Kazakhstan Tenge
The tenge is the official currency in Kazakhstan (which may also be spelled as Kazakhstan). Each tenge is divided into 100 tiyn. The tiyn are no longer in circulation, so this division is actually theoretical only. The word tenge is derived from the Kazakh word for scales, but it also relates to the Russian word for money which is translated roughly as 'den'gi'.
The currency is issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan and comes as both notes and coins. Coins are issued in the form of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 tenge, but 1 and 2 tenge pieces are still legal tender, but they are relatively worthless.
Notes come as 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 tenge.
The currency is identified internationally by the letters KZT.
History of the Tenge
The tenge is very much a 'new kid on the block' as currencies go. It was only introduced in 1993, when it was brought in as a replacement for the Russian ruble, which had been the currency in use in the Soviet Union, of which Kazakhstan was an integral part. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and as more and more countries became independent, there was a desire for each independent country to have its own currency. So each country in the Commonwealth of Independent States, (countries which had formerly been part of the USSR) started work on designing their own currency.
And so it was, that in November 1993, the tenge first hit the streets of Kazakhstan as a brand new currency, symbolising all the hopes and dreams of this fledgling country.
Getting Hold of Tenge
Getting hold of tenge is not that difficult. There are a number of ATM machines throughout the country, with most major towns and cities having a reasonable number of ATM's: indeed the banking system in Kazakhstan is actually the most advanced and sophisticated in the whole of Central Asia, so this is not a financial backwater, but rather somewhere that you will be able to access cash.
However, if you plan to use your credit or debit card in Kazakhstan, then you need to be aware that prior to travelling there, you should notify your bank or card provider that your card is going to be used in Kazakhstan. Since it is not a standard destination, your bank or card provider may pick up on the fact that it is being used there and if you haven't notified them that it is going to be used in Kazakhstan, they may think that it is being used fraudulently and as a result, may stop its use, which is simply too much hassle, so take the time to do things properly and notify them prior to your travelling date.
Credit card use is beginning to become more common in Kazakhstan, but it is best to still think about cash and using cash for all transactions.
If you want to exchange traveller's cheques, then you shouldn't really have too much of a problem, but make sure that you take them in US dollars, simply to ease the process of the transaction.
If you want to take cash in, then the preferred currency is US dollars, although euros are becoming more popular. But taking cash in can be a bit of a hassle, since banks only want to exchange new notes and if you have ones that are not so new, then you can actually have real problems changing them over, so err on the side of caution with cash and bring only new or nearly new, notes.
Safety Issues
Kazakhstan is not a particularly dangerous country in terms of terrorism. But, even though the risk is not that high, travellers should be aware that there are extremists, such as those connected to the Islamic Jihad Union, which are operational and active throughout Central Asia. This is not to say for definite that they are active in Kazakhstan, but it is an issue to be aware of and to bear in mind when you are in the country.
Kazakhstan, in addition has quite a high crime rate. The main problem is that it is a very 'new' country that is still finding its way and in reality, it has been gripped by issues such as very high inflation and costs of living that seem to keep escalating, no matter what the government does.
Petty crimes have been rising steadily over the last few years. These include pick-pocketing as well as bag snatching. However, the number of more serious crimes has also been increasing dramatically and there are more and more incidents of car jacking being reported, as well as armed robbery.
Travellers should also be aware that there is a risk in Almaty that if they are drinking, they may run a risk of being drugged and then robbed, which is not a common experience, but it has happened and seems to be on the increase.
But once you are aware of the dangers then you can take action to ensure that you are safe and that your safety is not compromised. So the crime rate is high, but it is not so unsafe that travel to Kazakhstan is being highlighted as dangerous.
There are various 'scams' that locals like to play on travellers. One of which involves a lost wallet, whereby someone finds a lost wallet and offers to share the contents with you. Then the supposed owner turns up and is angry and aggrieved that his money has been taken, so he demands that you pay him some compensation. This is basically just a rip off, so if someone 'finds' a wallet in your presence, then simply walk away and do not show any interest. There are various ways in which this scam happens, but just be aware that sometimes seemingly innocent situations can just be a way of conning you out of some money.
Spending Your Tenge
People often assume that because Kazakhstan was once part of the Soviet Union it will be cheap, cheap, cheap. But this is not actually the case. Inflation has meant that it has become much more expensive than it used to be and there is no longer any 'buoying up' of the economy from the USSR, so Kazakhstan is feeling the pinch. So although it is still cheaper than European type countries, it is not as cheap as you may assume, so always budget to take just a little more money than you think that you will need. Inflation is less than 10%, but this means that prices do seem to keep escalating, almost on a daily basis! However, one thing that Kazakhstan does have is oil, so that should help stabilise the economy.
Kazakhstan is relatively unknown to tourists and travellers. It is a country that has nothing spectacular in terms of the scenery or archaeology or architecture, so travellers tend to stay away. It is not somewhere that people want to visit, so they can tick it off their '100 places to go before you die' list.
But for some, this is the very reason that it is a destination worth seeing in its own right. It is not full of travellers, all turning their host country into mini-versions of their homeland. There are not endless streams of tourists all flocking to see the same sights, so you get the chance to explore what is actually the 9th biggest country in the world and you can practically do this alone.
There are some fantastic treks through some of the mountain areas. You also get to see some stunning wildlife, such as the snow leopards, or maral deer and bears as well as wolves.
But for those who like their holidays a little more tame, there are some interesting sights to see throughout the country, with the Almatinsky Nature Reserve a firm favourite (which is slightly safer than treks alone in the mountains) or you could visit the Kozha Akhmed Yasaui Mausoleum who was a poet and Sufi teacher who lived in the 12th Century.
Due to the fact that the country is so big and it is even on three time zones, you will find that getting around it by bus, car or train is actually pretty lengthy and unless you have an awful lot of time to spare, then you are probably better off flying, in order to get around in a matter of hours, as opposed to days.
Be aware as well that trains are often really slow. Which may not seem that big a deal, but you could be covering thousands of miles and in addition, they are often overcrowded, quite smelly and armed robbers or pickpockets may operate on the trains, so try to avoid travel by this means if possible.
Overview
The fact that Kazakhstan is so undiscovered will usually elicit two reactions. The first reaction is that it is not a country that you want to go to, because it does not have the tourist facilities that help 'make' a holiday. The second reaction is that it is a real opportunity to explore a country that is still quite raw and unspoiled by hoards of tourists.
Thus if you are looking for a holiday destination that may be full of adventure, of meeting local people and experiencing a way of life that really is quite different from the West, then Kazakhstan may well be the country for you. If, however, you are simply looking for somewhere to go and recharge your batteries after a very heavy time at work, then you may find that you would be better off going somewhere that you can find a little more available for tourists.
No one knows for how long Kazakhstan will remain a country that is so 'visitor' free, but currently people are really quite friendly and helpful and sometimes even a little curious about why you have come to their country and not gone somewhere a little more exciting!
Since the crime rate has been rising and the risk of terrorism is always a real risk these days, before you finalise any plans to travel to Kazakhstan, it is worth checking out the safety situation by visiting a website such as: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/?topic=Kazakhstan
Although it is aimed primarily at Australian travellers, the advice will be relevant for all Western travellers.