Angola
Kalandula Falls pours over a 400-metre-wide horseshoe of rock in Angola's interior, yet few outsiders have heard of it. Add the Tundavala Gap's sheer escarpment, the hairpin bends of Serra da Leba and a long, empty Atlantic coastline. Roads and services thin out fast beyond Luanda, so this is a country for patient, well-planned travel.
Overview
Angola is huge – five times the size of the UK – and most of it sees almost no foreign tourists. A first trip usually starts in Luanda, an oil-boom capital of high-rises, a Portuguese fortress and beach bars on the Ilha, then splits two ways. East lies Malanje province, with Kalandula Falls and the black boulders of Pungo Andongo. South, a short flight away, is Lubango on the cool Huíla plateau, the springboard for the Tundavala Gap, the Serra da Leba road and the desert coast around Namibe, where welwitschia plants grow in the northern Namib. Benguela and Lobito add colonial architecture and calmer beaches.
Travel here takes effort and money. Luanda's hotels and restaurants are priced for oil-industry expense accounts, although the kwanza's slide since 2018 has softened costs for visitors bringing hard currency. Outside the capital English is rare and Portuguese goes a long way; long-distance buses are cheap but slow, and many visitors hire a driver or join a specialist tour for the south. The rewards are landscapes with nobody else in them and a warm, music-loving culture – semba and kizomba were born here. It suits experienced travellers who are comfortable improvising.
Map of Angola
Top 5 highlights
- 1Nature
Kalandula Falls
Around 400 metres wide and 105 metres high, the Lucala River's falls are among Africa's largest. Come at the end of the rainy season, around April or May, when the curtain of water is at its fullest.
- 2Nature
Tundavala Gap
Near Lubango the Huíla plateau simply ends: from a rim more than 2,200 metres above sea level, cliffs plunge about 1,000 metres to the plains below. Go early, before cloud rolls in.
- 3Adventure
Serra da Leba Pass
The road from Lubango to Namibe corkscrews off the escarpment in a famous ladder of tight hairpin bends. Stop at the viewpoint at the top, then drive down towards the desert coast.
- 4Wildlife
Kissama National Park
About 70 kilometres south of Luanda across the Kwanza River, Angola's most accessible park was restocked with elephants and other game from Botswana and South Africa after the civil war. Easily visited from the capital.
- 5Nature
Miradouro da Lua
Forty kilometres south of Luanda, wind and rain have carved the coastal cliffs into eroded pinnacles of red, ochre and cream. Come in the late afternoon, when low sun sets the 'Moon Viewpoint' glowing.
Biggest cities
Luanda
A chaotic, expensive capital that rewards a few days: the Fortaleza de São Miguel, the Marginal seafront promenade, the Ilha's beach restaurants and the National Slavery Museum south of town.
Benguela
Benguela and neighbouring Lobito form Angola's second urban area: pastel colonial streets, the beaches of Baía Azul and the Atlantic end of the Benguela Railway, which runs inland to the Congolese border.
Huambo
Named Nova Lisboa in colonial times and once planned as Angola's capital, Huambo sits high on the central plateau; badly scarred in the civil war, it is now a pleasant stopover.
Ranked by urban area at the 2024 census, with Benguela and neighbouring Lobito counted as one conurbation. Counted as single cities, Lubango and Cabinda would come second and third.
When to go to Angola
Best time: May–Sep.
Average climate in Luanda
Festivals & events
- Feb–MarCarnaval de Luanda
Neighbourhood dance groups in elaborate costume parade along the Marginal, competing with semba and other traditional rhythms in a carnival with deep roots in the city.
- AugFestas da Senhora do Monte
Lubango's August festival centres on the hilltop sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Monte, with a pilgrimage, fairground, concerts and markets drawing visitors from across the south.
How much does Angola cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Muamba de galinha
Chicken stewed in red palm-oil sauce with garlic, okra and squash, served with funge; Angola's national dish and a Sunday-lunch staple.
Funge
A smooth, stretchy porridge of cassava flour (or maize in the south), eaten by hand as the base for almost every stew.
Calulu
Dried and fresh fish simmered in palm oil with tomato, onion, sweet-potato leaves and okra, usually served with funge and beans.
Getting around
TAAG flies from Luanda to Lubango, Catumbela (for Benguela and Lobito) and other provincial cities, which saves days on the road. Long-distance coaches link the main towns cheaply but slowly, and the Benguela, Moçâmedes and Luanda railways run limited passenger services. In Luanda, blue-and-white candongueiro minibuses are crowded and confusing, so most visitors use ride-hailing apps or a hired driver. For the south's back roads, a 4x4 with a driver is the practical choice.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF220V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +244
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Not obligatory, but around 10 per cent is appreciated in sit-down restaurants; round up for drivers and tip guides directly.
- Etiquette
- Greet everyone with a handshake and a 'bom dia' before getting down to business. Never photograph government buildings, police, soldiers or the presidential palace – officials take it seriously.
- Main airports
- Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ), Luanda
Visas & entry for Angola
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You do not need a visa to visit Angola for up to 30 days, if visiting for tourism.
If travelling for work, study or business, you must get a visa in advance. If you do not have a visa, or if you have the wrong visa, you may be stopped from boarding or detained at the airport on arrival. Angola’s deportation process can take a long time.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoidYellow fever
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BMeaslesPolioRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter. There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- High risk of malaria
- There is a high risk of malaria in Angola: antimalarial tablets recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Angola
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | All Souls' Day |
| Wed 11 Nov 2026 | National Independence Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas and Family Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Thu 4 Feb 2027 | Liberation Movement Day |
| Fri 5 Feb 2027 | Day off for Liberation Movement Day |
| Mon 8 Feb 2027 | Day off for Carnival Day |
| Tue 9 Feb 2027 | Carnival Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | International Women's Day |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Day off for Southern Africa Liberation Day |
| Tue 23 Mar 2027 | Southern Africa Liberation Day |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Sun 4 Apr 2027 | Peace and National Reconciliation Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | International Worker's Day |
| Fri 17 Sep 2027 | National Heroes' Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Olá | oh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigada | oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| Please | Por favor | poor fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Com licença | kong lee-SEN-sah |
| How much is this? | Quanto custa? | KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
Know before you go
- Bring US dollars or euros in clean, recent notes and change them at banks or official bureaux; foreign cards fail at many ATMs, so never rely on plastic alone.
- Carry your yellow fever vaccination certificate, as proof of vaccination is required on entry, and read the FCDO travel advice and health guidance before you book.
- Keep your passport or a certified copy on you, stay patient at police checkpoints, and allow plenty of time for the drive to Luanda's new airport, about 40 kilometres out.
Angola travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Angola?
The best time to visit Angola is generally May–Sep. Peak months are May, June, July, August and September. Average highs in Luanda range from 23°C to 31°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Angola cost per day?
Roughly £55 a day on a tight budget, £130 mid-range and £280+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Angola?
Angolan kwanza (AOA).
What plug type does Angola use?
Type C and F sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Angola?
Traffic drives on the right in Angola, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Angola?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Angola?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You do not need a visa to visit Angola for up to 30 days, if visiting for tourism. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Angola before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/angola/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Angola?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow fever for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
