National Tourist Agency

CP 1240, Palácio de Vidro, Luanda, Angola

Tel: (2) 372 750.

Ministry of Trade and Tourism

Largo Kinaxixi 14, Luanda, Angola

Tel: (2) 331 244. Telex: 3282.

Embassy of the People's Republic of Angola

98 Park Lane, London W1Y 3TA

Tel: (0171) 495 1752. Fax: (0171) 495 1635. Telex: 8813258 (a/b EMBAUK G). Opening hours: 0900-1200 and 1330-1600 Monday to Friday (closed Wednesday).

British Embassy

PO Box 1244, Rua Diogo Cão 4, Luanda, Angola

Tel: (2) 392 991 or 334 582/3. Fax: (2) 333 331.

Embassy of the Republic of Angola

Suite 760, 1050 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 785 1156. Fax: (202) 785 1258.

Embassy of the United States of America

PO Box 6484, 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Luanda, Angola

Tel: (2) 346 418 or 345 481. Fax: (2) 396 924.

AREA: 1,246,700 sq km (481,354 sq miles).

POPULATION: 10,609,000 (1992 estimate).

POPULATION DENSITY: 8.5 per sq km.

CAPITAL: Luanda. Population: 1,200,000 (1982 est.).

GEOGRAPHY: Angola is bordered by Zaïre to the north, Zambia to the east, Namibia to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Mountains rise from the coast, levelling to a plateau which makes up most of the country. The country is increasingly arid towards the south; the far south is on the edge of the Namib Desert. The northern plateau is thickly vegetated. Cabinda is a small enclave to the north of Angola proper, surrounded by the territories of Zaïre and Congo. The discovery of large oil deposits off the coast of the enclave has led to it becoming the centre of Angola’s foreign business interests. The oil industry, based primarily at Malongo, is run jointly by Gulf Oil and Sonangol, the Angolan state oil producers.

LANGUAGE: The official language is Portuguese. African languages (Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, Bakongo and Chokwe) are spoken by the majority of the population.

Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic; there are also Anglican minorities. Local Animist beliefs are held by a significant minority.

TIME: GMT + 1.

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the European-style round 2-pin type.

COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone: Until recently all calls had to be made through the international operator, booking at least six hours in advance. Direct calls to Luanda (but not to the rest of the country) are becoming increasingly available. Country code: 244. Telex/telegram: Telegram services are fairly reliable, but are occasionally subject to delay. Telex facilities are available in main hotels. Post: Airmail between Europe and Angola takes five to ten days. Surface mail between Europe and Angola takes at least two months. There is a fairly reliable internal service. Most correspondence is by telex. Press: The daily newspaper is O Jornal de Angola; Diário da República is an official government news-sheet. There are no English-language newspapers.

BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. See the contents page for more information.

Regulations and requirements many be subject to change at short notice, and you are advised to contact the appropriate diplomat or consular authority before finalising travel arrangements. Details of these may be found at the head of the country’s entry. Any numbers in the chart refer to the footnotes below.

PASSPORTS: Passports valid for 3 months after intended period of stay required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except those continuing their journey to a third country without leaving the airport. Some business travellers are allowed entry, but only as guests of an accepted business firm; tourist travel is not allowed in Angola at this time.

Types of visa: Business. Single-entry costs £27 (15-30 days) or an Express £35 (7 days).

Exit permits: Required by all visitors; must be issued by the same consulate that issued the visa.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy). For addresses, see top of entry.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) 1 application form. (c) 2 passport-size photographs. (d) Covering letter from company wishing to send person to Angola. (e) Letter of invitation from company in Angola being visited or the Angolan Government Department.

Currency: Readjusted Kwanza (Kz) = 100 lwei. Notes are in denominations of AOR100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of Kz100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and LW50.

Note: The old Kwanza was replaced by the New Kwanza in 1990. It has subsequently undergone several official exchange rate devaluations. In July 1995, a 'readjusted' Kwanza, equivalent to 1000 New Kwanza, was introduced; but the currency continued to depreciate.

Credit cards: Credit cards are generally not accepted. American Express and Diners Club enjoy limited acceptance. Amex is accepted at the Le Méridien Presidente Hotel in Luanda; otherwise check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Currency restrictions: All imported currency should be declared on arrival. The local currency import limit is AOR15,000; there is no limit on the import of foreign currency, subject to declaration on arrival. Export of local currency is prohibited; up to AOR5000 equivalent of foreign currency may be exported by those leaving on a return ticket purchased in Angola.

