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Tunisia and Libya: Background and Travel Essentials

Tunisia

Although Tunisia is famous for its package deal holidays, big beaches and big hotels, off the beaten track a whole new world reveals itself. A country of contrasts, from the historic Roman Ampitheater of El Djem to the space age desert terrains of Matmata, Tunisia is a melting pot of cultures, people and landscapes, and a mixture of all cultures and religions; Judaism, Islam and Christianity of the Arab Berbers, Jews and Europeans. Half the size of Italy with a mountainous north and flat south, Tunisia lies on the North coast of Africa dwarfed by neighbouring Libya and Algeria. It's known for wonderful French food and wine, and the Oasis that is the Sahara, the largest hot desert on earth. Much of the country is a fertile landscape of olive groves, sheep pastures and glorious beaches, but towards the South are sand dunes as far as the eye can see.

Libya

Libya is the land that the west forgot, with incredible ancient architecture and stunning scenery.
It is a melting pot of different people because of Gadafi’s open door policy where people from all over Africa can come here without a passport. With a tiny population of just four million, it’s an unusual and remote spot for tourism, which is virtually non-existent at present. However, it's an undiscovered gem for the adventurous traveller, with legacies of both Greek and Roman history in Leptis Magma and arid, unspoilt deserts.

Climate

Tunisia has a typical Mediterranean climate: hot dry summers and mild wet winters, with occasional snow in the mountains. The further south you head, the hotter and drier it gets, with parts of the Sahara sometimes going for years without a drop of rain.

Libya is a dry country and suffers from ghibli, a sandy wind which can make the temperature shoot up and can last several days. The steamy heat of summer can reach up to 50C, and is best avoided. It is fortunate that the desert oasis with acacia, fig and date plants provide a little shade in this wilderness.

Dress

In Tunisia dress modestly; for men and women, scanty dress is not outlawed but may attract unwanted attention and created a poor personal impression.
Libya is a Sunni Muslim state and the religion is conservative but not fundamentalist. Modest dress and covered arms and legs are recommended for women, who are advised against travelling alone.

Cash

One Tunisian Dinar = $1 or £0.75

The Libyan Dinar has a higher exchange rate:
One Libyan dinar = $3 or £2

Exchanges rates vary all the time, so check with your local currency exchange bureau.

You can change your money in Tunisia, most major currencies except for the Australian Dollar are accepted. Don't change too much in one go - it's a non-convertible currency so you could end up severely out of pocket. Cash is the only option in Libya as credit cards and travellers cheques are rarely accepted. US dollars, Sterling and Euros are acceptable cash currencies to exchange.

Tunisia and Libya are not particularly cheap for visitors, the people have a high standard of living and it is one of the wealthier African countries. Expect to pay at least $10 a night for a basic single hotel room, and at least $30 a night overall for accommodation, travel and food. Tunisia is well catered for tourism with a range of hostels and up to 5 star hotels, however Libya is not. Hotel accommodation can be expensive, around $100 US a night. Luckily, camping is recommended and acceptable.

Visas

Tunisia

EU, USA and Canadian visitors need no Visa, although Australians and Kiwis may need to obtain one before travel. Tunisia is generally welcoming of travellers from most nations.

Libya

Visas are required for all international visitors to Libya. Those from or bearing visas for South Africa and Israel are not permitted entry to the country. You must also have your passport translated into Arabic, obtainable from an embassy or passport office. Apply at least a week before travel. Single women travelling alone are unlikely to be granted a visa. It may sound tricky, and indeed it is, but if you can't deal with the paperwork, you can apply through a tour company.


Language

Tunisia

Tunisia is a bilingual nation, with Arabic ruling the roost as an official language but nearly everyone here speaks French. English and German are taught in schools, but not so widely spoken socially.

Libya

Arabic is the national language. A few people may speak English in the main cities, and older people may speak a little Italian. Berbers and Tuareg groups often speak their own tribal languages.

People

Tunisia

The majority of Tunisians, who outnumber Libyans 2 to 1 in a land one tenth of its size, are mainly Arab Berber. Like Libya, the youth outnumber adults causing many social and economic problems. There's a very different ethnic mix here from other North African countries - with Phoenicians, Jews, Ottoman Turks and Spanish Muslims all adding to the ethnic melting pot.

Libya

There are only 4 million people in Libya, half of whom are children. The majority of people are Arabs, with an ethnic mix of Berbers, Tuaregs, Turks and Sub-Saharan Africans. The tiny population of just half a million who live outside of the cities are intensely tribal with strong family bonds.