Libya - basics - Countries Guide

Time: Local time is GMT +2.

Electricity: Electrical current is 127/230 volts, 50Hz. Round 3-pin plugs are used.

Language: The official language of Libya is Arabic (used for all official business), though some English is spoken, especially in the cities and tourist-orientated establishments.

Health: There are no major health risks associated with travel to Libya. Visitors travelling from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Travellers are encouraged to get vaccinations for Hepatitis A and Typhiod. Health Care facilities in Libya are basic and travellers are advised to have full health insurance. In remote areas there may be no health facilities at all, therefore travellers are recommended to carry their own basic medications. Tap water in Libya is chlorinated, but it is advised to drink bottled or boiled water.

Tipping: Hotels and restaurants usually add a service charge of 10 to 20%. Tipping guides and drivers is expected.

Safety: Generally Libya is a safe country to travel in but travellers are advised against all but essential travel to all areas bordering Chad and Sudan, due to instability in the region. With exception to official land border crossings to Tunisia and Egypt, visitors are not permitted to travel in the interior or to border areas without an officially sanctioned guide, or specific permission from the Libyan authorities. Travelling in a group or with an organised tour is recommended in remote regions and travellers should be advised of a threat of terrorism that can occur randomly. Prior permission from the Libyan authorities is required for travel to the desert regions and is in the form of a desert pass; however the oil mining areas of the desert should be avoided. It is highly recommended that one monitor the media and seek advice from the relevant authorities before travelling. Violent crime is generally not a problem, although visitors should avoid carrying valuables in public.

Customs: Libya is an Islamic country (97-98% of Libyans are Sunni Muslim) and therefore visitors should be respectful in terms of following Arabic customs, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum in public is forbidden. Swimwear should be restricted to beaches, and women should dress modestly, and avoid Arab gatherings where women are not permitted. Homosexuality is illegal and extramarital sexual relationships are forbidden. Criticism of the Libyan Government, Islam and the country itself is not tolerated. Permission must always be sought prior to photographing people, and it is not recommended that a camera be used or carried near any official or military buildings. Libya is one of the strictest countries in terms of a ban on alcohol and drugs, and neither should be brought into the country, though smoking is very common.

Communications: The international dialling code for Libya is +218. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)21 for Tripoli and (0)22 for Tripoli International Airport. There are several Internet Service Providers and Internet cafes are available in Tripoli and other major centres, as well as some towns. Mobile phones operate on GSM 900 and 1800 networks and general telecommunications are being modernised.

Duty Free: Travellers may enter the country with 200 cigarettes or 250g cigars or 250g tobacco, and 250ml perfume. All alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited, as well as all foodstuffs (including canned goods). There is also an extensive list of banned items, including any articles manufactured or produced in Israel or countries that trade with Israel, and it is best to consult a Libyan Embassy for more information.

Climate: The Libyan Desert is one of the harshest and most arid in the world, and decades can go by without rain in certain areas, but this harsh interior is tempered by the Mediterranean climate in the north. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cooler with lower temperatures in the evening, and rainfall is minimal. The desert is more extreme; hot in the day and cold at night. Spring and autumn experience the ghibli, a hot, dry and dusty desert wind that can last from a day to four days, bringing temperatures in the coastal areas up to 122°F (50°C). June to October is the best time to travel to Libya, particularly to the coastal areas, as temperatures are in the more manageable region of 80°F (27°C).