Dress
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
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.
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.
Libya is 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. Hotel accommodation can be expensive, around $100 US a night. Luckily, camping is recommended and acceptable.
Visas
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
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
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.
Food
When in Libya, expect simple food, it’s not a country for gourmet and there are few restaurants, most of which will sell international cuisine.
Alcohol is banned in public but can be taken privately in a home and acquired if you wish it. Favourite specialities include Lebi Lebi – A stew made with chick peas, egg, sea food and spices served in a ceramic bowl.
It’s traditionally a poor man’s food but is now in fashion where it’s served in trendy nightclubs at 2 in the morning. A bowl will cost 70 cents and keep you going all day. Lekmi is a local brew made from fermented sap from the palm tree, and quite alcoholic. It is supposed to be one of the oldest forms of alcohol known to man. It is featured in the novel and film ‘The Beach’ as the travellers get drunk together for the last time in a terrible and sickly orgy.
Travel
Libya’s roads and bus system are also of a good quality. Bus is the most reliable and safest way to travel internally, and air conditioned buses leave Tripoli to just about anywhere daily. You’ll probably need to book in advance. You may need to hire a car or motorbike at some point as many of Libya’s top attractions are off-road. This can be an expensive business, and you’re better off bringing your own motorbike.
Hitchhiking is a risky but viable option to see the sights without your own vehicle. A word of warning: Since the Lockerbie bombing of 1988, the UN have imposed an air embargo on international flights entering Libya, which looks set to remain in place for some time. The only way to enter the country is by land routes, particularly from Cairo in Egypt.
