Travel guide – angola
angola
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Overview
Rich in natural resources (mainly oil, gas, manganese and diamonds) and with four major ports on its thousands of miles of southern African Atlantic coastline, the battered country of Angola nevertheless remains steeped in poverty, disease and social disarray, lacking infrastructure and littered with millions of unexploded landmines. Its distressed and dangerous state is a legacy of more than a quarter of a century of bloody civil war, which followed independence from Portugal in 1975. The country is now ostensibly at peace, but conflict still rages in the Cabinda enclave to the north and signs of recovery from years of strife are slow to emerge. Hopes can be pinned, however, on the fact that Angola is Africa's second largest oil exporter, after Nigeria, and production is set to double during the next five years. Oil will no doubt bring development. Meanwhile all non-essential travel to Angola is ill advised, especially beyond the crime-ridden capital, Luanda. The city itself maintains a few hotels and restaurants, which struggle to provide reasonable facilities for business travellers in the face of food shortages and limited basic services.
Climate
Being a large country, Angola's climate varies according to region. The north has a wet, hot, tropical climate, becoming dryer as it extends south until desert conditions prevail in the southern strip between the central plateau and the border with Namibia. Luanda's climate is moderately tropical. The dry, cooler season is from June to late September, while the rainy, hot summer season extends from October to May. The temperature averages 68°F (20°C), and the mercury rarely rises above 80°F (27°C).
Health
Yellow fever vaccinations are recommended for all travellers, and required for entry by anyone coming from an infected area in Africa or the Americas. Malaria, hepatitis A and B, rabies and polio are all prevalent in the country, which has exceedingly poor medical facilities, and medications are in short supply. Cholera outbreaks also occur. In Luanda there are one or two good private clinics, but these are extremely expensive and require on-the-spot payment. Comprehensive medical insurance is therefore necessary, with provision for medical repatriation by air. The water supply is unsafe to drink; use only imported bottled water and avoid eating unpeeled fruit and vegetables. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled; alternatively use tinned milk reconstituted with purified water.
The basics
Time
Local time is GMT +1.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs are in use.
Language
The official language is Portuguese. Some French and Spanish is also spoken, as well as about 60 African languages including Umbundu and Ovambo.
Tipping
If service charge is not included in the bill a tip of 10% is acceptable, though tipping is not encouraged. Tips 'in kind', like cigarettes, are welcomed.
Safety
The main risk for travellers to Angola is crime, particularly in the capital, Luanda, where muggings, car-jackings and armed hold-ups are commonplace. Many civilians are armed. Those for whom travel outside of Luanda is essential should travel only with sponsors who have made arrangements for safety and security support. Particularly dangerous are the north and south Lunda Provinces, where the police and armed forces have been active expelling illegal immigrants and unlicensed diamond prospectors. Cabinda Province is also dangerous; kidnappings and attacks on foreigners having occurred. Leisure travel is not recommended because of the widespread poverty, disease and shattered infrastructure and the vast amount of unexploded ordnance still present throughout the country.
Customs
Do not take photographs of government buildings, or use binoculars near them as this could lead to arrest. Homosexuality is illegal.
Communications
The international dialling code for Angola is +244. Domestic and international telecommunications services are unreliable with connections frequently lost. This also applies to the mobile network, although there is GSM 900 coverage around Luanda and other main centres provided by Unitel. There are more mobile telephones than fixed lines in Angola. Most large corporations and aid organisations rely on high frequency radios for communication. There are some Internet service providers in operation and Internet is available at main hotels.
Duty Free
Travellers to Angola over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 500g cigars or other tobacco products; 250ml eau de toilette, perfume or aftershave; 2 litres wine or 1 litre spirits; and gifts or souvenirs to the value of US$500. Prohibited and restricted items include firearms, ammunition or explosive materials; medicines and drugs; pornographic material; plants originating from infected areas; gaming machines; pure alcohol; animals or parts thereof; and stamps of value.
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