the Passport office Clive House Petty France London SW7.

Health information: Polio Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: Currency may be exchanged in the capital.
Amex is the most widely used credit card. Visa has a limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in US dollars are the easiest to exchange.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Hotels range from deluxe class to self-catering but all are expensive.

Languages: English.

Weather: Generally hot. Oct – Dec is the raining season July – Oct hurricanes may occur.

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC 60 Hz.

Post: 4 days to 2 weeks.

Transport: ROAD: There is a good but basic network of roads. TAXIS: Are available at the airport and seaports with various fixed prices to hotels and resorts. CAR HIRE: Agencies are present. DOCUMENTATION: A temporary licence can be issued by the police station in the capital on presentation of a valid national driving licence.

Special information: Relaxed lifestyle with predominant English culture. Beachwear should be confined to the beach and resort areas