Angola
Eco-friendly travel guide to Angola advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Angola, Africa.
- Air quality: 3.0 / 5
- Bus connections: 2.0 / 5
- Train connections: 2.5 / 5
- Hitchhiking: 3.0 / 5
- National parks: 3.5 / 5
- Outdoor activities: 3.5 / 5
- Locals' English level: 3.0 / 5
- Safety: 2.5 / 5
- Accommodation: US$25 - $150
- Budget per day: US$40 - $200
Contents
Responsible Travel
The country of Angola is located in Central Africa, and it is on the west coast of South Africa. Angola or the Republic of Angola is the second-largest Portuguese speaking or Lusophone country in population and total area. The country is spread on a 1246700 sq. km. Land.
The South African country, Angola, is a vast country with a central plateau and a long coastline. It is a biodiverse country from the ultra desert of Namib to the husky savannas of the coastal plains. There are Congolian rainforests, high mountains standing up to 2620 m above sea level, extensive woodlands, and several untouched parts of forests and grasslands. So you see, Angola is a country that is enriched with natural resources. Even Angola has large diamonds and oil reserves, lots of hydroelectric potentials, and agricultural lands.
Though after the Civil War, Angola was one of the countries that were actively growing its economy in 2016, Angola got 149 out of 186 on the poverty scale; Angola's rural areas are suffering from poverty. After the devastating war, the economic condition here in Angola really affected. The limited access to healthcare, high fertility rates, lack of high-quality education, and a huge inequality in income have a grave effect on Angola's economy.
However, almost 90 percent of Angola's revenue is supplied by the oil business. The country secures 0.63 percent of Domestic income from tourism, and approximately 42% of the international tourism is received in Central Africa.
Angola needs active tourism more than any other place in Africa because Angola can be the most resource-rich country but economically suffering. So, as a responsible tourist, it's your duty to act responsibly and contribute to the country's tourism. Here are some tips for you in this context:
- Stay several nights in the different cities of Angola. One anyway needs lots of time to explore the vast natural wonders of the country. On the other hand, if you stay somewhere for a longer period, it helps local businesses, therefore the country's economy.
- Dine in the local restaurants, purchase locally produced goods or souvenirs, traveling by local transportation, taking part in anything local, supports a place's economy one way or another.
- Save the country's mesmerizing green beauty by throwing trash in its designated place, not anywhere on the streets.
- A place is nothing without its residents. So if you really love the place, don't leave any negative mark on the residents. Before doing anything, think twice and make a positive impact on Angola, hence the people.
- Always remember, when you do something for someone without expecting anything in return, you are making someone smile. So, do contribute whenever there is an opportunity. Participate in volunteering programs and you will how amazing it feels.
- Maintaining sustainability
Air Quality and Pollution
The air quality of Angola is moderately unsafe. The country ranked 62 among 98 counties in 2019 on the basis of air pollution in the country. The AQI of Angola is 59, according to some recent reports.
The massive destruction that Angola had to face during the war is still the root cause of pollution. The massive loss of forests, land abuse, impure water is the gifts of war. There are many residents who are making their living through timber selling. As a result, the tropical rainforests are taken down one by one. Therefore, soil erosion and water pollution is a regular thing in Angola.
However, the remaining greenery of the country is still protecting it from becoming a highly polluted country. Three climates can be experienced in Angola, coastal, tropical, and hot. The central and southern parts are mostly temperate-tropical, and the Southeastern parts are hot and dry and cool at night. You can experience the best of all climates between May and October. And if you want rather chilling weather, visit Angola from May to July.
Respect the Culture
While the country had to bear a 27-year-long civil war, the culture was influenced by the Portuguese massively. However, African and ethnic influences can also be seen in Angolan. For some reason, today, the culture here remains unexplored. Even if we go back, Angola was unexplored during the more than 400 years of rule. After 1975, when Portugal's rule came to AN end, the country was not that famous among tourists. However, after 2002, when the Civil War ended, tourists started visiting the city and exploring the fascinating cultural mixture.
The colorful culture here becomes even more lively with the touch of music and arts. People here are highly spiritual; at the same time, they have a deep love for dance. Locals love parties, and they are most likely to live a relaxed lifestyle. Even though the past wars have made contemporary life in Angola quite hard, people never compromise with their beliefs and festivals.
