- Destinations
- Africa
- Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Surrounded by turquoise blue waters and sandy white beaches, the
British territory and volcanic island of Ascension is named after
the day of its recorded discovery. This tropical and very remote
destination steeped in history was initially discovered in 1501 by
Portuguese seafarer Joao da Nova Castelia, only to be rediscovered
two years later on Ascension Day by Alphonse d'Albuquerque.
Ascension Island remained uninhabited until 1815 when Emperor
Napoleon I was incarcerated on St Helena and ownership of the
island was taken over by the British when they established a naval
garrison. It later became a place of quarantine when the HMS
Bonetta brought her yellow fever victims here in 1838, many of whom
went on to be buried at the aptly named Comfortless Cove. Today it
is a popular place for relaxation and a pleasant shelter against
big waves for swimmers and a small cemetery named after the ship
can be found here, providing testimony of this era.
Turtle tracks in the beaches' sand are a common sight on
Ascension Island, known for its green turtles, which come ashore
from January to May to lay their eggs. Despite being home to over
44 dormant volcanic craters, this arid island comes with a soft
centre, namely the Green Mountain National Park. The 3,000-foot
(914m) Green Mountain radiates a verdant halo shaped by the
abundance of bamboo encircling its higher ground. Lower down lies
the perfect material for building sailing ship masts; a plantation
of tall Norfolk pine trees, originally planted by British mariners
for that exact purpose, should the need arise of course. Wild
flowers flourish sparsely while large colonies of land crabs can be
found scuttling through the brush on the mountainside.
Most visitors to Ascension Island find themselves in the capital
and port of Georgetown, one of the five main settlements and home
to all four of the island's pubs, each with their own peculiar
opening and closing times. Among some of the town's historic sites
are a small Roman Catholic church, the 'Grotto', and the remains of
a mosque, which served Muslims from West Africa in the early days
of occupation.
Ascension Island may be small, but there is plenty to keep the
active tourist busy with numerous walks, scuba diving
opportunities, and a wide variety of sports including golf, albeit
on one of the world's official worst golf courses. Sea fishing is
also a popular pastime with a wonderful variety of open-ocean fish,
including sharks, wahoo, tuna, marlin and sailfish.
Flights to Ascension Island are operated by the Royal Air Force,
with only a limited number of civilian passengers allowed per
flight. The Royal Mail Ship Saint Helena also travels between
Portland, Tenerife, Ascension Island, Saint Helena, Walvis Bay and
Cape Town. A shuttle service runs between Saint Helena and
Ascension Island.
Information & Facts
Business
Business is conducted much like in the UK. Politeness and
punctuality are key to good business relations, and initial
meetings are often conducted formally and impersonally, becoming
more open and social as things progress. Business cards are
exchanged at introductions. Dress is formal, with dark suits
preferred. Business hours are generally 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday
with an hour taken at lunch.
Climate
Ascension Island experiences warm weather all year round with
the average temperature reaching a maximum of 86ºF (30ºC) during
the months of January, February and March. The South East Trade
Winds moderate these temperatures and rainfall is variable.
Temperatures at sea level range from 68ºF to 88ºF (18ºC to 31ºC)
and about 58ºF to 78ºF (8ºC to 28ºC) on Green Mountain. Showers
occur throughout the year with slightly heavier rains in the
January-April period.
Communications
The international dialling code for Ascension Island is +247.
The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (eg.
0044 for the united Kingdom). Prepaid phone cards and telephones
are available from Cable and Wireless Ascension Island. Most hotels
provide Internet connections.
Customs
Customs in Ascension Island are much like those of the UK with
handshaking being customary when introduced to someone new.
Duty Free
Travellers to Ascension Island over 16 years with goods
purchased personal consumption do not have to pay duty on these
goods provided they are for personal use or are gifts for family
and friends. This does not apply to large quantities of alcohol or
tobacco if the amounts exceed the following limits: 200 cigarettes
or 250g tobacco, 1 litre of spirits, 2 litres of wine or 12 x 340ml
beer.
Electricity
Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. Flat three-pin
plugs are standard.
Health
Medical insurance is required when visiting Ascension Island. No
vaccination is required before travel but a vaccination against
yellow fever is recommended in case of a flight/ship being diverted
to a risk area (Africa). Non-malarial mosquitoes can be a nuisance
and travellers should arm themselves with mosquito repellent. A
small hospital is available to deal with day-to-day complaints but
sophisticated treatment is not available on the Island. Travellers
should carry adequate supplies of prescription medication. A
UK-qualified dentist is available on the island. Travellers
planning on diving should be aware that there is no decompression
facility on Ascension, nor are there qualified rescue divers.
Language
English is the official language.
Money
The currency in use on Ascension Island is the Saint Helena
Pound which is fixed to the British Pound Sterling. This is divided
into 100 pence. Saint Helena banknotes are accepted on Ascension
Island and Saint Helena only. They cannot be exchanged in UK banks.
Notes and coins are the same as in Great Britain apart from the
design British money is accepted all over the island as well as the
US dollar at Cat Hill (US Base). UK Pound Sterling banknotes are
accepted on Ascension. Some outlets also accept US Dollars.
Passport Visa
All visitors to Ascension Island require entry approval
prior to travel. All visitors must complete and return the
'Ascension Island Entry Permit' before travelling. The entry permit
is the equivalent of a travel visa. This applies to all visitors
who intend to clear passport control, including those who are
transferring from ship to plane and vice versa. A medical insurance
is required. Maximum stay on the island extends up to 3 months.
Safety
The level of crime on Ascension Island is very low. Crimes or
violence against residents or visitors are virtually unheard of.
Visitors hiring cars should be aware that wild sheep and donkeys
can congregate on the roads, especially during wet weather.
Time
Local time in Ascension Island is GMT. (GMT -1 between the
last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).
Tipping
Tips of 10 to 15% are expected in restaurants and upmarket
hotels in Ascension Island if a service charge hasn't been
included. Other services are discretionary.