Overview
Angola is a country in Africa according to dentistrymyth. Angola is slowly recovering from decades of civil war and adventurous tourists are beginning to explore the Portuguese architecture, 1,650km of coastline and previously little-visited wildlife parks. Dense forests, plateaus and wild rivers determine the landscape as well as the Namib Desert. Visitors will find rich African wildlife and the black antelope (Palanca negra) found only in Angola. A ceasefire ended the conflict in 2002 and finally made it possible to resolve it politically. In 2003, after more than a quarter of a century, Angolans celebrated a year of peace for the first time.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Angola’s national airline, TAAG Angola Airlines (DT) and Lufthansa (LH) connect Frankfurt/M. several times a week non-stop with Luanda. Lufthansa (LH) offers feeder flights to Frankfurt/M. from Vienna and Zurich. In cooperation with Brussels Airlines (SN), Austrian Airlines (OS) flies from Vienna and Swiss (LX) from Zurich via Brussels to Luanda. KLM (KL) flies from Vienna and Zurich via Amsterdam and TAP Air Portugal (TP) flies to Luanda via Lisbon.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Luanda: 8 hours 30 minutes (non-stop); Vienna – Luanda: approx. 11 hours; Zurich – Luanda: 10 hours 30 minutes (each with a stopover).
Departure fee
None.
Arrival by car
Entry by land is possible from Namibia. On the Namibian side, the road is paved; in Angola the road condition is then very bad and the roads are often impassable when it rains. Four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. Entry into Angola with a Namibian rental car is prohibited. Tolls: There are no toll roads in Angola. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license must be carried.
Note on arrival by car
Overland journeys by car are associated with a high risk of accidents due to the poor condition of the roads and vehicles. In principle, any journeys should be carried out in a convoy with other vehicles and not at night.
Arrival by train
A Rovos Rail luxury train travels across Africa from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania via Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Lobito in Angola.
Arrival by ship
The main ports are Malongo, Lobito, Luanda and Namibe. Many cruise ships call at Angolan ports.
Cruise ships
Phoenix is also calling at Angola on its world cruise that starts in Bremerhaven. Coming from the USA, cruise operators such as Seabourn and Holland America Line also have Angola in their program.
Transportation
Traveling by plane
TAAG Angola Airlines (DT), the national carrier, connects the country’s major cities. Sonair operates charter flights from Luanda as well as scheduled flights to various cities in the country; including to Cabinda in the enclave of the same name.
Traveling by car/bus
The after-effects of the civil war can still be felt years later; the road network was largely destroyed and is still difficult to drive on today. There are strict controls at the borders and on the road. Police checks sometimes result in illegal fines being imposed. Especially in Luanda, motor vehicles are often attacked in stationary traffic by armed men on motorcycles. Tolls: There are no toll roads in Angola. Gas stations are sufficiently available.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Right
Condition of the roads
The road network in Angola is in a very bad condition; sometimes you can only drive at an average speed of 20 km/h. There is a risk of getting into mined areas, especially when driving off-piste. You should inquire about this on site.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at the airport and through various hotels. It is advisable to rent a car with a driver. The regular rental prices are high. However, we do not recommend renting vehicles from private and cheaper providers, as the vehicles are often not sufficiently insured.
Taxi
Taxis are usually available, but waiting times are common. If possible, travelers should plan to be picked up on arrival at the airport and be accompanied by local people for the first few days. MACOM taxis are quite expensive in Luanda. However, cheaper, private taxis should only be used on recommendation. In other cities in the country, motorcycle taxis are mainly used.
Coach
Buses run very irregularly and are often overcrowded. The risk of being mugged is always present.
Documentation
In addition to the international driver’s license, the national driver’s license must be carried. A translation into Portuguese must also be provided for the national driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
Minibuses and taxis operate in Luanda.
Locally on the way by train
There are three independent railway lines with regular services between the coast and the interior: – the Luanda Railway on the Luanda – Malanje line, in northern Angola, – the Benguela Railway on the Lobito – Dilolo line through central Angola, and – the Mocamedes Railway on the Mocamedes – Menongue line, in the south of the country.