When it was the Portuguese ruling era, Angola was Christianised, which is why Christian holidays carry a great value here. Other than that, Angolans participate in political holidays, family celebrations including traditional rituals associated with adulthood, death, and birth, the beginning of harvest and hunting are also celebrated here among the rural communities.
Angolans are big fans of music and arts. They celebrate several events Keeping the music and arts in the center. They have events where the combination of music and storytelling is the protagonist. They also participate in several art events. Their artworks popularly revolve around their mythology.
The culture in Angola is primarily native Bantu, mixed with a mixture of Portuguese culture. Here, the diverse communities live together with their own traditions, cultural trains, and native languages, including Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Bakongi, Avambo, Choker, and more other communities. When asked today, Angola residents may introduce themselves as Angolan but introducing themselves with their core tribe is a pride for them.
Residents here are very friendly, and they are always available if you need anything. But when someone is talking, interrupting them is simply a form of rudeness to them. However, they are proud of their culture, and if you want to know Angola closely and make some Angolan friends, you need to respect their culture first.
Top 10 Places to Visit
When thinking about tourist destinations, Angola might come to your mind at the last, yet, Angola is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The natural beauty of this country is just beyond words. The forest reserves, pasture lands, Tropical forests, animals that you may have never seen before, a few amazing birds, etc., are enough to create an unforgettable memory.
However, if you visit Africa, your trip will not be completed without Angola. At the same time, it's not possible to explore the entire country at a time. This is why we have sorted out a few unmissable destinations in Angola and check them out.
- Dilolo Lake: It is the largest lake in Angola. A mysterious force always keeps the lake covered, and it prevents fishers from fishing in the lake. Whether you want to Escape the country's hustle-bustle for a while or need a spot for client meetings, Dilolo lake is one destination that you should never miss. Besides, while visiting Dilolo Lake, you can also visit Cameia Park, as the lake is located just outside the park boundaries. The "Mysterious force" mentioned above are actually some unusual forces that can be seen heading to the lake's east.
- The Tunda Bala Fissure: It is one of the most spellbinding natural sights in Angola. The Tunda Bala Fissure is located between the two cities, Namibe and Lubango, about 2600m above sea level. It's not necessary to mention how incredible the view is, from this height and the visible scenario, some of the best Africa can offer. It is one of the most desired destinations for thrill-seeking hikers.
- Maiombe Forest: Maiombe Forest or the "Amazon of Africa" is another amazing creation of nature found in Angola. Spread across a 400sq. The Km area, the forest is an amazing spot for wildlife lovers. Animals like chimps, elephants, gorillas, several rare birds, Butterflies, etc., can be found here. The plants of the forest are equally unusual as the wildlife.
- The Arch Lagoon: Located in the Namib desert, The Arch Lagoon is a naturally created arch Rock formation. The amazing creation took many, many years to come to today's shape. The Arch Lagoon's location is close to the town, Tombwa. Visiting the place not only offers a great view of the Arch, but it is also a perfect place to spend find time amongst the tranquil and peaceful nature. A few rare Wildlife species can also be found in the surroundings.
- Luanda: Luanda is the capital city of Angola, full of stark contrasts. The city is standing, keeping the Atlantic Ocean at the front with hundreds of modern-looking buildings. People may call it an island, but truly, Luanda is a Peninsula. Overpopulation might be a severe issue in Luanda. The Atlantic Ocean's beautiful view is always disrupted by busy ships; the insane morning traffic and stink is a regular problem of the city. However, keeping all the flaws aside, Luanda's "capital city" charms are still intact. Luanda is the whole other side of Africa, quite the opposite of peaceful greener; maybe that makes the city worth experiencing.
- Dala Water Falls: Located at Lunda SOI, the Dala Waterfalls has a rather mesmerizing view to offer with its about 60m height. The scene of mist and spray when the water touches the rock can leave people truly spellbound. Near the waterfall base, there is a bridge situated, and the bridge is the best place to witness the Dala Waterfalls. If you want, you can stay in a hotel located just at a 50m distance from the Dala. There is also another Waterfall located close enough to Dala, Casengo falls. Many people get confused between Dala and Casengo; well, Casengo is smaller than Dala.
