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*
Leptis Magna
* Roman Theatre at Sabratha
* Desert architecture, Ghadhames
* Fezzan region desert
expeditions |
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Places to see |
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Tripoli
Once
known as the 'White Bride of the
Mediterranean', Tripoli has lost
much of its pristine allure, though
its historic mosques and lively
medina retain a good deal of
character. Tripoli is the de facto
capital of Libya, despite attempts
in recent years to move some
government departments elsewhere.
More info |
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Ghadames
Famous for its desert architecture,
the oasis town of Ghadhames lies
650km (400mi) southwest of Tripoli,
close to the borders of Algeria and
Tunisia. If your time in Libya is
limited and you plan to see one
traditional desert place, this is
the one to visit.
More info |
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Jebel Acacus
The
Jebel Acacus is an other-wordly
landscape of dark basalt monoliths
rising up from the sands of the
central Sahara. This World
Heritage-listed area is home to
unique natural rock formations, as
well as prehistoric rock paintings
and carvings, some of which date
back 12,000 years. You can only
visit the region with a guide, who
can be organised in Ghat.
More info |
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Cyrene
Second in importance only to Leptis
Magna, Cyrene is a must see. It
ranks as the best preserved of the
Greek cities of Cyrenaica, with its
temples, tombs, agora, gymnasium and
theatre originally modelled on those
at Delphi. Apart from the
spectacular Greek ruins, its
location high on a bluff overlooking
the sea is stunning.
More info |
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Leptis Magna
If
you only see one archaeological site
in Libya, this is the one to choose.
Regarded as the best Roman site in
the Mediterranean, Leptis Magna's
spectacular architecture and massive
scale will impress even the most
ruin-weary traveller.
More info |
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Pre 20th Century History |
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The
Romans invaded Tripolitania (the
region around Tripoli) in 106 BC,
and by 64 BC Julius Caesar's legions
had completed the occupation. As a
Roman province, Libya was
prosperous, reaching a golden age in
the 2nd century AD. The three
principal Roman cities of Sabratha,
Oea and Leptis Magna provided the
empire with grain, oil and a supply
of slaves and exotic goods from
sub-Saharan Africa.
The
decline of the Roman Empire saw the
classical cities fall into ruin, a
process hastened by the Vandals'
destructive sweep though northern
Africa in the 5th century AD. When
the Byzantines took over in the 6th
century, efforts were made to
strengthen the old cities, but it
was only a last gasp before they
collapsed into disuse. Only Oea,
which survives today as Tripoli, the
nation's capital, remains a living
city.
The
Arab invasion of the 7th century
brought Islam to the country, where
it remains firmly entrenched to this
day. Arab rule was culturally
fruitful, and many examples of early
Islamic architecture remain,
especially in the oases of the
south. The Arabs ruled Libya until
the Turks conquered the country in
the mid-16th century, administering
it through a succession of locally
appointed rulers who levied a toll
on every Christian fleet using the
Mediterranean.
Following the Napoleonic wars,
European powers began to colonise
northern Africa, and the Turks
hastened to strengthen their control
of Libya. Their last North African
possession, Libya was taken from the
Turks by Italy in that country's
last-minute bid for colonies in
Africa. |
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GETTING
STARTED
Southern
Borders
Regions bordering Chad,
Niger and Sudan are subject to banditry and military activity -
travellers should avoid these areas.
When to Go:
Libya is at its best in October and
November when the skies are clear, the temperatures are mild and,
depending on end-of-summer rains, the desert may even have a greenish
tinge in places. The next best period is from March through to early
May, although there's a higher chance of sandstorms in April and, by
May, temperatures are really starting to rise. December through to
February is also a popular time, although temperatures can be
surprisingly cool and night-time temperatures in the Sahara routinely
drop below zero; 'sleeping' under the stars in sub-zero conditions is
not recommended. In summer (mid-May to September), temperatures can be
fiercely, unbearably, witheringly hot - don't even think of a desert
expedition at this time. |
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Visas
Overview
Nationals of most African and
Arab countries don't require
visas to enter Libya. Everyone
else does. Israeli citizens are
not issued visas, nor those with
Israeli stamps in their
passports. Whether visas are
issued to US nationals depends
on the prevailing political
winds. Visas are only issued to
visitors travelling as part of
an organised tour.
In addition to organizing a
visa, your tour company will
arrange all transport,
accommodation, meals and a guide
or escort in your language for
the duration of your stay. We
suggest that you contact a
number of companies (both Libyan
and international) to see which
one best suits your needs.
When dealing with your tour
company prior to the issuing of
a visa, make sure you specify
the point where you plan to
enter Libya.
To enter Libya your passport
must be valid for six months
from the date of entry. Visas
are valid for 30 days.
