Algeria - Africa's Giant

Notes

Essentials

Visas
Most nationals including UK, EU and US visitors require a visa for entry to Algeria. These must be obtained in advance, and we recommend that you check with your nearest embassy for the most up to date details. Should a letter of invitation be required, we will be able to provide this.

Airport Tax
Currently no departure tax is payable when leaving Algeria by air.

Health and Immunisations
As with travel to most parts of Africa, we strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information, advice and the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than one month, almost certainly you will be advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis. The use of a DEET-containing insect repellent is highly recommended.

Insurance
What should my travel insurance policy cover?

• medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad

• 24 hour emergency service and assistance

• personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property

• lost and stolen possessions cover

• cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover

• Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as certain sports

The policy should cover the whole time that you are away.

Your policy may also have:

• personal accident cover

• legal expenses cover

Common travel insurance policy exclusions
Always check the conditions and exclusions of your policy:

• most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents

You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Practical information

Local Currency
The currency is the Algerian Dinar (DA). For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com. As a former colony of France, the preferred foreign currency for exchange purposes is the Euro – it is possible to exchange sterling and US dollars but is generally more difficult to do so, especially with pound sterling.

Where currency can be exchanged
Our advice is to exchange sufficient funds when you arrive in Algiers. Your tour leader will be able to advise on the best place to exchange money.

Credit cards and travellers cheques
As a general rule we advise against taking travellers’ cheques as they can be difficult to change in Algeria. You will have limited opportunities to use credit cards and so should not rely on these.

Best time to go
The best times to visit Algeria are in the spring and autumn. In the summer all parts, but especially the desert, can be extremely hot, and in the winter the coastal region is wet and cold.

Main Language
Algeria’s official language is Arabic, although the dialect spoken here is slightly different from classical Arabic. French is also widely spoken. There are also several Berber and Tuareg dialects spoken throughout the country.

Main Religion
Algeria is almost entirely Sunni Moslem, with a very small proportion of Christians within the country.

Food and drink
While on tour in Algeria, most meals will be provided. Breakfast will typically be in the continental style with bread, jam and cheese together with tea and coffee. Algerian cuisine is not too dissimilar from Moroccan food, with tagines and couscous being fairly common, as well as stuffed vegetables, soups and salads. You can also expect to find much European style food, a legacy of Algeria’s days as a French colony.

If you have any special dietary requirements you must notify us at the time of booking. While we will make every effort to cater for you, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Transport
Our tour in Algeria uses both minibuses and 4wd vehicles – usually Landcruisers or Landrovers. We may also make use of internal flights.

Local conditions
Travelling in the destinations that we visit requires a good deal of understanding that often standards simply won’t be as they are at home. While we aim to make your trip as comfortable as possible, please be aware that we are often visiting remote or less developed regions that may have little infrastructure.

While we aim to make your trip run as smoothly as possible there may be times when we need to ask for your patience while we rectify any problems.

What to take with you

First Aid Kit
The first thing on your list should be a first aid kit. Whilst there is no undue cause for alarm, travellers are best advised to travel well-prepared: adequately immunized, with sufficient supplies of prescription drugs, along with a medical kit.

Clothing
When it comes to clothing it is usually recommended that lighter clothes are worn through the day, and warmer ones at night. A hat is also advised to be worn through the day to protect from the sun, along with at least one piece of waterproof clothing for any days that the weather may be wet or windy. Please note that it can get very cold in the desert in the high winter with temperatures sometimes reaching freezing. Please ensure that you bring sufficient warm clothes for this.

You should bear in mind that Algeria, in common with most Moslem countries, has conservative attitudes towards dress. Women, and also to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women.

Sleeping bag
You will need to bring a sleeping bag for this tour. Mattresses will be provided.

Footwear
Footwear is a main priority on this tour. Comfortable walking shoes/boots are recommended.

Luggage
Your luggage should not exceed 20kgs (44lbs). One large suitcase/rucksack, and one small hand luggage rucksack is acceptable.

Other
Suncream/sunblock is a must. You will not be able to purchase this while on tour so please make sure you have a sufficient supply.

Insect repellent, including a bite spray will also be useful to have. As our tour in Algeria involves camping, a torch (flashlight) is essential.

