Angola – Travel guide at Black Countries Worldwide
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| Angola |
Capital Luanda
Currency Angolan kwanza (AOA)
Population 25.7 million (2014)
Electricity 220 volt / 50 hertz (Europlug)
Country code +244
Time zone UTC+01:00
Emergencies 113 (police), 115 (fire department), 116 (emergency medical services)
Driving side left
Angola, a country in Central Africa, is bordered by Namibia in the south, Zambia in the east, and the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north. This country is rich in natural resources with large reserves of oil and diamonds, hydroelectric potential, and rich agricultural land. Despite this, Angola remains a very poor country, having been ravaged by a bloody civil war from 1975 to 2002.
Regions
Central Angola
A series of irregular, high escarpments which drop steeply to the nation's best beaches on the Atlantic coast
Southwest Angola
the most arid region of the country with savanna plains and the northern continuation of the Namibian desert
Eastern Angola
The "empty" party of Angola, savannah plains intersected by five great rivers
Cabinda
Northern exclave on the Atlantic ocean with a huge proportion of the nation's oil reserves, beautiful rainforests, and an active secessionist movement
Cities
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| Luanda |
Luanda — the massive, overcrowded, chaotic, and incredibly expensive capital of the country, filled with nightlife and culture, a jarring mix of wealthy expats in the oil industry and the masses of destitute migrants from the rest of the country.
Benguela — the most tourist-friendly city in one of the world's least touristy countries, with a strong Carnavale tradition, pretty oceanfront, and by the nation's best beaches.
Cabinda — the wealthy capital of oil-rich Cabinda Province
Huambo — the center of the Ovimbundu region, one of Angola's larger cities that suffered greatly during the civil war, surrounded by much natural beauty.
Lobito — a beachfront city, basically part of Benguela, which is the epicenter of Carnavale celebrations.
Lubango — a good base for exploring the mountainous escarpment in the center of southern Angola.
Malanje — a destination owing to its proximity to tourist attractions like Kalandula Falls, Pungo Andongo, and Cangandala National Park.
Menongue — a small city in the remote southeast, the terminus of the Moçâmedes Railway, from Namibe.
Namibe — beachfront capital of the desert southwest, and jumping off point for exploring Iona National Park, and excursions to meet Khoisan peoples.
Other Destinations
Cangandala National Park — Angola's most famous park, a reserve designed to protect the critically endangered Giant Sable antelope, which is the national symbol of Angola.
Floresta do Maiombe — a rainforest reserve in Cabinda Province with very high biodiversity and many rivers and waterfalls.
Great Escarpment — the steepest mountains of Angola, with scenic drives (4x4 only), opportunities for adventurous hikers, and some spectacular views, most notably the Tundavala Gap.
Iona National Park — adjacent to Namibia's Skeleton Coast, a sparsely inhabited desert region, accessible but short on infrastructure, home to some isolated and very traditional semi-nomadic peoples.
Kalandula Falls — one of Angola's most famous sights, near Malanje.
Kissama National Park — Angola's most accessible park, near Luanda, with accommodations for tourists.
Mussulo Island — a beautiful extension of land in the south of Luanda that's famous for its natural beauty; explore some of its typical food such as ‘pirão’, funge, and moamba.
Pungo Andongo — large, unusual black rock formations, reasonably easy to visit from Luanda or Malanje.
Sumbe Caves — beautiful caves in a jungle-filled canyon near the small city of Sumbe, about four hours south of Luanda.
Understand
The people of Angola are stoics. They have a deep understanding of patience and avoid blaming the difficulties the country faces on the fact that there was war. In fact, Angolans behave as if there was no war although it is deeprooted in every Angolan. Music is the heart and soul of Angolans, it can be heard anywhere and they use anything as an excuse to party. The country has a wide range of music, mainly Kuduro, Kizomba, Semba, and Tarrachinha, the latter being more sensual than all the others. In all, it is safe to say that Angolans are fun and loving people with a thirst for more of what life has to give.