Extensions are possible, but
rare, and more likely to be
granted if the application is
made by a tour operator on your
behalf. |
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Libya's bad-boy image, cultivated by Gadhafi and embellished by Western media,
has always kept
tourists away from
the North African
country in droves.
As the doors to
tourism finally
begin to crack open,
however, more and
more visitors are
discovering
Libya's long-kept
secrets. First among
these are some of
the best preserved
and least-visited
Roman ruins
anywhere, with
Leptis Magna, buried
in sand for 800
years, the
undisputed top draw.
Given 90% of the
country is desert of
some sort, Berber
culture, traditional
underground
architecture and
expeditions into the
Sahara all rank highly. Undeveloped (for better and worse) and always sunny
Libya
may be a long way
from a tourist mecca,
but it's perfect for
some adventurous
travel to an as-yet
little-known corner
of the world. |
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Heat Exhaustion:
A
particular risk in Libya, this
occurs following heavy sweating
and excessive fluid loss with
inadequate replacement of fluids
and salt. This is common in hot
climates when taking
unaccustomed exercise before
full acclimatisation. Symptoms
include headache, dizziness and
tiredness. Dehydration is
already happening by the time
you feel thirsty - aim to drink
sufficient water such that you
produce pale, diluted urine. The
treatment of heat exhaustion
consists of fluid replacement
with water or fruit juice or
both, and cooling by cold water
and fans. The treatment of the
salt loss component consists of
salty fluids as in soup or
broth, and adding a little more
table salt to foods than usual. |
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Heat Stroke:
Much more serious, this occurs
when the body's heat-regulating
mechanism breaks down. An
excessive rise in body
temperature leads to sweating
ceasing, irrational and
hyperactive behaviour and
eventually loss of consciousness
and death. Rapid cooling by
spraying the body with water and
fanning is an ideal treatment.
Emergency fluid and electrolyte
replacement by intravenous drip
is usually also required. |
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Dangers and Annoyances
:
Libya is an extremely safe
country in which to travel.
Hostility of any kind towards
foreigners is practically
nonexistent, theft is extremely
rare and Libyans will go out of
their way to make you feel
welcome. Unlike elsewhere in
North Africa, Libyans will
rarely hassle you for
information about getting a visa
to your country. Overcharging of
foreign visitors is also very
rare.
The most dangerous areas for
unexploded mines are in the area
around Tobruk and the Egyptian
border south to the area around
Al-Jaghbub. But as you'll be
travelling with a guide, you're
unlikely to stray into areas
where unexploded mines still
lie.
The Tibesti area is off-limits
to travellers due to unexploded
mines left over from Libya's war
with Chad in the 1980s. In the
late 1990s, a 4WD vehicle set
off one of these mines,
whereafter the region was
closed.
The southern route from Waw al-Namus
to Al-Kufra around the southern
edge of the Ramlat Rabyaneh is
also dangerous for the same
reason, especially around the
Kilingue Pass, and should be
avoided |
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Full Name
Great Socialist People's Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya
Capital City
Tripoli
Area
1,759,540 sq km
Population
6,000,000
Time Zone
GMT/UTC + 2
Weights Measures System
Metric
Languages
• Arabic (official)
• English (other)
• Italian (other)
Religion
Sunni Muslim (97%), other,
including Kharijites and
Christians (3%)
Government Type
Jamahiriya, Or 'state Of The
Masses', Theoretically Governed
By The People
Government Leaders
Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar
al-Qaddafi
de facto head of state (head of
state)
al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmudi
Secretary of the General
People's Committee (Prime
Minister) (head of government)
Country Dialing Code
218
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With
one of the harshest deserts in the
world meeting the mild
Mediterranean, most of Libya has a
changeable climate. Summer is
generally very hot, with average
temperatures on the coast of around
30°C (86°F) and often accompanied by
high humidity. In the south
temperatures can reach a sweltering
50°C (122°F) or higher. Around 2500
years ago, the historian Herodotus
claimed that 'in the upper parts of
Libya, it is always summer'. And,
yet, in winter the weather can be
cool and rainy on the coast, even
snowing occasionally in the
mountains. Desert temperatures can
drop to subfreezing at night; over
the course of a year, Libya's desert
regions receive less than 100mm
(4in) of rain. During the spring in
northern Libya, you may encounter
the ghibli, a hot, dry,
sandladen wind which can raise the
temperature in a matter of hours to
50°C (122°F). The ghibli can last
from just a few hours to several
days. |
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Hanging out and going out in Libya
usually meant taking a car and drive around the
town. Petrol almost did not cost anything in Libya
and cruising was in style. This was the way the
local youth hung out. How other demographic groups
did, I was not sure. I did not spot significant
meeting places. I would imagine that the area around
the castle and the nearby park might be places where
people would meet up and chat. But this was not
terribly obvious to me. |
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