As the dollar dominates the global currency landscape and commodity prices plunge, Angola has for the first time become less-than-severely expensive and actually starts to approach the realm of other safari-magnet countries in Africa. While infrastructure absolutely fell apart after independence, Chinese construction crews in exchange for oil have been building inroads to the provinces and the main arteries of the country between Huambo, Benguela, Namibe, Lubango have made traveling the triangle possible for tourists again.
The culture and vibe in Angola is one of the best in Africa, with little racism, a lot of intermixing, a lot of partying and an attitude of life-loving local flair closer to Brazil or Portugal than to its neighbors around Africa…and the food and the music and dancing follow suite in Angola. The country benefits from an oversupply of skilled labor and hyper-educated people from Portugal and Brazil who fled the joblessness and hopelessness in their own countries to forge the future and the frontier.
This doesn’t mean life is easy for most people and in general, it isn’t. Poverty and abject squalor exist throughout the capital and the country and it is a tremendously unequal society, but on a security and safety, and overall friendliness standpoint, it rises above the rest of Africa and you will have a fun and a safe time here.
Angola is the third most biodiverse country in the world, slightly behind of Madagascar and Brazil…but the most biodiverse in actual Africa…and the animal, bird, and plant life marvelously reflect that. Sadly the large game populations for tourist eyes (though those are only 2% of species in general) have been absolutely decimated by locals, mismanagement, selling for poaching, and the long civil war.
This said, the national parks are far poached out, and it will take decades for them to refill with wildlife to resemble anything remotely like the Serengetti Disneyland in Tanzania, or the Rush Hour Jam-Packed scene in Kruger in South Africa, for example. Do not expect that. Expect rare species though, and unbeatable scenery.
It helps to speak Portugese, but it is not entirely necessary to travel and the country and especially in the capital people speak some English and Spanish may actually get you by hilariously too.
Internet and ATMs are not the fastest or most reliable, but can be had around the country and we include provisions to try to stop in wifi and cash ATM-friendly areas so tourists can go about their business. We can also help you find these places on your own.
SIM cards are not expensive and can be augmented to fit into any smartphone, and are best practice for when you area in Angola. Wifi will not be as fast as it is in USA, Europe, or Japan. So don’t expect to be watching streaming movies or doing much more than your usual business and emails.
Can you say “Portugese”? It is the same, with notably fantastic seafood.
The Beer Cuca is award-winning and now exported to Portugal and one thing Angola is rightfully very proud of.
We only get visas for tourists who prepay the entire tour of more than 5 days activities, or more than $5000 USD cash value. Please understand we will not under any circumstances go through the trouble of granting and sponsoring a visa for anything less, and that the fee is 100% non-refundable in any circumstance and the decision is at the discretion of your embassy. The reason is because Angola is the hardest visa in the world, and your conduct reflects on us in the country and we will be held responsible for what you do.
There are too many abusers and users who unfortunately have ruined it for everyone else by promising to book tours to get the visa, and then cease communication and fly in and collect their passport stamp and dishonestly use travel operators here.
We do not allow that to happen and so need a fully prepaid tour to be guaranteed before visa is even initiated. If the visa is denied we keep the flat $500 of the visa fees and labor and stamps, and return the rest of your balance paid for the tour.
For the Transit visa, lots of tourists meet great success with the 5 Day Transit visa showing onwards transit and pre-booked plans, visas, flights to the next country. Sao Tome embassy is also know to be the most “visa-friendly” for tourists. We are unable to offer any other advice beyond this. We do not give sponsorship, free trips, or visa help for journalists or media or bloggers. If coming from the Congo, please contact www.congotravelandtours.com for help. If over-landing from further north, contact www.cameroontravelandtours.com for visa regimes from Nigeria>Cameroon>CAR(or Equatorial Guinea and Gabon)>Congo>DRC>Angola. This trip will take about 1 month with your own vehicle or a guided one from CamTT.
Travel in the Angola is, as we say it, the Second to Last Frontier in Africa for tourism. DRC and Congo to the north are the last, but still easier to visit by far and cheaper.This is not a marketing slogan, it is true, and you are coming to a very special, very raw, very real place, where nothing is contrived, very few places are set up for tourism, and the rewards and challenges there-in are much greater. This may be among the most unique trips of your life, and it will also be tiring and tough at times.
In Angola, travel, life, and daily needs are much much more difficult, challenging, amazingly more expensive, and unpredictable than they are anywhere else in Africa, let alone the world. This region, including also DRC and the other Congo and a bit of C.A.R., is not only the most expensive, obstructionist, bureaucratic, and most difficult for business and travel in Africa, but the entire world.
Travel here, beyond yours, ours, the locals’, and even the president’s control, is subject to some if not all of the below:
General chaos and lack of infrastructure in the interior. Changes to roads, rails, flight schedules
Delays, Cancellations, and Breakdowns of Vehicles, Services, Electricity, and Communications
Tropical Weather which halts or at least obstructs plans and transport
Extortion and Solicitation for Bribes of our staff and crew from Officials and Villagers
The highest prices in the world for hotels, tourism, transport overland, and worst service culture
Expensive and Exploitative Government Park Fees and Travel Permits with Manager Overreach
High Difficulty in Getting Good Food and Logistics in the Interior ; Unsanitary street food.
Some other countries in Africa share some of these difficulties, but none of them to remotely the same extent as Angola.
Travel in Africa does not prepare you for travel in this part of Africa. Accommodation and tourism value in Angola, though hugely expensive, never and cannot yield the same value as the selections and professional safari circuits for value-prices found in veterans like Tanzania and South Africa. Expectations should be accordant with this. There is no such thing as 5 star, anywhere here, in the interior. Even Luanda will not have the standards you may have wished or experienced in East Africa or the West.
There is also really no such thing as budget travel, though ATT’s mission is to make that possible this year and in the coming years.
As for personal preparations, mentally be prepared for these general local nuisances and challenges, minor and occasional major plan changes, and delays in just about everything in the environment (although all will be notified within reasonable time of knowing them, and modified without cost to you, in accordance to circumstances.)
You are advised to bring additional personal kit including but not limited to:
mosquito net and repellant
solid walking boots
sunscreen and sun repair crème like Cetaphil
snacks and dry goods for the road
hygiene supplies extra, and an extra towel
flashlight and if you have it, an extra sleeping bag if you get cold easily at night
There are bucket or outdoor showers in some national park facilities, so scrubbers
Swimgear or surfgear if you wish to swim in the rivers, lakes, or sea (is possible and safe)
A cheap cellphone that can accept SIM cards if you wish to make texts/calls outside.
Besides that, bring an open mind and a sense of patience and humor, and relax! You will largely have the whole country to yourself, and will see some of the least developed parts of the planet, with the densest culture and nature, and where you will feel farthest from home and deepest into the African heart.
None of this is metaphor or exaggeration. The trip will be one of the most serious you have ever taken, and you are in for a treat if you can come prepared. Rest up and get ready, roll up your sleeves, and welcome to Angola’s Least Traveled Gem!