The following items may be imported into Angola without payment of duty:

A reasonable amount of tobacco products, 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages (each of different contents) and a reasonable quantity of perfume in opened bottles.

Prohibited items: Firearms and ammunition.

Regulations and requirements may be subject to change at short notice, and you are advised to contact your doctor well in advance of your intended date of departure. Any numbers in the chart refer to the footnotes below.

Special                 Certificate

[1]: A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Pregnant women and infants under nine months should not be vaccinated and therefore should avoid exposure to infection. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

[2]: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Angola. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health section.

[3]: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country, even in urban areas, and is reported to be resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Mefloquine (MEF) is the recommended prophylaxis, at a weekly dose of 250mg.

[4]: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Many insect-borne diseases, such as onchocerciasis (river blindness) and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), exist all year throughout the country, including urban areas.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten abroad seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health section.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe.

Meningitis outbreaks occur. Vaccination is advisable.

AIR: Angola’s national airline is TAAG Angola Airlines (DT).

Approximate flight time: From London to Luanda is 19 hours 30 minutes (this includes a stopover of 5 hours in Lisbon).

International airport: Luanda (LAD) is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city. There are no taxis: visitors must be met by their sponsors. Airport facilities include restaurant, bar, post office, currency exchange (0800-1230 and 1430-1800) and 24-hour medical facilities with cholera and yellow fever vaccination available.

Note: Most British and American visitors with business interests in the Cabinda enclave bypass Luanda by flying to Gabon by UTA, then on by private jet. On arrival, they are taken immediately by helicopter to the Malongo Base. This is only possible by special arrangement with the Gabonese and Angolan governments as no visas are available at present.

SEA: The main ports are Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda and Namibe.

Note: All travel in the country is very strictly controlled and limited. Tourist travel is not allowed in Angola at this time, but some business travel is permitted. Most of the country is only accessible by air.

AIR: TAAG Angola Airlines operate flights within Angola. There are scheduled services between major towns. Also, private jets are operated by some Portuguese, French and Italian business interests (trading most notably in oil and diamonds) in the north of the country, particularly to and from the Cabinda enclave, which is only accessible by air (see above for information on travelling directly to Cabinda from Gabon). Helicopter access to Cabinda is possible as well. Passengers on internal flights must carry official authorisation (guia de marcha).

Approximate flight times: From Luanda to Benguela and Cabinda is 50 minutes, to Huambo is 1 hour, to Namibe is 1 hour 45 minutes and to Lubango is 1 hour 10 minutes.

RAIL: Due to the instability of the political situation, rail services are erratic. Trains run on three separate routes inland from Luanda: to Malanje (daily) with short branches to Dondo and Golungo Alta, Lobito to Dilolo (the Benguela Railway, daily), and Mocamedes to Menongue (daily). There are no sleeping cars and no air-conditioned services, though food and drink are available on some journeys. Children under three travel free and children 3-11 pay half fare.

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There were once nearly 8000km (5000 miles) of tarred roads but much of the infrastructure was destroyed in the conflict after 1975. Many roads are unsuitable for travel at the present time, and local advice should be sought and followed carefully. Identity papers must be carried. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

In Luanda the main places to visit are the fortress containing the Museum of Armed Forces), the National Museum of Anthropology and the Museum of Slavery, 25km (16 miles) along the coast from Luanda.

The Kissama National Park lies 70km (45 miles) south of Luanda, and is home to a great variety of wild animals. Accommodation is available in bungalows located in the middle of the park, but visitors must bring their own food. The park is closed during the rainy season.

The Kalandula Waterfalls, located in the Malange area, make an impressive spectacle, particularly at the end of the rainy season.

FOOD & DRINK: There are severe food and drink shortages at present. Tables should be booked well in advance in the few restaurants and hotels, although only the Le Méridien Presidente Hotel can really offer high-class service. Notice needs to be given for extra guests.

NIGHTLIFE: There are some nightclubs and cinemas in Luanda. Cinema seats should be booked in advance.

SHOPPING: Traditional handicrafts are sold in the city; shopping is not easy outside the main cities.

