TUNISIA
January 2011
This information predates the deposition of Beni Ali in early 2011, but
you get the feeling not too much may have changed for tourists.
Tunisian dinar exchange rates
Dinar.
1.9TD = 1 eu or 2.3TD = £1
Price
of fuel
Unleaded
petrol about 1.1 TD/litre; diesel 0.74 TD
Costs
Moderate
Useful
languages
Arabic, French, English
Visas
Required by all except citizens of EU countries, Canada and USA
Border
formalities
If you're ferrying a car from
southern Europe you do your formalities aboard
the ships from Marseille or Genoa if they are
CTN ships. It's frustrating
when it's busy (holidays) but does mean you get
out of the port quickly. With SNCM ships you do it
in the port. At La Goulette (Tunis port) watch
out to ID-badged hustlers in grey overalls working
with the Customs to fleece you if you don't unpack.
Stick to your guns; you should not have to pay
anything. Leaving La Goulette back back to Europe there was no hassle
or hustling.
No carnet required. A Green Card extension to your EU motor insurance is valid in Tunisia or you can buy local motor 'assurance' at the port easily enough. No one checks except when you come back from Algeria and maybe Libya where you may need to pay 1TD for a new driving permit (so keep 1TD handy).
Desert
pistes
For
Brits it's a long way and an expensive ferry compared
to Morocco and, desert-wise, there's much less
going on here. With Algeria's Grand Erg Oriental
spilling over the border, there's more sand than
Morocco. The far south is a military area and lately
it's said that
escorts are now needed here.
The
only border open into Libya is on the coast at
Ras Ajdir.
Restrictions
to independent travel in southern Tunisia from
2009
Green
zone: guide and
permit required, at least 2 cars, gps, satphone
Red zone: only organized tours, rallies, at least 4
cars and as above.

Thanks to Ulrich H for the
map