History
Angola was a Portuguese colony from 1575 to 1950 and overseas territory from 1951 to 1975. After independence, Angola was the scene of an intense civil war from 1975 to 2002. The country is the second-largest petroleum and diamond producer in sub-Saharan Africa; however, its life expectancy and infant mortality rates are both among the worst ranked in the world. In August 2006, a peace treaty was signed with a faction of the FLEC, a separatist guerrilla group from the Cabinda exclave in the North, which is still active. About 65% of Angola's oil comes from that region.
Climate
Like the rest of tropical Africa, Angola experiences distinct, alternating rainy and dry seasons.
The coastal strip is tempered by the cool Benguela Current, resulting in a climate similar to coastal Peru or Baja California. It is semiarid in the South and along the coast to Luanda. There is a short rainy season lasting from February to April. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild. The northern part has a cool, dry season (May to October) and a hot, rainy season (November to April). In the interior, above 1,000m (3,300 ft), the temperature and rainfall decrease. The interior highlands have a mild climate with a rainy season from November through April followed by a cool dry season from May to October.
The heaviest rainfall occurs in April and is accompanied by violent storms. The far north and Cabinda enjoy rain throughout much of the year.
Electricity
Officially 220V & 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack a transforming adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Angola.
Also, be aware of the power-related problems in Angola. If you plan to rent a house, you for sure should rent a house with a generator. Power outages are quite frequent.
Books about Angola
There is very little literature on Angola available and most of the available literature is in Portuguese or (in some cases) French.
Bay of Tigers: An Odyssey through War-torn Angola by Pedro Rosa Mendes was translated from the Portuguese and published by Harcourt in 2003. Mendes traveled across the country by train in 1997 while the war was still going on in Angola. His account is a fascinating look at the people and the nature of life there during the war.
John Frederick Walker's A Certain Curve of Horn documents the history of a subspecies of Antelope unique to Angola - "Palanca Negra Gigante" (Hippotragus níger variant).
Ryszard Kapuściński authored a journalistic narrative called Another Day of Life in which he reports on the chaotic period leading up to Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975. As one of the only journalists in Angola during this very dangerous period, his perspective is rare and full of insight.
The travel writer Paul Theroux visited Angola and wrote about it in his book The Last Train to Zona Verde (2013).
Entry requirements
Passport holders of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Angola when the purpose of the visit is tourism for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted): Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Singapore, Zimbabwe.
From 30 March 2018, Angola started issuing tourist visas valid for 30 days in a simplified procedure to visitors from the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and Zambia.
Visitors must first apply for a pre-visa online with the Migration and Foreigners Service and after such pre-visa is granted they can obtain a visa on arrival at Luanda Airport. In order to obtain a pre-visa applicants must submit proof of accommodation and subsistence means, a return ticket and the international certificate of vaccination.
When obtaining a visa from countries to the north, you will often only be issued a 5-day transit visa for Angola. If traveling by road, this will only give you enough time to get to Luanda where it takes up to 4 days to get another five-day transit visa. If you're coming into Angola from DR Congo, you may well need an Angolan visa before entering DR Congo.
Places To See
In Luanda: the Mussulo island for clean tropical beaches and water sports, the Benfica Market for Kwanza River.
Eco Tur Angola does various bespoke no tours in Angola including Kissama with specialist game viewing vehicles.
In Benguela: Baia Azul for beautiful desert beaches. Art deco architecture in Benguela. Lobito City for the Restinga Peninsula and ice cold draught Cuca beer, the Benguela Rail road, and fantastic scenery.
In Kwanza Sul - Cubal Canyon, Conde Hot springs and Cachoeiras and Binga Waterfalls, with the Cambambe Dam on River Kwanza. Waku Kungo plains have fantastic scenery.
In Malange - Kalandula Waterfalls and Pungo n'Dongo Black Stones.
In Huila - Serra de Leba, Tunbda Vala Gorge, Mumuila tribespeople, fantastic scenery.
In Namibe - Arco Lagoon, beaches and a desert, and Mucubais tribespeople.
In Huambo - City Tours, Alto Hama hot springs, and fantastic scenery.
In Cunene - Himba tribes people, Ruacana Falls, and fantastic scenery.
Language
Portuguese is the official national language, with 70% of the population speaking it as a first or second language.
Significant native languages spoken include Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo. It is also sometimes possible to use French and Afrikaans (for Namibian or South African people).
English is not widely spoken. However, as many Angolans are doing business in foreign countries, quite a few English-speaking multinational companies have offices in the country and international schools are being set up, studying English is quite popular.
Money
Exchange rates for Angolan kwanzas
As of January 2018:
US$1 ≈ Kz165
€1 ≈ Kz200
UK£1 ≈ Kz225
South African R1 ≈ Kz13
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE.com
The currency of Angola is the Angolan Kwanza, denoted by the symbol "Kz" (ISO code: AOA). It used to be prohibited to import or export any sum of Kwanza, but now you can carry up to Kz50,000 out of the country. The kwanza (sometimes called the "new kwanza") replaced the kwanza reajustado at a rate of 1000:1 in 1995. The kwanza reajustado had replaced the novo kwanza at a rate of 1,000,000:1 in 1990. Watch out for old notes and coins.
Shopping
Just south of Luanda, the Benfica Handcrafts Market offers the best prices for handicrafts and souvenirs. This is an open market where local artists and artisans display their products, and bargaining is not only acceptable but recommended. The products range from sculptures and paintings to jewellery, batik cloths, and accessories.
Eat
Generally, dining out is not very easy in Angola, since even in Luanda restaurant food is expensive and many of the less well-equipped restaurants have poor hygiene. Nonetheless, Angolan cuisine is varied and tasty, with local dishes based mainly on fish, cassava products, and spicy stews.
Tropical fruit in Angola is also a treat because artisan production has maintained organic methods so that rich fruit flavors, unusual to the Western palate accustomed to industrially produced tropical fruits, predominate. If, however, you are situated in Luanda and need to dine, it is recommended that you get to Ilha de Luanda, where beach-restaurants (of varying price-classes from very exclusive to rather informal) can serve most foreign needs. It should also be said that restaurants in Luanda are increasing in numbers and quality since the recent peace has brought stability and significant investment to the country.
Not all restaurants accept US dollars in cash; ask before ordering. Credit cards will not be accepted at most restaurants, although that is rapidly changing.
Signature and national dishes
Doro Wat
Muamba de galinha (Chicken Muamba)
Mufete de cacusso - fish rubbed with fresh lemon and pepper
Mufete - grilled fish of your choice (type of fish subject to availability) with boiled sweet potatoes and a mixture of raw finely chopped onions, peppers and tomatoes. Locals like to add beans as a side dish.
Calulu a maneira com Funge de bombo
Stay safe
Angolan police — reputedly not OK to photograph
You should consider hiring a trusted and knowledgeable local guide for travel within Angola, although if you follow some basic rules then traveling in Angola isn't dangerous. Traveling after dark and alone is never a good idea. If possible, join with several cars of the same make and model because of the possible need of spare parts. Carry a satellite telephone in the case of a breakdown or other emergency. Be aware, that while Iridium satellite phones have global coverage, Thuraya satellite phones have coverage in most of Angola, but may not have coverage in the southern parts of the country (check the Angola Thuraya coverage map for details).
For the city of Luanda, other rules apply. Stay in your car (with the doors locked) while you're out of reach of security personnel, which you will find at all hotels and restaurants.
Avoid using your camera in front of police (dressed in blue uniforms). Photography will result, at best, in a very heavy fine, but could also have more dire consequences. Throughout Angola, taking photographs of sites and installations of military or security interest, including government buildings, may result in arrest or fines and should be avoided.
Angolan currency (the kwanza) may not be taken out of the country, and t
Never step beyond the red and white HALO Trust posts. These denote mine fields. In fact, beware of anything surrounded by any kind of red stones or similar markers.
Respect
If traveling to rural areas, it is important to take the time to greet the local soba (chief with government-backed authority). A few exchanged words of kindness will open doors for you to enjoy your journey in peace. Failure to inform the soba of your presence, especially if staying overnight, may have unpleasant results for your travels. Angolans are generally amiable, therefore failure to greet people who pass you by along the way may be considered rude. A simple hello will do.
Connect
The phone country code of Angola is +244. Telephone connections, cellular and landline, are heavily overloaded, making communication difficult at times. International lines are, however, often bet.
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