- Mussulo: If there is any place in Angola that can compete with Luanda, then Mussulo. Located at Luanda's southern outskirts, Mussulo island is spread about a 30km long land, or you can say sand. The water here is relatively warmer than the rest of Angola, and there are no waves. Even after being so close to Luanda, surprisingly, the city's chaos did not enter the island. If you visit Luanda, you have to come here to Mussulo; otherwise, you are going to miss such a perfect place to relax and chill under the sun.
- Baia Dos Tigres: It was a small peninsula on the country's east side. The south part of the island was the isthmus, and on the other side, there was a cozy fishing village named Tigres. In 1962, the ocean became very strong at some point in time, and the waves hit the isthmus, and then the peninsula got separated as an island. Therefore, the fishing village, Tigres, is no longer a village but an island today. Within only an hour, the natural event changes Tigres's status and widely affected the natural beauty. And today, it's a worth visiting place in Angola.
- Miradouro da Lua or Moon's Lookout: You may think that the name was given as the place is perfect to look up to the moon, but that's not right. The landscape of the place is best defined as a lunar landscape. Miradouro da Lua was created naturally by the erosion caused by the wind and rain. How the naturally created piece of land looks even more appealing with its unique, bright color— is really something you should witness. The landscape is located right on the main road that leads to southern Angola. So, it's not even a great stop but also an easily accessible spot.
- Namib Desert: It's a coastal desert in South Africa. Namib actually means Vast Place and said that the desert is spread across more than 2000 km along the Atlantic coasts of Namibia, South Africa, and Angola. Still, Angola is not the world's largest desert, but it is certainly the oldest. The desert was knowingly dry for over 55 million years, and maybe if the years are counted correctly, initially, it can be 80 million years. The desert has a strange climate, and it was a forbidden land. Today, it's a land of a small part of African lions, elephants, rhinos, and welwitschia plants. The dunes here in Namib are truly unique in their own ways and truly large in size. However, the Namib desert is one of the most worth visiting places in Angola, so make sure to pay at least one visit.
Explore
If someone attempts to answer the question, "What is there to explore in Angola?" the answer will be indeed very, very long. Not only because the country has a massive collection of artworks, museums, beaches, islands, Marxist heritage, and of course, an endless natural beauty to witness, but also Angola is a hidden gem. Angola is not a country with overwhelming tourists. For a long time, people prefer to stay away from the place as it was quite a hassle to reach Angola.
However, today, Angola is one of the most accessible destinations globally, and it is still not far from sinking into over-tourism. So, what are you waiting for? Explore each corner of the city and discover if it is truly an "unforgettable destination" or they are just words.
City Parks
Honestly, if you visit Angola's country in person, you may find several city parks there just to spend some time and enjoy. Still, the country is known for its amazing nature reserves, safari, and national parks. This is why it's pretty hard to find city parks around the country. Still, here are some options for you:
- Tundavala
- Ilha do Mussulo
- Miramar Park
- Kool Park
- Angola Park and Recreation
- Cameia Park
National Parks
Take a look below to know about the national parks in Angola:
Kissama National Park: Located on the northwest side of Angola, the park is spread over 3845 sq. miles of area. Kissama National Park or Quiçama or Parque Nacional da Quissama is filled with Baobab forests, dense vegetation, and Savannah grasslands. The park operates with the Lion Conservation Unit program to repopulate the continent's lion population. You will also see popular wildlife species, including buffalo, elephant, giraffe, ostrich, eland, town, waterbuck, antelope, and Zebra. For a place close to extinction, revitalization is indeed one of the highlights. However, the park is a perfect destination for a passionate hiker. The best part here is, you will be able to experience walking safaris.
However, Kissama National Park is the only one right now operating as a proper National Park in Southern Africa. Here are some other National Parks in Angola that you would like to visit:
- Cangandala National Park
- Bicular National Park
- Lona National Park
- Mupa National Park
- Mucusso National Park
Beaches
Being one of the least tourist attracted places, Angolan beaches may not be that famous, but honestly, isn't that the best part? Who wouldn't love a less crowded beach to visit!
The islands here in Angola have some truly amazing beaches to visit, here are some of them:
- Tigers Bay
- Mussulo island beach
- Baia Azul
- Sangano
- Sumbe
- Baia Dos Elefantes
- Porto Amboim
- Morena
- Caribe and Coconuts
Landmarks
Angola has a lot of tourist attractions and landmarks hidden in it. Well, the good news is, you don't have to find them out. All you need to do is look into the following list and plan your trip!