SPORT: Watersports are available on Mussolo Peninsula. Swimming is available on Ilha beaches and Palmeirinhas. Santiago has fishing.

ECONOMY: Angola is rich in natural resources, including oil, coffee and diamonds but economic development has been stunted by the combined effects of the departure of 700,000 Portuguese after independence and the consequences of civil strife and the South African incursions. Agriculture employs over 50% of the population but production has declined so much that, from being a net exporter, Angola now imports over half its food requirements. Fishing, which almost ceased to exist, is now being rejuvenated with foreign aid. Gulf Oil and Texaco have developed major oilfields off the shore of Cabinda (an enclave in the north of the country) but the country has only one refinery and so exports most of its oil in the crude form; plans to develop the country’s refining capacity have been shelved since the collapse of oil prices in the late 1980s (Angola is not a member of OPEC). The only other industry of any size is diamond mining, which has been a vital source of revenue for both sides in the civil war and has been the sticking point in several attempts to bring about a ceasefire. Since independence, the economy has for the most part been centrally planned, but state control is being relinquished as the Angolan government increasingly seeks technical and financial support from the West and international institutions. Most importantly, the country’s future prosperity depends largely on a lasting political settlement. Angola’s largest trading partners are Portugal, Brazil, France and the USA, from whom it imports much of its food and almost all its manufactured equipment.

Business: Lightweight suits are recommended. Many Angolan business people dress casually, wearing safari suits and open-neck shirts. Any dark colours can be worn for social occasions. As Portuguese is the official language, a knowledge of this is an advantage in business transactions; French and Spanish are also useful. There are limited translation services. Avoid June to September as Angolans tend to take their holidays at this time. Office hours: 0730-1230 and 1430-1830 Monday to Thursday, 0730-1230 and 1430-1730 Friday.

History: Angola was made part of the Congo Kingdom in the 14th century by Wene and was flourishing a century later when the first Portuguese explorers reached the country. Relations between the Europeans and the Congo kings were good and missionaries were sent over. The kings’ sons were sent to Lisbon for education until the 17th century, at which point the slave trade soured all trust between the two countries. An estimated one million slaves were shipped to Portuguese Brazil between the 16th and 17th century. The formal abolition of the slave trade in 1836 following the loss of Brazil resulted in the Portuguese intensifying colonisation of its other territories, including Angola. An unsuccessful rebellion in 1962 by supporters of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and a party later known as the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) was followed by severe repression. In 1964 dissident members of FNLA formed the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The independence movements fought a guerilla war against the colonial government until 1974 and the overthrow of the Caetano dictatorship in Portugal. The new radical military government in Lisbon opted for rapid decolonisation, effected in November 1975. The tenuous tripartite agreement between the rival independence movements collapsed and civil war followed, pitting MPLA (supported by the then USSR and Cuba) against FNLA and UNITA (backed by South Africa, the USA and Britain). MPLA achieved formal victory in February 1976 but never fully defeated UNITA who, with South African support, sustained a continuous guerrilla war in the south and centre of the country. This has since become Africa’s longest civil war, at a cost of 500,000 lives. Tortuous negotiations finally produced a political settlement at the end of May 1991. The main provision of the accord stipulated the holding of national legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for the autumn of 1992. Although 18 parties contested the poll, it was in truth a straight fight between the MPLA and UNITA. The MPLA won both a majority in the legislature and the presidency. However, despite the overwhelming opinion of international observers that the election had been free and fair, Savimbi and UNITA refused to accept the result and, alleging widespread fraud and malpractice, resumed the war. Heavy fighting continued through the latter part of 1993 and most of 1994 until talks brokered by, among others, President Mandela of South Africa, produced the Lusaka accord in November 1994. Despite small pockets of fighting, particularly in diamond-mining areas, the country is largely at peace and the two political leaders, Savimbi and President Jose Eduardo dos Santos have now set about the formidable task of reconstruction. In one of the UN’s largest-ever peacekeeping operations, 7000 troops are now dispersed around the country. The EU is organising a £500 million programme to kick-start the process.

The north of the country is hot and wet during the summer months (November to April); winters are slightly cooler and mainly dry. The south is hot throughout much of the year with a slight decrease in temperature in winter (May to October).

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year in the south. Tropical clothing for summers in the north. Nights can be cold, so warm clothing should be taken. Waterproofing is advisable for the rainy season throughout the country.