Where to Go - Africa

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Botswana | Egypt | Kenya | Morocco | Mozambique

Egypt

Population : 68,359,979
Literacy rate : 51.4%
Life expectancy at birth : male –61.29 yrs, female –65.47 yrs
Infant mortality rate : 62.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate : 1.72%
GDP growth rate : 5%
GDP per capita : £2,000
Unemployment : 11.8%
Inflation : 3.7%
TI index: 3.1
Climate : desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters.
Time :GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from May to September).
Electricity : Most areas 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Certain rural parts still use 110-380 volts AC.

Websites :

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism is at http://interoz.com/egypt/tourism/

The Egyptian Embassy in London is at http://egypt.embassyhomepage.com/

Lots of info at http://www.idsc.g ov.eg/english

Country Guide

You will find a warm welcome. In spite of its outward westernisation, this is still an Islamic country, and the usual restrictions apply, but perhaps not as rigorously as in some other Islamic countries.

There is a great demand for Business English, but there are also jobs teaching young learners. Women will find less difficulties here than in other Islamic countries. The cost of living is low. Cairo (El Qâhira) is an enormous city of some 10m inhabitants. The disorganisation is incredible, but it all works despite attempts to impose some sort of order.

Except for the narrow strips of land flanking the Nile, the rest of the country is desert. The point where the desert begins and the fertile part ends is quite abrupt and clearly visible.

The country’s problems have been blamed on the population growth rate. There is very little fertile land available and the population is growing too fast (1.2m extra people a year). Unemployment is high despite the government’s efforts.

Entry requirements

Work permit applications are only processed in Egypt. Most job-seekers enter the country on a one-month tourist visa, get a job and then apply for a permit to the Ministry of the Interior. It takes about two weeks for the process to go through.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, Malaria and Yellow Fever.

Tax and Insurance

Between 5 and 7%. Health insurance is essential.

Wages

£5 to £9 an hour in a school, or for private lessons £13 to £20.

Gap Year Programmes

Click here to find gap year programmes and placements in Egypt

Click here to find overland adventure tours from Cairo to Kathmandu

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