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Namibia
Namibia is a Southern African country with a moderately developed
economy. Facilities for tourism are available. 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
under 90 days. Medical facilities are relatively modern, especially
in the city of Windhoek. Some petty crime occurs.
U.S.
Embassy Web Site: http://www.usembassy.namib.com
Niger
Niger is an inland African nation whose northern area includes
a part of the Sahara Desert. Tourism facilities are minimal, particularly
outside of Niamey. A visa is 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.
Yellow fever vaccinations are required for entry into Niger. Medical
facilities are minimal in Niger, particularly outside the capital
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, 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."
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. International telephones service to and
from Niger is expensive and callers experience delays getting
a line. Faxes are often garbled due to poor quality.
Nigeria
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of
travel to Nigeria. A visa is required for admission the country
and no visas are issued at the airport. Evidence of yellow fever
vaccination is also required. Tourist facilities are limited.
Violent crime is a serious problem, especially in Lagos, and the
southern half of the country. Foreigners in particular are vulnerable
to armed robbery, assault, burglary, carjackings and extortion.
Disease is widespread and 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.
Persons seeking to trade at lower rates on the "black market"
could be arrested or shaken down. To avoid problems, dollars should
be exchanged for naira (Nigerian currency) only at the official
rate and at approved exchange facilities, including many major
hotels. (This is no longer true. Foreign exchange is now liberalized.)
Credit cards are rarely accepted, and their use is generally ill
advised because of the prevalence of credit card fraud in Nigeria
and perpetrated by Nigerians in the United States. Travelers'
checks can be exchanged at the airport, but due to insecurity
at and near the airport, travelers are advised not to cash large
amounts at the airport. There are very few, if any, facilities
in Nigeria for cashing travelers checks other than as a courtesy
for guests at major hotels. Check with your hotel before arrival
to see if they offer this service. It is often necessary to bring
currency in sufficient amounts to cover the trip.
Transfers between banks are practically impossible to accomplish.
Prospective visitors should consult the Consular Information Sheet
for Nigeria. Because of the incidence of business scams and swindles,
persons interested in doing business in Nigeria are advised to
consult Tips
for Business Travelers to Nigeria before providing any information
or funds in response to an unverified business offer. 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, DC 20520-4818, or, visit the Bureau of Consular
Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov/tips_nigeria.html.
Rwanda
Rwanda is a central East African country recovering from civil
war and a genocide in 1994. Visas are not required for stays of
less than 90 days. A yellow fever immunization is required. Medical
facilities are severely limited and extremely overburdened. Looting
and street crime are common. Civilian law enforcement authorities
may be limited. Sporadic attacks by insurgents still occur in
the northwest and unexploded ordnance remains a danger off well-traveled
roads in the northwest as well.
Embassy of
Rwanda Web Site: http://www.rwandemb.org
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 visa is required and must be obtained prior to arrival in country.
Medical facilities in Sao Tome and Principe are limited. Some
crime occurs. There is no U.S. Embassy in Sao Tome and Principe.
Inquiries may be made at the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Gabon.
Senegal
Senegal is a French speaking West African country. Facilities
for tourists are widely available although of varying quality.
Visas are not required for stays of less than 90 days. Medical
facilities are limited, particularly in areas outside the capital
city, Dakar. Street crime in Senegal poses moderate risks for
visitors. Most reported incidents involve pickpockets, purse snatchers
and street scam artists.
U.S.
Embassy Web Site: http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/sg1/wwwhemb.html
Seychelles
Seychelles is a tropical 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 of 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. 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 that has few facilities
for tourism and poses considerable risks for travelers. Outside
the capital city of Freetown, approximately 60% of the country
remains under rebel control, and travel to these areas should
not be attempted. A visa is required. Airport visas are not available
upon arrival in Sierra Leone. Cholera and yellow fever immunizations
are required if arriving from an infected area. Malaria suppressants
are recommended. Medical facilities are limited and medicines
are in short supply. Sterility of equipment is questionable and
treatment is often unreliable. Travelers must declare foreign
currency being brought into Sierra Leone. Declaration is made
on an exchange control form that must be certified and stamped
at the port of entry. Petty crime and theft of wallets and passports
are common. Main roads and highways throughout the country have
many roadblocks manned by the military, rebels or civil defense
forces, who demand payment in exchange for passage. Permission
is required to photograph government buildings, airports, bridges
or official-looking buildings. Areas forbidding photography are
not marked or defined. Telephone service is unreliable.
Somalia
U.S. citizens are warned not to travel to Somalia. The Liaison
Office in Mogadishu ceased operations in September 1994. No visas
are required because there is no functioning government. Anyone
entering Somalia must receive immunization against cholera, typhoid
and yellow fever, and obtain a doctors 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 Mogadishu. Electricity, water,
food and lodging are unobtainable on a regular basis. Parts of
the north, including much of the self-declared "Republic
of Somaliland," are relatively peaceful and calm.
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. A passport
valid for at least six months is required but a visa is not required
for visits for holiday, business or transit purposes. However,
visas are required 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. Food
and water are generally safe and a wide variety of consumer goods
and pharmaceuticals are readily available. 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. Road conditions are generally good but there
is a very high incidence of highway casualties, especially over
holiday weekends.
U.S.
Embassy Web Site: http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/sf1/wwwhmain.html
Embassy
of South Africa Web Site: http://usaembassy.southafrica.net
Sudan
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel
to Sudan. The Government of Sudan has been fighting a civil war
against a southern secessionist movement for more than 17 years.
The war is active in southern and eastern parts of the country.
The United States has no permanent diplomatic presence in Sudan,
and updated information is not available because of the decreased
of diplomatic presence there. Sudan is a large under-developed
country in northeastern Africa. Tourism facilities are minimal.
A visa is required to enter Sudan. 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 Sudanese government recommends that malarial
suppressants be taken, and that yellow fever, cholera and meningitis
vaccinations are in order. 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 is frequent. Telecommunications are slow and often
not possible. Unforeseen circumstances such as sandstorms and
electrical outages may cause flight delays.
Embassy
of Sudan Web Site: http://www.sudanembassyus.org
Swaziland
Swaziland is a small developing nation in southern Africa. Facilities
for tourism are available. Visas are not required of tourists
planning to stay less than 60 days. Temporary residence permits
are issued in Mbabane, the capital. 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.
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