You should also bring a towel, a water bottle and toilet paper. You may also wish to consider bringing anti-bacterial hand lotion. You should also bring a lighter / matches (for burning toilet paper). If you wear contact lenses, you may wish to consider bringing a pair of glasses – it can get very dusty while driving in the desert and cause irritation to the eyes.

Please note that binoculars are prohibited and if found in your luggage at either Algiers or Tamanrasset airports, will be confiscated until your return.

Fitness
This tour does not require any special degree of fitness but you will find it more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit. You will be walking over uneven terrain on this tour, including rocks and sand.

Cultural and environmental guidelines

While out in the desert, toilet facilities will be limited. When you need to answer the call of nature, please make sure that you burn your toilet paper. Do not bury it – the aridity of the desert air means that it will not decompose for a very long time.

You will be spending time in some of the most pristine environments on earth on our tour in Algeria. It is important to ensure that they stay this way. Please make sure that you take any rubbish back to the lodges and camps with you where they can be properly disposed of – this includes cigarette butts as well.

Please do not buy any products made from endangered species – this is not sustainable and hastens the species’ decline.

Please do not touch any rock paintings or engravings – this can lead to their gradual degradation.

You may come across beggars while on tour in Algeria. Every traveller has different perspectives on this and ultimately the choice is up to you. Many sources recommend that you watch to see if local people give, and then follow their lead with genuine beggars. We do not recommend giving money, sweets, pens etc to children as this can encourage a begging mentality and can lead to children choosing to beg rather than go to school.

Haggling is a way of life in Algeria when making many purchases, especially with tourist souvenirs. Usually, but not always, the vendor will start with a price that is higher than they are prepared to accept, and the buyer is expected to haggle. There are no hard and fast rules with this – some vendors may initially quote a vastly overinflated price, others may start with a price close to the true value, while others may just present you with one price and not be prepared to discuss it. Although many tourists may feel uncomfortable with this, it’s important to remember that this is best entered into in a relaxed manner. Once you have agreed upon a price, it is extremely bad form to then not pay this. Please also bear in mind that a small amount of money to you can be a relatively large amount for the vendor, and that it is not necessarily best practice to ‘beat the vendor down’ to the lowest possible price. Remember that they also have a living to make.

Photography
You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no. In more remote areas women and older people often do not want to be photographed. Some people may also ask for some money – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot - in return for a photo. Taking photos of military installations, state buildings, and airports can lead to problems with local authorities. If you are unsure about whether it is acceptable to take a photo, please ask your tour leader or guide.

Tipping
Tipping is commonly recognised all over Africa. Please allow for around €40-50 as tips for this tour.

Foreign Office Advice
We constantly monitor the advice posted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At present there are no warnings against travel to the parts of Algeria that we visit on this tour. Please feel free to contact us should you have any specific concerns or would like to know in detail what measures are being taken to ensure visits remain trouble free and without incident.

It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.

Further Information

Public Holidays in Algeria:
1 Jan New Year’s Day
1 May Labour Day
19 June Revolutionary Readjustment Day
5 July Independence Day
1 Nov Revolution Day

Other holidays such as those associated with Ramadan are Islamic holidays and as such follow the lunar calendar, varying year to year

Dates are for guidance only and may vary year to year

Electrical Supply
Electrical supply is 220V/50 Hz and plugs have two round pins, similar to many European countries.

Recommended Reading

Algeria – The Bradt Guide
Jonathan Oakes

A Savage War of Peace – Algeria 1954-1962
Alistair Horne

Sahara Unveiled
William Langweische

Sahara – The life of the great desert
Marq de Villiers and Sheila Hirtle

Sands of Death – An epic tale of massacre and survival in the Sahara
Michael Asher

IMPORTANT NOTES – PLEASE READ

Please note that the information provided is correct at the time of writing but may change. It is intended as a guide only. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health visit www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or contact your local healthcare provider.

In addition we strongly advise you to check the information and any travel advice provided by your government. For British citizens you should visit the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk.

Furthermore, you should be aware that any travel warnings or advisories may affect the validity of your travel insurance. Therefore, at the time of booking your tour it is essential you check any restrictions on cover with your insurance provider.