- Christ the King Statute: It is a statue of Christ overlooking the city, very similar to Rio de Janeiro. In 1957, the statue was built with marble, and since then, it is one of the most monuments in Angola. The height of the Rio de Janeiro statue and the Cristo Rei Statue is the same; the only difference is that Rio De Janeiro is 30m without a pedestal. Here, the statue is also 30m but with a pedestal.
- Fortress of Sao Miguel: It is a Portuguese Fortress in Luanda. Fortress of Sao Miguel is one of the famous monuments in Angola, built-in 1576. This amazing fortress was constructed by the Portuguese governor Paulo Dias de Novais. Fun fact, Paulo Dias de Novais is the grandson of the famous explorer Bartolomeu Dias. Back in 1627, this Fortress became the administrative center of the adjacent colony. Nowadays, the building is used as a museum for the country's armed forces. Today, people recognize the Fortress of Sao Miguel as the Museu Nacional de História Natural de Angola.
- Cathedral of the Holy Saviour: It is a Roman Catholic Cathedral with ancient architecture. Built-in 1628, the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour used to be the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Luanda. The original Structure was ruined and then restored in 1880. That means the building you will see is mixed with ancient and modern architecture.
- Tundavala gap: It is the edge of a huge escarpment, located just outside the city of Lubango, 18 km from the city. Not to mention the view is just spectacular. The plain below the Tundavala gap is about 1200 m lower.
- Kwanza Sul: Kwanza Sul is an Angolan region at the south of Luanda, and it is standing as the border of the Atlantic. The tropical climate majorly characterizes this place, and it is known for its beaches. Residents of Angola have loved to visit Kwanza Sul since the colonial years.
- Sassa Caves: Sassa Caves are located at Sambe, Kwanza Sul province's capital. Geological formations of Sassa caves in Sambe are the main attractions. Sassa caves can be found at a 7km distance from downtown. These huge caves are one of the most famous places in Angola. Fun fact, Sassa Caves were announced as one of the 7 wonders in Angola.
- Pediva hot Springs: Pediva is a beautiful place in Angola. It's a large lake, and around it, you will see only Mucabal Tribes. The lake here is a mix of cold and hot springs waters. It is the perfect place for people looking for a natural bath. You will see a little bit of modern touch in the lives of the tribes here, but they are yet to become open to strangers.
- Black Rocks: They are standing at a 116 km distance from Malanje, a provincial capital in Angola. Black Rocks are actually a series of mysterious rich formations and surprisingly shaped in the form of animals. You will also find a fort here, which was built in 1671 by the Portuguese.
- Monumento do Soldado Desconhecido: Monumento do Soldado Desconhecido or Monument to the Unknown Soldier was erected between the Navy Command and the Angolan Post Office. This spellbinding work is 270 meters long and 60 meters wide. It is originally a metallic structure with 16 interlocked pieces, each of 8.8 tons. The monument is dedicated to a group of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for a common reason.
- Padrão de Sao Jorge: A Portuguese explorer named Diogo Cao came here to Angola and started discovering Africa, and he marked this spot as Padrao de São Jorge. That's why, today, the spot stands as a symbol of the discovery of Angola. Here you will see white stone cross bars standing on a beach, surrounded by palm trees. Well, definitely it's a "Landmark" with lots of history in it! While coming to the spot, you can also spend some time around the area or swim in the tranquil ocean water hare.
Museums
Here are some of the Angolan museums that you have to visit:
- Angola Natural History Museum: The museum is located in Luanda. It has preserved thousands of Angolan biodiversity from Angolan History. Not only will you see Angolan flora here but be ready to witness wildlife and the country's coastline and fish species.
- Dundo Museum: Dundo Museum in Angola is one of Africa's most important ones with its vast ethnographic collection. Since 1945, not a single day had passed when people were not surprised by the museum's contents. You will find it in a small town of Angola, named Dundo.
- Angolan Women's Memorial: The memorial is dedicated to Angola women's heroes. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Angola. When Angola's 26 years long Civil War ended in 2002, there began a huge conflict that took several lives. During this period, Angolan women fought bravely for their families, children. The museum shows respect to those soldiers and shows respect to the victims who died even though Angola became independent. Located in Luanda, people love to come here with families and couples and capture photos.
