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Gabon
Gabon is a developing West African nation. French is the official
language. Facilities for tourism are limited, especially outside
the capital city. A visa is required, and must be obtained in
advance of arrival in Gabon. Medical facilities in Gabon are limited.
Some medicines are not available. Petty crime, such as robbery
and mugging, is common, especially in urban areas.
The Gambia
The Gambia is a developing West African nation. Facilities for
tourists such as hotels and restaurants are common near the coast.
In inland areas, there are few tourist facilities, mostly consisting
of campgrounds and small wildlife parks. A visa is required. Evidence
of yellow fever immunization must be submitted with the visa application.
Malaria is common and is predominately the most dangerous variety,
Plasmodium Falciparum. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended,
and visitors should be aware that any fever or flu-like illness
while in The Gambia or within three months of travel to The Gambia
requires urgent medical attention. Health facilities and services
do not meet U.S. standards and there is a limited selection of
medicines available. Petty street crime such as pickpocketing
and purse snatching is a problem in some urban areas.
Embassy
of Gambia Web Site: http://www.gambia.com/index.html
Ghana
Ghana is a developing country on the west coast of Africa. A
visa and evidence of immunization for yellow fever is 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 a problem. Robberies
often occur in public places and at the beach. In order to comply
with Ghanaian law, currency transactions must be conducted with
banks or foreign exchange bureaus. Visitors arriving in Ghana
with electronic equipment, particularly video cameras and laptop
computers may be required to pay a refundable deposit of 17.5%
of the items value 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 that may appear military in nature is strictly prohibited.
U.S.
Embassy Web Site: http://usembassy.state.gov/ghana/
Embassy
of Ghana Web Site: http://www.ghana-embassy.org
Guinea
Guinea is a developing coastal West African country. The Department
of State advises against travel in or near southern border regions.
Due to armed incursions across Guineas borders with Sierra Leone
and Liberia, the Department of State has recalled all U.S. government
employees formerly residing within 63 miles (100 kilometers) of
the southern borders back to Conakry. Travelers should consult
the latest State Department Consular Information Sheet before
making travel plans to Guinea, and should register with the U.S.
Embassy in Conakry upon arrival. Facilities for tourism are minimal.
A visa is required. Diseases such as malaria, including cerebral
malaria, hepatitis and intestinal hepatitis disorders are endemic.
Evidence of yellow fever immunization is required and the Guinean
government recommends taking of malarial suppressants. Medical
facilities are limited. 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
governments security personnel is required for photographing
government buildings, airports, bridges or official looking buildings.
Credit cards are rarely accepted in Guinea. Fund transfers between
banks are frequently difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish.
Western Union and Moneygram have offices in Conakry. The communications
system is poor. It is recommended that travelers keep their passport
in a safe place and carry copies of the passport and visa(s) with
them.
U.S.
Embassy Web Site: http://www.eti-bull.net/usembassy/
Guinea-Bissau
The Department of State warns American citizens against travel
to Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. Embassy has suspended operations and
all official Americans have departed the country. Guinea-Bissau
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 visa must be obtained in advance; recent visitors
arriving without visas via land or air have been turned back.
Two photos and evidence of yellow fever immunization must accompany
visa applications. Medical facilities in Guinea-Bissau are extremely
limited. Medicines often are not available. Malaria and other
tropical diseases are common. 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. Fund
transfers between banks 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 parks and reserves. No
visa is required for a tourist stay of up to one month. Proof
of yellow fever immunization is required if traveling from infected
areas. 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.
While traveling in wildlife areas, visitors should use 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.
Embassy
of Kenya Web Site: http://www.kenyaembassy.com
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