Country Description
The Republic of Cape Verde consists of nine inhabited and several uninhabited
volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa. Most are rugged and
mountainous; three (Sal, Maio, and Boa Vista) are flat, desert islands with
sand beaches. Praia, the capital, is on the island of Santiago, and
Cape Verde’s major shipping port is Mindelo on the island of São
Vicente. Portuguese is the official language. Praia’s international
airport, which opened in October 2005, offers flights by national carrier
Cape Verdean Airlines (TACV). Cape Verde has another international
airport located on Sal Island, more than 100 miles northeast of Santiago
Island. While the tourist industry brings ever-growing numbers of visitors,
facilities on many islands remain limited. Sal has the most developed
tourist industry.
Cape Verde, similar to Hawaii, is an archipelago of volcanic
islands. Although most islands now appear inactive, the island
of Fogo is still active. Fogo erupted several times in the twentieth
century, the last time in 1995.
Cape Verde enjoys a stable, democratic government with
an elected president as head of state; a prime minister nominated by
the National Assembly (the national legislative body) as head of government,
and elected members of the unicameral National Assembly. The
judicial system is comprised of numerous courts, culminating in a Supreme
Court. Legislative elections, which passed off peacefully, took place
in January 2006.
Entry Requirements
Visas are required for all travellers and must be arranged prior to a visit.
For those travelling via Senegal there is a Cape Verde Embassy in Dakar. Specialist
travel agents dealing with Cape Verde can also arrange visas. Visa approval
can take several days and Cape Verde issues two types of tourist visas: a
single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days or a multiple-entry visa valid
for one year.
Crime Information
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the
global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas,
including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Most visits
to Cape Verde are trouble-free. Crime rates in Cape Verde are low but
there have been incidents of muggings involving British nationals. You
should avoid carrying valuables in public and remain vigilant at all times. We
recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before
travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you
for all the activities you want to undertake.
While in a foreign country, a citizen is subject to that
country's laws and regulations. Penalties for breaking the law
can be more severe than at home for similar offenses. Persons
violating Cape Verde’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled,
arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking
in illegal drugs in Cape Verde are severe, and convicted offenders
can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Traffic Safety and General Travel
Road
Traffic is usually light and road conditions and driving standards are generally
of a reasonable quality. Cape Verde has an extensive road system. Asphalt
roads used to be relatively uncommon with the exception of airport connector
roads. On the islands of Santiago, Sal, and São Vicente, many
roads in the main cities and around these islands are now asphalt. On
the other islands (Fogo, Brava, Maio, São Nicolau,and Boa Vista), the
roads are narrow, winding, and mostly cobblestone. There continue to
be projects to convert cobblestone roads to asphalt. The newer asphalt
roads make driving more comfortable, but can be more dangerous since these
roads are smoother and lack speed bumps, which results in a tendency for drivers
to speed. During the rainy season, cobblestone roads may be slippery,
and mudslides and large falling rocks are common on roads that cut through
mountains.
Houses are often located adjacent to the road, so drivers
must pay careful attention to people, especially children, and livestock
on the road. Roads and streets are often unlit, so driving at
night is hazardous. Most accidents result from aggressive driving,
excessive speed, and passing in blind curves. Driving while under
the influence of alcohol is a problem. The peak time for drunk
drivers is on Sundays, but one can encounter them at any time. Also,
extreme caution should be exercised after celebrations, festivals and
open-air concerts as well as during holiday periods, such as Christmas,
New Year’s, and Carnival.
Service stations are available and quite modern. Taxis
and buses generally offer clean, dependable service on all islands. Bus
service in Praia is reliable and inexpensive, and most buses are fairly
new. Intra-island service usually consists of minivans (typically
Toyota Hi-Ace) or converted pickup trucks that have benches along the
edges of the pickup bed. Intra-island service can be dangerous
because some drivers overload their vehicles, exceed the speed limit,
and drive after drinking alcohol. Before entering any transport,
riders should pay close attention to the behavior of the driver.
In Cape Verde, traffic moves on the right side of the
road. At intersections, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way,
but at roundabouts (traffic circles), cars inside the circle have the
right-of-way. Under Cape Verdean law, seat belts must be worn
at all times by the driver as well as the person in the front passenger
seat. Children under 12 must sit in the back seat. Motorcyclists
must wear crash helmets and use headlights at all times.
In the event of an accident or emergency, call 131 for
fire or 132 for police.
Air
During peak travel season, travelers who connect to other islands via the inter-island
plane service may experience delays in receiving their luggage at their final
destination because of the limited carrying capacity of inter-island planes. You
should have a change of clothing and all vital materials in your carry-on
luggage to avoid frustration in the first 24-48 hours in country. Inter-island
travel is generally via 45-seat propeller planes or ferries. Not all
flights between islands are direct. During the dusty season (late December
to late March), inter-island plane service may be cancelled due to poor visibility
and related safety concerns. The islands of Brava and Santo Antão
are not accessible via plane.
Sea
There is regular daily inter-island ferry service between Santo Antão
and São Vicente. There is also ferry service between Santiago,
Brava, and Fogo, however, these ferry links do not offer daily runs and the
service schedule frequently changes.
Telecommunications
CV Telecom is currently the only provider for fixed-line voice, data service,
and Internet service (dial-up, ISDN, and ADSL). Mobile phone service
is on the GSM standard, and is available from CV Telecom and a new competitor
called T+. Only major cities and towns have Internet cafes, and international
services in Cape Verde are dependent on transatlantic fiber-optic cables. Visitors
who need reliable communication to other countries may consider bringing
satellite-based voice and/or data equipment. The international country
code for Cape Verde is 238. Fixed and mobile line numbers all have
seven digits. Land lines begin with the number two, and mobile numbers
begin with the number nine. Telephone connections are good, but calls
outside the archipelago are very expensive.
Currency Regulations
The Cape Verde Escudo is tied to the Euro at CV Esc 110.27 = 1 Euro. Banks
will exchange hard currencies. Main hotels and restaurants will accept the
major credit cards.
Medical Facilities
Medical facilities in Cape Verde are limited, and some medicines are in short
supply or unavailable. There are hospitals in Praia and Mindelo, with
smaller medical facilities in other places. The islands of Brava and
Santo Antão no longer have functioning airports so air evacuation
in the event of a medical emergency is nearly impossible from these two islands. Brava
also has limited inter-island ferry service.
Malaria exists in Cape Verde, although not to the extent
found in mainland Africa. The risk of contracting malaria is mainly
limited to the island of Santiago, with a higher risk from July to
December. It is recommended that travelers take preventative measures
while visiting Cape Verde.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Cape
Verde and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. You
should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For
more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS. We recommend
that you take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance before
travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and
evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights, and stolen cash, cards, passports
and luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy
covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.
