Africa// admin

Angola

Angola is an incredibly interesting country with national traditions, beautiful nature and rich fauna. But going there at the moment is dangerous.

We strongly advise against choosing Angola for a holiday. The country has a difficult crime situation, and the population has a huge amount of weapons. In this regard, it is impossible to ensure the safety of tourists. If you really want to go to Africa, please consider more peaceful countries – Namibia or Kenya.

The main thing about the country

  • An 8-day trip to Angola will cost around $4,800 in the US. The cost of an individual tour depends on the route, the intensity of the holiday, and whether expensive entertainment such as hunting for wild animals is included.
  • A flight from Moscow to Luanda will cost from 135,000 to 465,000 thousand rubles.
  • The time difference with Moscow is minus 2 hours.
  • The official name is the Republic of Angola, the capital is Luanda.
  • The official language is Portuguese, part of the population speaks African dialects.
  • The government structure is a presidential republic.
  • Angola is located in the southwest of Africa. It borders the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Namibia. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
  • Angola is a Christian country. Islam has been officially banned here since 2015.
  • The tourism infrastructure is poorly developed, but the government views tourism as one of the potentially promising industries.
  • When communicating with government officials, we recommend that you remain friendly and observe the country’s norms of behavior.
  • Angola has the richest natural resources, its territory has huge reserves of minerals – oil, gas, diamonds, iron and copper ores, gold, silver, rare earth elements. The list can also include hydroelectric resources.
  • The climate is tropical. In the north and central part of the country it is humid and variable-humid, in the south it is arid.

Customs

Export from the country is prohibited:

  • amounts exceeding 5,000 US dollars, for children – 1,500 US dollars;
  • exotic animals;
  • ivory products;
  • items of historical and artistic value.

The import of plants is subject to mandatory control.

When to go

The rainy season occurs in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere, the dry season in the summer.

Holidays and non-working days

  • January 1 – New Year;
  • January 4 – Day of Victims of Colonial Repression;
  • February 4 – Beginning of the armed struggle for national liberation;
  • March 8 – International Women’s Day;
  • April 4 – Day of Peace and National Reconciliation;
  • May 1 – International Workers’ Day;
  • May 25 – Africa Day;
  • June 1 – International Children’s Day;
  • September 17 – National Hero’s Day;
  • November 2 – All Souls’ Day;
  • November 11 – Independence Day;
  • December 25th is Christmas.
  • Easter is a non-working day in Angola.

Currency

The national currency is the kwanza. It is prohibited to take the local currency out of the country; any remaining kwanza will need to be exchanged before leaving.

Credit cards and travellers’ checks are problematic. They are accepted only in large hotels and restaurants in Luanda, elsewhere only cash is accepted.

You can exchange money only in Luanda – in banks, exchange offices and hotels. When traveling to the province, you will need to take care of this in advance.

Prices

Angola is far from the cheapest African country. Accommodation in a 2-star hotel will cost $100, in a 5-star hotel – about $500 per night*. Small family hotels will be slightly cheaper, but the level of service in them is extremely low. Renting a two-room apartment will cost $7,000 per month. Lunch in a cafe will cost about $35.

Short taxi rides cost US$5-6.

* all prices are valid for January 2022

Beaches

Angola’s coastline is 1,650 km along the Atlantic coast, mostly cliffs with difficult access to the sea. There are few sandy beaches, the best of which are located near hotels.

Restinga Beach . It is located north of Lobito, a large port city. The beach has calm water, you can swim in the inner lagoon or in the ocean. There is all the necessary infrastructure for tourists to relax.

Sangano Beach . Located near Angola. On weekdays there are few people on the beach, the majority of vacationers come here on weekends. There are good restaurants, you can find a place to spend the night with relatively acceptable service.

Cabo Ledo Beach . Length 30 km. Entrance to the sea is sandy and long. There are places for surfing. There are restaurants on the coast, there are equipped picnic areas.

Baia dos Elefantes Beach . A beautiful and almost deserted beach surrounded by mountains. The main advantage is the calm water, there are no strong waves here.

Morena Beach. City beach in the village of Benguena. There is a promenade area, the beach is sandy with comfortable swimming. Recently abandoned.

Beaches of Cabinda . The most visited is the beach of Futilia with organized infrastructure. The coast is sandy, the water is very clean with an emerald hue.

Resorts

There are very few hotels in Angola and they are usually concentrated on the Atlantic coast. The tourism industry is in its infancy, which is a direct consequence of the underdeveloped economy. Among the resorts worth noting are:

Luanda . The capital of Angola. It is famous not only for its sights. Luanda offers a rich and varied holiday and interesting excursion programs. The city is located on the coast.

Benguela . Situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Interesting for its colonial architecture and striking African flavour. The beach area is of interest to diving enthusiasts and other extreme sports enthusiasts.

Barra do Dande . A large port city with a good beach area and relatively developed infrastructure. Suitable for a quiet holiday. There are many natural attractions in the vicinity of the city.

Cabinda . The second largest city in Angola with a recreational infrastructure. Cabinda’s seven beaches are among the best beaches in Angola.

Lobito . The resort is only developing, but can already offer tourists hotels 3-5 with an acceptable level of service.

Attractions

The main attractions of Angola are nature reserves and national parks. Tourists are offered safaris, photo hunts, visits to African tribes. Fans of ecotourism will find here everything they expected to see in Africa.

Kissama Nature Reserve . Savannah and tropical forests. Located 70 km from Luanda, the reserve area is 900,000 square kilometers. Habitat for hippos, sirens, leopards, turtles.

