Algeria Travel Guide

Full Name

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

Former Name

Al Jaza'ir

Capital City

Algiers

Government Type

republic

Area Size

Algeria comprises 2,381,741 square kilometers of land, more than four-fifths of which is desert, in northern Africa, between Morocco and Tunisia.

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +1 hour

Climate

temperate zone and has a mild, Mediterranean climate. It lies within approximately the same latitudes as southern California and has somewhat similar climatic conditions. Its broken topography, however, provides sharp local contrasts in both prevailing temperatures and incidence of rainfall. Year-to-year variations in climatic conditions are also common. In the Tell, temperatures in summer average between 21 and 24

Geography

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) Most of the coastal area is hilly, sometimes even mountainous, and there are a few natural harbours. The area just south of the coast, known as the Tell, is fertile. Further south is the Atlas mountain range and the Sahara desert. The Ahaggar Mountains, also known as the Hoggar, are a highland region in central Sahara, southern Algeria. They are located about 1,500 km south of the capital, Algiers and just west of Tamanghasset.

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Culture

Algeria's culture is strongly influenced by the country's recent history, as well as other aspects such as their literature, music, arts and crafts and religion. Algerian literature is split between French and Arabic, with famous novelists of the 20th century such as, Mohammed Dib, Kateb Yacine and Assia Djebar. Assia Djebar's works are widely translated. The musical genre of Algeria that is best known abroad, is rai. Rai is a pop-flavoured, opinionated take on folk music, featuring stars such as Khaled and Cheb Mami. Chaabi style music also remains very popular with popular stars such as El Hadj El Anka and Dahmane El Harrachi, making their mark everyday. For the more classical taste, Andalusi music, brought from Al-Andalus by Morisco refugees, is preserved in many older coastal towns. Algeria has a thriving handicrafts industry. Part of the charm of the country is the richness of its production. From carpets to ceramics, from leather to lute making, from pottery to glass working to silverwork, the country has a tremendous variety of skills that produce goods which are sold in many other countries as well as to tourists.

History

After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems. Algeria assumed a two-year seat on the UN Security Council in January 2004.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Algeria usually takes the form of a hotel. There are a large number of hotels in Algeria and their standards of service can differ greatly. Algeria accommodation can be found in old, architecturally interesting palaces or similar buildings or it might take the form of a glistening, modern skyscraper. You can find Accommodation right near the beach or you may look for something a bit further inland. Whatever the case, it is usually wisest to book your Accommodation in advance - especially if you're fussy about what sort of accommodation you want.

Visa Requirements

Business and single entry visas can be obtained from the Algerian Embassy or Consulate in your country. It usually takes about 2-3 days to receive the one month visa. It is possible to have the visa renewed in Algeria should you wish to stay longer.

Getting Around

You can get around Algeria's major cities by means of the bus and tram services. Alternatively you can make use of the taxis, however, you should only use taxis recommended by the hotel in which you are staying.

Health & Safety

Ensure that all your regular immunizations are up to date. It is recommended that all travelers to Algeria receive a Hepatitis A and a Typhoid vaccine. Tap water must be filtered, boiled or disinfected with chemicals. Ensure all beverages are bottled and not served with ice. Fruit and vegetables must be cooked or peeled. Only eat food that is served hot. Whilst medical facilities in Algeria have seen improvements, they are still not up to developed-country standards. Certain medicines and resources may not be available in all the hospitals and clinics. Payment is usually expected in cash. Most healthcare professionals in the urban areas will speak French. It is advisable to bring your own chronic medications and medical kit with you. Great care must be taken when traveling in Algeria. Sadly, terrorism is a problem in Algeria. Fortunately the greatest risk is in the rural areas and the majority of urban areas and the capital have not been too negatively affected by terrorist activity. Overland travel at night between cities in Algeria is strongly advised against. Beware of false roadblocks where terrorists are known to kidnap travelers. Visitors to Algeria should remain alert to possible security risks and make every effort to adhere to careful security practices. Your local authorities will be able to advise you of areas currently affected by terrorism and which regions to avoid during your stay.

Currency

Algerian Dinar (DZD)

Electricity

220V

Emergency Numbers

17 (Emergancy & Police) 14 (Fire)