Issue Date – 17/11/11

For possible changes to this dossier please visit www.undiscovered-destinations.com or call +44 (0)191 296 2674

Historical Background

Perched on the edge of Europe, Algeria has been off-limits to travellers for many years following a brutal civil war between armed Islamic groups and the army. Slowly the country is opening its arms to western tourists once more, having hidden its treasures for too long. Look beyond the headlines of yesteryear and you will find a vibrant nation with a veritable treasure house of archaeological wonders and jaw-droppingly beautiful natural sights. Algeria’s portion of the Sahara desert is reputed to be among the most spectacular desert landscapes anywhere, with sweeping fields of pristine dunes as far as the eye can see, eerie rock formations jutting angrily into the sky, and hauntingly desolate plains. Its Tuareg inhabitants are among the most evocative and romantic images of desert life, with strong traditions of hospitality towards strangers and age old traditions that continue to defy modernity. Mention Algeria to most people and they will wonder why you would want to visit. Tell them your stories on your return and they’ll be itching to go next.

Algeria, like Morocco, has been inhabited for thousands of years, with cave paintings providing evidence of earlier cultures. Its first real state of any sort was known as Numidia, a Berber kingdom that came to power in the 3rd century BC in the east of the country. Numidia was essentially split into two separate tribal groups – the eastern Numidians were known as the Massylii, while the western Numidians were known as the Masaesyli. Numidia was bordered on both its eastern and western sides by Roman colonies. At different times the eastern and western branches of the kingdom were allied to both Rome and that other ancient Mediterranean power Carthage, but the defeat of Carthage in the Punic Wars led to the eventual incorporation of Numidia into the Roman Empire, ruled by local Berber kings paying fealty to the Emperor. Under Roman rule, Christianity began to make inroads into the local Berber population and by the 4th century AD, the region was almost entirely Christian. At its height, Numidia had been a large kingdom, incorporating parts of Libya and Tunisia. However, in the 5th century AD invading Vandal forces sacked the kingdom and it effectively disappeared from history.

The rapid expansion of Islam following its birth led to Arab armies striking across the North African coast and beyond in order to spread the word and convert, by force if necessary, the non-believers. Initial Berber resistance was soon swept away and by the 8th century, they had largely converted, although pockets of resistance against Arab domination continued to exist. Algeria was ruled by two Arab dynasties – the Aghlabids in the east and the Rustamids in the west, both of whom were replaced in the 10th century by the Fatimid dynasty, who were also responsible for establishing that enduring Arab capital, Cairo. The Fatimids were however focussed more on the lands to the east, to Egypt and beyond, leaving day to day control of Algeria to local Berber tribes, who fought amongst each other to gain supremacy. This period was marked by constant conflict, political instability, and economic decline. Following a large incursion of Arab Bedouin from Egypt beginning in the first half of the eleventh century, the use of Arabic spread to the countryside, and sedentary Berbers were gradually Arabised.

The Almoravid dynasty burst from the desert in the 11th century. Bent on reforming the region from what they perceived to be decadent ways, they swept forth from the desert in the 11th century and established their capital at Marrakech in Morocco. Their great leader, Youssef bin Tachfine, unified the region’s various tribes and mounted expeditions to Spain to recapture lands lost to Christian forces. This was seen as a golden time for Islam, when art and literature flourished. However sustained military expeditions proved to be the undoing of the Almoravids – weakened and exposed to the ‘corrupting’ influences of Andalusian culture, the Almoravids were in turn overthrown by another Berber dynasty, the Almohads. Ironically, the recapture of Spain in the name of Islam was perceived to have led to the Almoravids being corrupted by the Andalucian lax interpretation of Islam.

Algeria during this time was characterised by factional struggles and inter-tribal warfare, and in the 13th century the country was ruled by the Hafsids in the east and the Zianides in the west. Eventually a semblance of order was restored and gave way to a period of relative calm, which lasted around three hundred years. However the final stage of the Christian reconquest of Andalucia, the fall of Moslem Granada in 1492, led to a shift in power in the region. Keen to assert its influence as well as prevent any further incursions onto its land, Spain set about establishing coastal bases along parts of the Mediterranean coast, including Algeria, and collected tribute from local rulers. However it did not attempt to extend its influence inland, and was happy to maintain only its coastal fortifications. Nonetheless this was provocation to Algeria’s Moslem inhabitants. This led to requests for help from Ottoman Turkey, which provided troops to pirate commanders to attack the Spanish and defend Algerian cities. Inevitably this led to an increase in Ottoman influence, and then direct rule by the end of the 16th century. Algeria became an outpost of the Ottoman Empire, with foreign administrators and troops stationed there. Turkish was made the official language. Ruled by a succession of deys, Ottoman Algeria was not always secure with periodic rebellions by Berbers and Arabs against their Turkish overlords. Nevertheless, Ottoman Turkey managed to maintain control of Algeria until the early 19th century.

