TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
TBA |
| Currency |
(XAF)
Africaine Franc |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 240, City Code, Bata 08+4D, Malabo 09+4D |
Time:
GMT + 1.
Electricity:
220/240 volts AC.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 240. Operator assistance may be
required when making international calls from the country.
Climate:
Tropical climate all year round. Rainfall is heavy for most of
the year, decreasing slightly in most areas between December and
February.
Required
clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens. Waterproofing
is necessary.
Food & Drink: There are few restaurants in
Equatorial Guinea and those that exist are mainly restricted to
Malabo and Bata and do not necessarily open every day. Most restaurants
serve Spanish or continental cuisine. Beer is usually expensive,
though a local sugar cane brew, malamba, can be sampled very cheaply.
Shopping:
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1300, 1600-1900.
Tipping:
Unless service charges are added to bills, 10 to 15 per cent.
Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc
(CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000,
5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250,
100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.
Currency
exchange: Equatorial Guinea is part of the French Monetary
Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique
Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued
by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank
of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Foreign currencies are best exchanged at banks, of which, however,
there are few. Receipts for currency exchange should be retained.
Credit
& debit cards: Diners Club is accepted on a limited
basis. Check with your credit or debit card company for details
of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers
cheques: Travellers cheques are generally not recommended.
