LIBYA-THE PARADISE OF AFRICA
Libya is an extraordinary country where the history comes alive through its magnificent monuments on its shores. It is also home to the best and most accessible desert scenery of Africa. The country is covered by 90% of the Sahara Desert which consists of few enchanting oasis towns and palm fringed lakes surrounded by sand dunes in the middle of the desert. Libya is situated in North Africa and is fourth largest country of the continent bordering Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria, Tunisia and Mediterranean Sea to the north. The country has second highest GDP per capita in Africa after Equatorial Guinea.
Most of the country is desert so the climate is mainly dry and desert like in nature. Libya shares the longest coastline in Africa bordering the Mediterranean hence the northern regions along the coastline enjoy the mild Mediterranean climate. Sandstorms and dust storms are very common here and many oases can be found scattered throughout the country. Most of Libya is covered in desert making it the most arid places on earth. The temperature in the desert is extreme and receives rainfall once in years or decades.
ECONOMY
The Libyan flag consists of green colour with no other colour, design or symbol making it the only national flag in the world with just one colour and no other characteristics. The abundant oil reserves in Libya generate maximum revenue in the Libyan economy. It contributes one quarter to the GDP and almost all export earnings. As there is hardly any fertile land in the country, around 75% of Libya’s food is imported and the crops grown include wheat, barley, olives, dates, peanuts and soybeans. The other non oil industries contribute 20% to the GDP. The currency is Libyan dinar and few ATMs can be found in the capital. Apart from petroleum, there is food processing, textile, handicrafts and cement industry.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Libya has a small population living in a large land area. Around 90% of the people live in less than 10% of the area mainly along the coast. Native Libyans are mainly Arabs and Berbers along with a large population of Africans from other countries also like Egypt and Sub Saharan Africans. There is still a small minority of Italian population though most of them left the country after independence in 1947. Arabic is the official language spoken by 80% of the population and used for all administrative purposes. The rest 20% speak other native languages which do not have any official status. Italian and English are also spoken by the old and younger generation respectively. Islam is the predominant religion consisting of about 97% of the population. Majority of the Muslims in Libya follow Sunni Islam which also forms the basis of the government policies. The rest 3% consists of Christians, Jews and a small Anglican community.
The culture of Libya is similar to that of the Arab community and boasts of few theatres and art galleries. The Libyan folk culture is still alive and popular which the tourists can see in their festivals in the form of music and dance. The local cuisine is simple and bears resemblance to Sahara cuisine. Pork and alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited in the country being an Islamic country.
TRIPOLI
The capital of Libya is a cosmopolitan and the largest city located at a strategic place where the Sahara meets the Mediterranean. Although the night life is very limited in Libya, there are few tea and coffee shops in Tripoli which are open till late night. Tourists can enjoy the cinema showing foreign films and participate in the festivals with traditional music and dancing. There are many historical sites in the city including the Tripoli Castle or Red Castle which is also housing a museum. Another stunning structure is the Draghut Mosque with its elegant pillars and arches. The main hub of central Tripoli is the Green Square where the medina meets the roads of modern Tripoli. The Jamahiriya Museum gives a detailed description of all periods of Libyan history and houses the best collection of Mediterranean art. Other historical sites worth visiting are Madrassat al-Founoun Wasana’a al-Islamiya, the House of Yusuf Karamanli, Gurgi Mosque, Arch of Marcus Aurelius and many more.
ATTRACTIONS
• Sahara Desert
The Sahara is most beautiful and best accessible from Libya. Tourists can enjoy the peace of the grand dunes of the Idehan Murzuq or can go crazy in desert driving sliding down in a 4WD down a steep sand dune. There are also special tours for camel treks through the Akakus Mountains and in the quiet beauty of the Sahara.• Ghadames
Also known as ‘Pearl of the Desert’ is an exclusive oasis town situated in the Sahara. The exquisite architecture of the town is protected by UNESCO and consists of whitewashed mud brick walls surrounded by intricate orchard gardens with date palms and orange trees. This enchanted caravan town is a must visit for the tourists to se the preserved traditional houses and labyrinth streets.• Leptis Magna
These well preserved ancient remains of a Roman settlement are incredibly charming with the detailed basilica and the massive amphitheatre. The Severan Arch and the marble and granite baths are also worth seeing.• Beaches
Libya offers plenty of choice to the spectacular beaches along the Mediterranean including Sabratha (finest Roman city with best theatre), Neqezzah, Ras-al-Hammamah and many more. Tourists can engage themselves in water activities like snorkelling where they can see plenty sunken remains near Apollonia.• Waw al-Namus
Tourists would be bewitched by this extinct volcano where the black volcanic sands encircle the multicoloured lakes in the Sahara’s heart.
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
There is an international airport at the capital Tripoli and Benghazi servicing many international flights from Africa and Europe. Libyan Arab Airlines is the national carrier operating domestic and international flights. Other airlines providing services are Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, Syrian air and many more. Libya does not have a rail network so the other main form of transportation is by land. Travellers can also enter Libya from the borders of Egypt and Tunisia where numerous long distance buses and tour operators are available for services. For travel within the country, car hire facility is available from Tripoli although care should be taken as the signposts are all in Arabic and the wind blown sand deposits and animals cause hazards on the roads. There are few luxury bus services available between Tripoli and Benghazi and all other major cities.
The communication system in Libya is good with telephones available to make international calls through telephone offices and internet cafes. Internet cafes are mostly located in major cities only and there is a good coverage of mobile telephones in all major towns. The postal services are also good taking about one week to reach Europe by airmail and two weeks to North America. The media is all run and controlled by the government giving very little freedom of press. The main TV and radio run channel is Great Jamahiriyah which is state run and available through satellite.
FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION
There are many restaurants in the main towns serving a variety of cuisines including soup, salads and a selection of meat and fish dishes. The Libyan cuisine is a blend of Arabic and Mediterranean with a strong influence of Italian hence depicting its history. Couscous and Ruuz which is a rice dish served with spices, meat and vegetables are the national dishes. Other common Libyan foods include shorba which is a soup, Rishda and Bazin which is a hard paste made from barley, salt and water. Tourists must also try the savouring Libyan tea served in a thick small glass along with mint and peanuts.
There is a wide variety of hotels in Libya from the budget with basic facilities to the more luxurious ones with en suite rooms with TV, Radio, and AC along with good international cuisine serving restaurants. There are also a few private hotels in Tripoli offering more charm and a friendly service. Outdoor lovers can opt for camping and caravanning in the open desert under the stars in the sky and experience an unrivalled thrill. All other camping facilities can be easily found near oases towns in Sahara desert where the tourists can rest and take a shower after the dusty desert hikes. There are also some camps along the coast at various beaches offering mid range facilities. Some visitors who want to go low on budget can stay in youth hostels providing basic facilities with dormitories and shared bathrooms. There are also few bed and breakfast accommodations with all kitchen facilities and private bedroom and bathrooms.
Libya is on the path of becoming a popular tourist destination where the visitors can have the best experience of the desert and the beaches together. It is recommended to go with the tour guides to this vast country to get the best understanding of this country. The warm hospitality of the Libyans will make it an unforgettable experience for all.
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