The Guianas - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 657

East Indian); 31 percent Creole (people
of mixed European and African origin);
15 percent Javanese; 10 percent Maroon
(Bush Negro); 3.7 percent Amerindians;
Jews, Chinese, Portuguese, Lebanese and
Brazilians make up the rest. The main
religions are Hinduism, Christianity
and Islam.
The official language in Suriname is
Dutch but the common language is
Sranan Tongo (Surinamese Creole),
also known as Takitaki. Several Maroon
languages, including Saramaccan and
Aukan, are spoken, as are Amerindian
languages such as Carib. A reasonable
number of people speak some English,
particularly in Paramaribo. Always
check with your guide and ask
permission before taking pictures of
people, buildings and sacrificial areas,
especially when visiting Maroon
villages. For tipping , ten percent is
the norm if a service charge hasn't
been included.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Fire services T 110
Ambulance T 113
Police T 115

CRIME AND SAFETY
Locals are proud of saying that tourists
can walk safely from one end of
Paramaribo to the other at night. Take
this with a pinch of salt; as in most cities,
burglary, armed robbery and other petty
crime does take place. Avoid flaunting
valuables and don't walk down
inadequately lit streets after dark.
Travel to the interior is usually without
incident, although there have been some
reports of independent tourists being
robbed. Be careful on the roads , as drivers
can be reckless, and mopeds, scooters and
motorcycles always have the right of way.

7

HEALTH
Medical care is limited, as is the small
ambulance fleet. Academisch Ziekenhuis
(Fluestraat; T 113, W azp.sr) has the only
24-hour emergency room service in
Paramaribo as well as general practi-
tioners who speak English. Tap water is
allegedly safe to drink in Paramaribo, but,
where possible, drink bottled water.
Insect repellent is essential as there are
reported cases of mosquito-borne dengue
fever. Consult your doctor regarding
malaria tablets (malaria is present in some
parts of the interior) and the various
vaccinations required, which include
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, yellow fever,
typhoid, tetanus-diphtheria and rabies.

COMMUNICATIONS
Postal services are provided by the
Central Post Office, Surpost, near RBTT
in Kerkplein 1. The country code is 597.
Public telephone booths in Suriname do
not accept coins, so you can either buy
phone cards ( denominations of US$3,
5 and 10) from newsagents, shops and
hotels, or else use Skype. To use your
mobile phone , get it unlocked, then
purchase a Telesur or Digicel SIM card
and some prepaid charge cards costing
SRD5, 10, 20 or 50. Internet cafés
are dying out due to proliferation of
(mostly) free internet/wi-fi in many
hotels/guesthouses.

INFORMATION AND MAPS
Staff at the Toeristen Informatie Centrum
(Tourist Information Centre), at Fort
Zeelandia Complex, Waterkant 1
(Mon-Fri 8am-3.30pm; T 479 200),
are very helpful and speak English.
They provide free maps and information
in Dutch and English on transport,
restaurants, nightlife, day-trips and tours,
as well as the latest copy of Suriname's
Destination Guide .

SURINAME ON THE NET
W suriname-tourism.org The Suriname
Tourism Foundation has info on what to
do, where to stay and how to get around
in Suriname.
W ci-suriname.org Info on Suriname's

protected areas by Conservation
International.
W whc.unesco.org/en/list/940 Info on
Paramaribo's historic city centre.