home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- <text id=93CT1925>
- <title>
- Zaire--Travel
- </title>
- <history>
- Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook
- Southern Africa
- Zaire
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>CIA World Factbook</source>
- <hdr>
- Travel
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p> Climate and clothing: Clothing suitable for hot, humid
- weather is appropriate in Zaire. Sweaters are advisable in
- Bukavu and Lubumbashi, where evenings are cool. Rainwear is
- essential, but not overcoats.
- </p>
- <p> Health: Malaria is prevalent, and malarial suppressants
- should be taken. Tapwater is not potable. Check most recent
- health information. See Health Hints for the Tropics, published
- by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
- </p>
- <p> Telecommunications: International telegraph and telephone
- services are unreliable throughout the country. Kinshasa is 6
- hours ahead of eastern standard time.
- </p>
- <p> Transportation: Regular connections can be made to Brussels,
- Paris, Nice, Lisbon, Geneva, Zurich, Nairobi, Libreville,
- Abidjan, Johannesburg, Douala, and Dakar.
- </p>
- <p> Local transportation facilities are crowded. Taxis are
- usually available in Kinshasa; rates vary and the fare should be
- established before entering. Main streets within the cities are
- usually paved; intercity roads are generally difficult or
- impassable during the rainy season, except for the
- Kinshasa-Boma, Kinshasa-Kikwit, and Kolwezi-Lubumbashi paved
- roads. All automobiles driven in Zaire must be covered by
- liability insurance with SONAS, the national insurance company.
- Drivers licenses issued by the AAA in the U.S. can be validated
- for use in Zaire.
- </p>
- <p> Tourist attractions: Virunga National Park, in eastern Zaire,
- stretching from the north end of Lake Kivu to Lake Edward, is
- one of the best game preserves in Africa and is particularly
- noted for its lions, elephants, hippopotami, and birds.
- Kahuzi-Biega Park, in the bamboo forests just north of Bukavu,
- is one of the last refuges of the mountain gorilla. Among the
- sights of interest in the Kinshasa area are the Presidential
- Gardens and Zoo; the municipal zoo; the ethnic art museum of the
- National Academy of Fine Arts, the central market, and Lac de
- Ma Valee, an artificial lake just outside of Kinshasa. Also of
- interest is LaFoy Falls, one of the highest in Africa, located
- in the Shaba region. The largest hotel in Kinshasa is the
- Intercontinental, which accepts only the American Express card.
- Less expensive are the Estoril and the Memling, which do not
- accept charge cards.
- </p>
- <p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs,
- August 1988.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-