From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Senegal Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 14:15:20 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1378 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <970623141520_76702.1202_CHN63-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 108 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Senegal ============================================================ Senegal - Consular Information Sheet June 20, 1997 Country Description: Senegal is a developing west African country. Facilities for tourists are widely available but vary in quality. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. Visas are not required for stays of less than 90 days. There are several types of items which cannot be brought into Senegal without clearance by Senegalese customs. These include computers and computer parts, video cameras and players, stereo equipment, tape players, auto parts, and various tools and spare parts. Such items will be held by airport customs officials if brought in as baggage or carry-on luggage. Travelers are urged to obtain the latest information on customs and entry requirements from the Embassy of Senegal, 2112 Wyoming Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008, tel. (202) 234-0540. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Senegalese embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: U.S. Government personnel are subject to restrictions on travel to the Casamance area of southern Senegal due to recent incidents involving Casamance separatists. U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the Casamance area are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Dakar for the latest travel and security information. The Embassy has advised U.S. citizens to avoid travel to the area south of the Casamance River from the Ziguinchor-Bissau road east to the village of Tanaf, excluding the towns of Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring. Travelers should remain on the major hard-surfaced routes, and drive only during daylight hours. Camping or visiting villages along these routes is strongly discouraged, with the exception of camping within Cap Skirring. Road travel between Mauritania and Senegal is restricted to several designated border crossing points, and long delays at the border are normal. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are limited, particularly in areas outside the capital, Dakar. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid or accepted outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, to be useful. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet:http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Street crime in Senegal poses moderate risks for visitors. Most reported incidents involve pickpockets, purse snatchers and street scam artists. Wallets, jewelry and other valuables are subject to theft, especially during times of international meetings or events which draw large crowds. In Dakar, there has been a relatively high incidence of purse snatchings and muggings in a popular restaurant area known locally as "La Petite Corniche," which is located along a three kilometer stretch of coastal road in the southeastern part of the city. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Safety and In-Country Travel: Road conditions in Senegal range from adequate to poor. Paved roads link most major cities, but are often in poor repair. Drivers should anticipate stretches of potholes and other obstacles. Rural roads range from well maintained dirt and gravel routes to sand tracks. As in most of the world, traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in Senegal. Visitors should use caution in using public transportation, particularly if the vehicle appears to be overcrowded and/or poorly maintained. Visitors who drive should take the time to learn local traffic rules and drive defensively. Medical facilities are limited. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy at Avenue Jean XXIII, Dakar, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Senegal. The mailing address is B.P. 49, Dakar, Senegal. The telephone number is (221) 23-42-96. No. 97-105 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 23, 1996 to update information on entry requirements and to add information on road safety and in-country travel. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories