The Facts

• Angola is a country in south west Africa
• Borders the countries of Namibia, Zambia, and Congo. Angola also borders the Atlantic Ocean off the west coat and with a west coast along the Atlantic Ocean.
• Angola has plenty of natural resources; the most common being oil and diamonds.
• Capital city is Luanda, which is also the largest city
• Official language is Portuguese
• Total area – 1,246,700 km²
• Population – 10,978,552 (ranked 71 in the world for size)
• Angola is a former portuguese colony
• Angola is divided into 18 provinces: 1 Bengo, Benguela, Bia, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
• Angola has three main ethnic groups, each speaking a Bantu language: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, and Bakongo 13%.
• The great majority of the inhabitants are of Bantu stock with some admixture in the Congo district.
• In the coast towns the majority of the white inhabitants are Portuguese.
• The Mushi-Kongo and other divisions of the Ba-Kongo retain curious traces of the Christianity professed by them in the 16th and 17th centuries and possibly later.

Arrival:

• Upon arrival at 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in the capital- Luanda, you may choose either the green route, if you have nothing to declare; or the red route, if you carry something subject to customs fees. Items for personal effect are duty free. Travellers should register with their embassy on arrival, and de-register on departure similarly.
• All visitors to Angola especially those traveling outside Luanda are advised to travel under the patronage of security because leisure travel in Angola is not recommended. Driving outside Luanda can be risky.
• Travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets particularly destinations popular to foreigners.
• Travel to the North and South Luanda Provinces is advised against since visitors may be subject to movement restrictions. Cabinda Province more especially is common with violent incidents.

Getting there by Air:

• International Flights to Angola: Angola has an excellent airport system covering the entire country. The system is open to international traffic through 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda with direct flights from South Africa Cape Town, Johannesburg), Zimbabwe (Harare), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), the UK (London), Belgium (Brussels), Portugal (Lisbon) and France (Paris). Luanda (LAD) is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city. There are no airport taxis; visitors must be received by their agents or use a transport service provided by their hotel. Angola Airlines (DT) is the National airline.
• Domestic Flights: Domestic services are available to Lobito, Luanda, Malongo and Namibe.Charter services can be arranged on request.
• Car Hire: Visitor intending to visit upcountry locations should consider using a vehicle from rental companies offering the service of a local driver with the vehicle hire arrangement.
• Driver’s License: An international and local driver’s license is required to drive in the country.
• Passports: Passports with two blank pages valid for at least six months after intended period of stay required by all nationals are required.
• Visa: To enter Angola, visitors must obtain a visa at the country of origin’s Angolan embassy. A passport size photo, a valid passport, and a completed application form must be submitted.

Getting There by Rail:

• Overland routes to neighboring countries are generally not open, but conditions are subject to frequent change. Travellers should contact an embassy for advice on security along their planned routes. Plans to re-open the Benguela railway seem unlikely to come to realization until the country has become more stable.

Money:

• National currency is Kwanza (Kz)
• Rates for foreign exchange are significantly better at Forex bureaus in Luanda

Weather:

• Although Angola is located in a sub tropical zone, its climate is not typical tropical. The north of the country is hot and wet during the summer months (November to April); winters are slightly cooler and mainly dry. The south is hot throughout much of the year with a slight decrease in temperature in winter (May to October).

• Required Clothing; Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year in the south. Tropical clothing for summers in the north. Nights can be cold, so warm clothing should be taken. Waterproofing is advisable for the rainy season throughout the country.

Entertainment:

• Nightlife: The bars all filled and the local music and dancing provide an animated and exotic atmosphere that mixes well with the mystery of the African nights.
• Beaches: In Luanda, special mention must be given to the beaches of Ilha do Cabo, Mussulo, Palmeirinhas, Corimba and Santiago. In Benguela there is Morena, Restinga, Caóta, Caotina, Baia Azul and Baia Farta and finally in Namibe, two more, Das Miragens and Azul.

General Information:

• Health: A vaccination certificate for yellow fever is required to enter the country. Well equipped clinics are available for visitors requiring immediate health care.
• Languages: Portuguese is the official language, although Bantu and other African languages are also spoken.
• Telephones: A land system operator and two cellular phone operators exist in the country, enabling easy domestic and international calls.
• Time: The time GMT/UTC is does not change throughout the year.

Angola is gearing to welcome you to African best home away from home.