Country Information

Capital: Dodoma

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 255 Outgoing Code: International Calls must go through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Tanzania Tourist Board, PO Box 2485, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: (51) 113 145 Fax: (51) 116 420

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: Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Brunei, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Grenada, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, São Tomé, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and holders of Tanzania re-entry pass.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year round throughout the country in the Falciparum variety. High resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for all travellers over 1 year of age travelling from infected countries.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia; Rabies. There is a very high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.

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: Tanzanian Shilling (Tsc) = 100 cents Exchange: Authorised dealers or bureaux de change NOTE: The import and export of local currency is prohibited.
MasterCard and Visa have only limited acceptance. Travellers cheques can be cashed at authorised exchange bureaux, such as Forex. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Hotels and accommodation generally are expensive.

Languages: Swahili and English. Other languages are also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate. The raining season is Mar – May along the coast. Highlands raining season is from Nov – Dec and Feb – May. Cooler season: June – May.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC 50 Hz. Plugs may be round or square 3 pin, fused or unfused.

Post: 5 days by airmail to Europe.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Tanzania runs regular flights between the main towns. RAIL: Regular trains run between the main cities. ROADS: The roads network is good, although the rainy season makes minor roads impassable. It is inadvisable to drive at night because of the wild animals. There are often petrol shortages and a lack of spare parts. BUS TRAVEL: Is often hazardous. CAR HIRE: Companies operate but are extremely expensive. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.

Special information: HIGH RISK: in Zanzibar. Travel is usually problem free but the incidence of robberies and muggings is rising and travellers should exercise caution on beaches; public transport and in stationary vehicles in Dar es Salaam; especially after dark. Beware of bogus policemen. Bus travel can be hazardous because of frequent fatal accidents. Travellers should avoid border areas. Visitors should register with the High Commission.

Capital: Kyiv

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT+ 3 during British summer time)

Telephone services: Country Code: 380
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Intourist, 219 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, London E14 9PD Tel: (020) 7538 8600 or 538 5902 Fax: (020) 7538 5967

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Regulations may change at short notice and you are advised to contact the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Valid visa required by all. Mediacl insurance is required before a visa application can be made. Visas must be obtained before departure.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Not required
Malaria: Not present
Yellow Fever: No
Other Health Risks: Cholera and Diphtheria, Tick borne encephalitis (in forested areas).

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Boil tap water before drinking it.

Currency: Hryvnya Banks and currency offices will exchange money.
Credit cards are not widely accepted. The preferred currency for traveller’s cheques is US dollars.
ATM availability: only a handful

Cost of living: Less expensive than Western Europe

Languages: Ukrainian is the official state language. Russian is also widely spoken.

Weather: Temperate with warm summers, crisp sunny autumns and cold, snowy winters.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac 50 Hz.

Post: Services are erratic. Letters to Western Europe can take up to 2 weeks.

Transport: AIR: not recommended as flights are far from comfortable and buying tickets is extremely difficult. RAIL: as buying tickets is difficult it is advisable to pre book through Intourist in London. BUSES: exist but are not recommended TAXIS: are available and fares should be agreed in advance. DOCUMENTATION: International driving licence is required to drive in Ukraine.

Special information: All visitors must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs within three days of arrival. A room in a private home is an excellent accommodation option in the Ukraine as the people are friendly and hospitable. Carry your passport at all times.

Capital: Kampala

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 256
Outgoing Code: International calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Uganda Tourist Board, PO Box 7211, Parliament Avenue, Kampala, Uganda, Tel: (41) 242 196 fax: (41) 242 188 Uganda National Parks and Wildlife Authority Office Tel 232 971

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 Antigua & Barbuda, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Kuwait, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Madagascar, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Vanuatu; Zambia, Zimbabwe. Transit passenger with a connecting flight. With effect from 1 March 1999, British nationals require a visa to enter Uganda. British nationals travelling up country should consult the British High Commission in Kampala (Tel: 257 054/9)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all passengers and a vaccination certificate is required by passengers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Meningitis, Rabies. There is a very high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.

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: Uganda Shilling (Ush) = 100 cents
Exchange: central bank, commercial banks and exchange bureaux. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited
Visa is widely accepted, but other credit cards have limited acceptance. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Since a new privatisation programme was introduced in the last few years, the cost of living has risen

Languages: English and Luganda and Kiswahili is also widely spoken

Weather: The higher altitudes can be quite cool. There is heavy rain: Mar – May, Oct – Nov

Electricity: 240 Volts Ac 50 Hz

Post: Airmail to Europe can take 3 days to several weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: Domestic flights operate regularly between major cities. ROAD: Vary in quality and are sparse in the North. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence or IDP is required. RAIL: Passenger facilities are limited and timetables can be erratic although regular services operate. BUS: Services are often overcrowded and unreliable

Special information: HIGH RISK Consult the Embassy before travelling. The South and West are not safe for travel after recent kidnapping. Safety can not be guaranteed in the North and Northeast. Risk remains elsewhere of armed robbery and car-jackings. Do not travel after dark. Taking photos of anything connected to the military is prohibited.