Around this time, piracy became quite prevalent in Algeria and other North African countries, the corsairs of the Barbary Coast striking terror into the hearts of European mariners in and around the Mediterranean. Operating out of coastal towns such as Tunis and Algiers, pirates raided trade ships throughout the Mediterranean, taking booty and slaves to be sold in markets. This caused no end of consternation among European powers and in 1816 leading to British and Dutch ships bombarding Algiers and causing the dey to agree to end piracy and stop the enslavement of Christians.

In 1827 during diplomatic negotiations between the dey of Algiers and the French consul, an argument broke out between the two men. The dey, enraged over a perceived slight by the French consul, slapped him across the face with his fly whisk. And over this small incident France, ostensibly to ‘defend its honour’ but more realistically to gain the king more much needed popularity at home, went to war. Diplomatic relations were broken off, Algiers was blockaded, and by 1830 a full scale military expedition had been launched, which quickly took Algiers and secured the surrender of the dey in the face of far superior firepower. France had gained its first African colony. However, although it had rid Algeria of Ottoman rule, the Berber population were not keen on being ruled by French masters either. A vicious war of resistance ensued, spearheaded by the charismatic Berber leader Amir Abdel Kader. Hundreds of thousands of Algerians were killed in the years that followed, as France sought to stamp out pockets of resistance and impose their authority on all of the country. In 1848, France declared that Algeria was not a colony, but rather an integral part of the French nation, giving impetus to a mass movement of colonisation by French settlers. Many of these settlers, who became known as the pieds noir, took over farms vacated by Algerians and appropriated their land. Algeria’s wealth began to flow into the hands of the French, and resistance developed to rapidly increasing colonisation. Algeria’s Moslem citizens were largely denied the vote, only allowed to live in certain areas and were subject to different, harsher, rules and regulations, effectively second class citizens in their own land.

After the Second World, in Algeria as everywhere, demands for independence grew. Typically these were brutally put down by the French authorities, stimulating increased resentment and violence. In 1954 the National Liberation Front (FLN) launched a guerrilla war with the intention of forcing France to leave Algeria. Algeria’s war of independence was a bloody, ugly affair, with the FLN attacking the pieds noir and the French authorities reacting with disproportionate force, killing huge numbers of Algerians including significant numbers of innocent civilians. In the 1950’s and 60’s many pieds noir began to leave the country, while others dug in and refused to leave a land they now saw as home. Faced with huge resistance and increasing pressure from post-war Europe and the United States, France granted Algeria its independence in 1962. Almost immediately approximately one million French settlers left the country.

Algeria today is recognised and defined in many ways by the vicious bloodletting of the 1990s. After thirty years of one party rule, elections were scheduled and Algeria looked as if it would become a democracy. However, early results showed the Islamist FIS party to win the first round of the election, an event which sparked panic in Algeria’s secular government and many of its citizens, who feared that Algeria would be ruled as a fundamentalist Islamic state. The following round of the elections was cancelled and the FIS was banned. What ensued was one of the bloodiest civil wars of our time, as the army and Islamist groups fought each other, both sides inflicting horrendous casualties and responsible for wholesale massacres of villages in which hundreds of thousands died. Thankfully, although sporadic fighting does still occur in the north, Algeria has resumed some degree of normalcy.

Algeria is today stepping out of its past and beginning to show the world all that it can offer. It may not be an obvious tourist destination, but that’s simply part of its appeal. You won’t find masses of tourists of organised groups in Algeria, and can feel as if you really are discovering new lands, especially in its gloriously beautiful ‘great south’. For lovers of exquisite landscapes, of ancient history, of fascinating ethnic groups, Algeria should be one of the big names of the travel world. It isn’t – yet – so the intrepid and curious traveller can feel as if they have these vast swathes of spectacular desert and mountains all to themselves. To journey to Algeria is to step into an enormous adventure playground that will fulfil your most evocative dreams.