Mayombe National Park . Situated north of Kibinda. It was created to preserve forests in the Congo River basin. It is known for its rich flora and fauna. Here you can find sandalwood, black, iron, and ebony trees. Elephants, buffalos, rhinoceroses, gorillas, chimpanzees, and rare birds live in the forests.

Kangandala National Park . Created to preserve rare species of birds and mammals. It is here that black antelopes live, which are the national symbol of the country.

Himalavera National Park . It is located near the city of Benguela on a plain surrounded by mountains. For the convenience of tourists, walking paths have been created.

Namib Desert . People come here to hunt.

Also worth noting:

Architectural monuments of Luanda . The city clearly shows Portuguese influence. Among the sites are the Fort of São Miguel, the Church of Our Lady of Nazareth, the presidential and bishop’s palaces.

Benfica Market in Luanda . Here you can buy exotic souvenirs.

Temple of San Felipe in Benguela . Reflects the mixture of two cultures – African and Portuguese.

Entertainment

In addition to visiting national parks and reserves, tourists are offered legal hunting for wild animals and fishing. This is not a cheap pleasure, but you can take the stuffed animal out of the country.

To avoid clashes with the local population, we recommend visiting cafes and bars only at hotels. Going to such places in the city is dangerous.

Kitchen

Angolan cuisine is a mix of local and Portuguese cuisines. The country values ​​simple and hearty food. Traditionally, Angolans eat at home due to the poverty of the local population and the low level of sanitary conditions in cafes, bars and restaurants. Thanks to the government’s program for the development of the tourism sector in Luanda and other large cities, the number of such establishments with an acceptable level of sanitary conditions has begun to increase, which does not cancel out the utmost attention of tourists to hygiene issues.

What is offered to tourists:

  • Dishes made from seafood, corn, beans, rice.
  • Tilapia fried in palm oil.
  • A sauce made from hot peppers called “piri-piri” which is added to almost all dishes.

Souvenirs

Angola is interesting for Russian tourists, first of all, because of its exoticism. What interesting things can you bring from Angola:

  • Ceremonial African masks and tribal costumes.
  • Statues and crafts made of stone and bronze.
  • Clay vases and jugs.
  • Crafts made from reeds and dry grass, mats.
  • Malachite jewelry.
  • Local spices.
  • Wine from the vineyards of the south of the country.

It is common to bargain at markets. Sometimes the initial price can be reduced by almost 3 times.

Transport

Currently, Angola is rebuilding its road and rail transport, which were badly damaged during the war. There are three railway lines in operation, but for safety reasons, tourists are advised to travel by air.

Public transport is represented by minibuses, painted blue on the bottom and white on the top. It is more reasonable and safer for tourists to use taxi services.

You can rent a car, but in this case you need to be prepared to repair the car in the field. Contacting service centers or emergency services from rural areas is almost impossible.

Safety

The crime situation is complicated. After the civil war, the population was left with a large number of cold arms and firearms, which is why there is a high level of street crime.

Visiting the country is not recommended. If you do plan to travel to Angola, you should:

  • eliminate street alleys in Luanda;
  • limit travel outside your place of residence;
  • not to take part in any rallies or other street gatherings;
  • Travel through rural areas only during daylight hours, as some of the country roads have not yet been cleared of mines.

Particular attention must be paid to the safety of personal documents and money.

Medicine

Before visiting the country, it is recommended to get vaccinated three times against hepatitis B (3 months before entry), and for children – against meningitis A and C. During your stay in Angola, you must take measures to prevent malaria.

Malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and various intestinal infections are widespread in Angola. In recent years, the incidence of AIDS has been growing.

You cannot drink tap water or use it to brush your teeth or cook food. Wash vegetables and fruits with special care.

To enter the country, you must obtain a medical insurance policy in advance. If necessary, you should contact state or private medical institutions. It is more rational for tourists to use the services of private clinics. Payment for medical care is made in cash.

We recommend that you take your personal first aid kit with you.

Traditions

A mandatory requirement is to have documents with you.

Violation of the Road Code (RTD) entails large fines. In particular, driving without a seat belt will result in a fine of $500. Detention is possible until the circumstances are clarified.

It is recommended to be extremely careful when taking photos and videos in public places. It is not allowed to take pictures of government facilities and local government officials, who can be recognized by their blue uniforms.

Internet

Mobile communications in Angola are represented by two local operators – UNITEL and Movicel. A SIM card can be purchased at any of the communication stores, presentation of a passport is required. We recommend that you clarify the options included in the tariff plans. It is more profitable to call via Internet services, paying only for traffic. When calling via mobile communications, a connection fee may be charged.

Useful facts

  • During the rainy season, we recommend avoiding travel through rural areas, as roads become unusable after being washed away by rain.
  • There is a toll to cross the bridges south of Luanda, approximately US$0.40.
  • There are no highways as such, no road infrastructure.
  • In case of emergency, we recommend that you immediately contact the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Angola or the police station. There is no rescue service in the country.
  • When traveling or going for a walk, you need to have bottled water with you, as it is difficult to buy it over the counter.
  • Tipping is not required but is appreciated. The tip amount is 8-10% of the order.
  • There are many beggars on the streets.

Local laws

It is not recommended to use cameras, binoculars, maps, GPS equipment, etc. near any government buildings. Taking photos on the streets may attract the attention of the authorities, and the equipment may be confiscated.

Tourists who are intoxicated upon arrival at Luanda airport may be denied entry, detained and deported.

Tourists must carry a certified copy of their passport or identity documents with them, otherwise they may be fined.