Capital: Mbabane

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 268 Outgoing Code: International calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Ministry of Broadcasting, Information and Tourism, PO Box 338, Mbabane, Swaziland Tel: 42761 Fax: 42774 or 46 953

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Recommended though not essential. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of: Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cyprus, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Ghana, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, W. Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in certain areas 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, Meningitis (recommended), 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: Lilangeni (E) = 100 cents South African Rand is also accepted as legal tender Amex and MasterCard are widely accepted. Visa is accepted on a more limited basis. Travellers cheques are accepted in Pound sterling preferably
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Hotels and recreational facilities in the Holiday Valley complex in Ezulwini are expensive

Languages: English and Siswati

Weather: Weather can be changeable due to the high altitude. Lowlands are the hottest and the higher lands have the most rain between Oct – march

Electricity: 20 Volts AC 50 Hz Plugs = 15amp round pin

Post: Up to 2 weeks

Transport: ROADS: Generally in good condition. BUS: Numerous buses connect various parts of the country some of which are non – stop. CAR HIRE: A number of companies operate. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licences are valid for up to 6 months provided they are printed in English. IDP is recognised

Special information: Those wanting to camp in villages should see the village chief. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permission should be asked. Photos of national buildings and the royal family are prohibited. Do not camp near houses or graveyards without being granted permission. Avoid downtown areas of Mbabane and Manzini after dark

Capital: London

Time zone: GMT (+1 during the summer time)

Telephone services: Country Code: 44
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-999 for Police, Ambulance, Fire

Tourist information: British Tourist Authority and British Tourist Board, Thames Tower, Black’s Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9EL Tel (020) 8846 9000 Fax: (020) 8563 0302

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with a valid ID card for tourist visits not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Iceland Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland with valid ID cards for tourist/social visits of not less than 6 months and in possession of a British Visitor’s guide available from travel agencies. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before travelling.

Visa information: Visa Not required by EU nationals and citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and Japan.

Health information: There are periodic outbreaks of meningitis.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: Pound (£) = 100 pence
Exchange: banks, exchange bureaux and many hotels All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are widely accepted, preferably in Pound sterling
ATM availability: Over 22 000 locations

Cost of living: London and major tourist centres can be especially expensive.

Languages: English. Welsh is spoken in areas of Wales. Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland and N. Ireland. French and Norman French are spoken in the Channel Islands. There are a variety of ethnic minorities (Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Greek, Cantonese and Mandarin).

Weather: The climate is temperate with warm, wet summers and mild, wet winters. It is variable throughout the year and the country as a whole.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Square 3 pin plugs are used

Post: Post destined for outside Europe should be sent airmail.

Transport: There is a comprehensive nation-wide rail and bus network

Special information: Although a cease-fire is currently in place in Northern Ireland, sectarian violence still persists. If visiting avoid discussions on religion and politics. Normal social courtesies apply.

Capital: Moscow

Time zone: Moscow and St Petersburg + 3 (GMT + 4 during the summer) Other regions vary.

Telephone services: Country Code: 7
Outgoing Code: 810; in smaller cities international calls may have to go through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Fire – 01; Police – 02; Ambulance – 03

Tourist information: Intourist Travel Limited; Intourist House; 219 Marsh Wall; London E14 9PD Tel: (020) 7538 8600 Fax: (020) 7538 5967.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except for nationals Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Hungary; North Korea; Mongolia; Poland Romania; Slovak Republic; Vietnam and Yugoslavia. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure. All travellers are advised to contact the nearest Russian Embassy or Consulate for up to date details.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of Bulgaria; CIS; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Hungary; North Korea; Mongolia; Poland; Romania; Slovak Republic and Vietnam.

Health information: Polio; Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Cholera has been reported in Daghestan. Rabies is present.

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

Currency: Rouble (Rub) = 100 Kopeks Exchange: Only at official bureaux. All transactions must be recorded on the CURRENCY declaration form issued on arrival. It is wise to keep all your receipts. NOTE Import and Export of local currency is prohibited; all remaining local currency must be reconverted on departure.

All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are preferred to cash but you should also take some hard cash. US dollar cheques are recommended.
ATM availability: Over 350 locations

Cost of living: Moderate to expensive; since the change to free-market economy

Languages: Russian. English; French or German are spoken by some people

Weather: North and Central European Russia – Variable climate. Summer sunshine may be up to 9 hours a day whilst winters can be very cold. Siberia- Very cold winter with the possibility of pleasant summers. There is considerably seasonal temperature variation. Summers are usually short and wet. Southern European Russia – Winters are shorter than in the North.

Electricity: 220 volts AC; 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes over 10 days

Transport: AIR: Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to major cities. RIVER: Many companies offer cruises along several rivers. The Volga towns; The Golden Ring and Moscow – St Petersburg are popular routes. RAIL: The rail system is a vital part of the infrastructure due to the poor road system. Only a few long distance routes are open to use by visitors and reservations must be made on all journeys. NOTE: Do not leave possessions unattended at nay time. OAD: The European part of the Russian Federation depends heavily on it’s road network. The few roads in Siberia and further East are impassable during the winter. It is worthwhile to plan your route in advance and arrange motoring holidays through Intourist or another reputable agency.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against travel to Chechen Republic and some other areas, check with FCO. Each specific region has its own code of dress and traditions which may be different to those in the West. NOTE: Carry ID at all times. Incidents of violent mugging; theft and pick pocketing in all cities continue to occur. Keep all valuables out of sight.