Angola

By Amy Adejokun

Section editor

This old Portuguese colony in south-west Africa only came out of civil war in 2002. Tourists are rare, or almost nonexistent yet Angola enjoys a diverse relief in terms of landscape. Dreamy beaches on the Atlantic Coast, mountains and a vast plateau covering most of the country, hiding resources such as the Quiçama National Park which has a great diversity of wild animals, the Calandula waterfalls and the savana. A country prized by professionals for its oil deposits and diamond mines.

Security: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to Angola's provinces of Cabinda, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. See full official advice.

Our Editorial team's advice

As advice we continue to reiterate the recommendations given in the chapter on security. In fact, unless for professional reasons, travelling to Angola is not advisable. Despite the ceas-fire agreement signed on 4th April 2002, tensions are still visible in the country. Crime and deliquency, both on the increase, are very present both in the capital and in provinces. Moreover, the presence of several minefields call for extreme prudence while travelling in the provinces, which also strongly unadvised.

pros

+The cultural wealth of the people.
+The geographical diversity: sea, mountain and desert.

cons

-The political situation and state of civil war.
-General atmosphere of insecurity.
-It is difficult, or impossible, to travel within the country.

Food

There is currently a severe food shortage. You need to reserve your table well in advance in the few restaurants and hotels that are available. Only the Méridien Presidente Hotel offers top quality service.

Souvenirs

Shopping is possible in the big towns and cities. Crafts represent the different ethnic groups. There are sculptures, dance masks representing fertility or male strength, or common objects with female patterns. Shopping hours: 8:30am - 17:00pm, from Monday to Friday.