- Museum of Armed Forces: The museum building itself is an example of ancient Angolan architecture. It is located on a high plateau overlooking the city of Luanda. The building has a great view of Luanda Bay and the island to offer. The Museum is dedicated to those who fought for Angola's independence.
- Angola Slavery Museum: It may seem a little creepy to exhibit such a cruel History of torture and the memories filled with the pain and tears of thousands of slaves but it is the only mark that the slaves could leave on the country of Angola before being shipped in the countries of South and North America. The European slave traders used to transfer these slaves forcefully to work in indigo, coffee, sugar plantations without any remuneration.
- Museum of Anthropology: This museum features an interesting collection of sculptures, weaponry, art, tools, jewelry, musical instruments, and clothing. The Museum is located in Luanda.
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Eat
After exploring a whole new country and learning about its history, the next thing people want is to eat a belly-full of new foods. Angolan cuisine is just a whole new world for foreign visitors. Apart from new textures and flavors, there are also some ingredients that you may have never tried before, such as Okra, Funge, Kizaca, Mukua, Muamba, etc.
Angolan Food is basically a mixture of Portuguese and African food, and the reason behind this is the huge history between these two places. However, in the last few years, Angolan cuisine also started adapting Brazilian Food. Fun Fact, Brazilian food is originally influenced by African food!
Here are some Angolan foods you must try:
- Mufete Fish
- Funge
- Muamba de Galinha de Angola
- Galinha Rija
- Calulu de peixe
- Lagosta or Lobster
- Traditional and Local Restaurants
- Caribe
- Restaurante Universal
- Restaurante Liopa
- Restaurante Varanda did Mangais
- Caruso's Restaurant
- Acapulco Mexican Grill
- Bull Pen Cafe
- Chubby's fish
- steak
- Vegetarian and Vegan
- Sutton's daily
- The Hatchery
- Monument Pizza and Pub
- Timbuktoo's
- Andy's Broadway
- d.Bina
- Café del Mar
- Street Food
- Picolé
- Banana Assada
- Ginguba torrada
- Pombo Assado
- Paracuca
Drink
Beer is the national alcoholic beverage in Angola. According to some reports, in 2019, Angolan consumes approx 59 liters of beer per year. People here are also pretty fond of wine and spirits. Angolan beverages may contribute about 4 percent to the country's GDP, but the poverty level is quite high. This is why branded products are only limited to the upper-class society.
However, here is the list of popular drinks in Angola.
- Cuca Beer and Mongozo (Traditional beer, brewed from the African palm nut)
- Maize Beer
- Palm Wine
- Kimbombo (Key ingredient is corn)
- Capatica (a home-made spirit made of bananas)
- Cazi ( Potato and Cassava skin)
- Kapuka (Vodka, Homemade drinks specialty)
- Whiskey Kota (Homemade whiskey)
- Kissanga (Non-alcoholic drunk made of cornflour)
- Soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Mirinda, Sprite, Pepsi, Fanta, etc.
Tap-water
Tap Water in Angola is not safe because, in most regions, it remains untreated. Even its unclean water is one of the main reasons why Angola has the highest under-five mortality rate in the world. So, you should rather stay safe than being sorry later. Avoid tap water and only consume filtered, boiled, or bottled mineral water.
Activities
Angola has a rich natural beauty, and it is filled with amazing landscapes and beautiful sights. You will find everything here, from tropical islands to sandy beaches with tranquil water, huge Mountains to large caves, and the creation of lush greenery to crazy rock formations— the bottom line is that you will never feel a lack of outdoor activities in Angola.
Here are some examples of outdoor activities in Angola:
- Experience Safari
- Play golf
- Take an overnight tour of the Kissama National Park
- Enjoy the mesmerizing waterfalls in Angola
- Dive into the ocean and meet the underwater creatures
- Participate in the several beach activities
- Hike in the national parks or any of the amazing mountains in Angola
Accommodation
Angola is a major economic powerhouse in Africa. Based on the speed of the country's growing economy after the civil war, Angola has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. And Angolan tourism plays a major role in the country's growing economy.
This is why you will never feel a lack of accommodation here. Besides, till now, you must have read several lines about the country's rich natural beauty. So it doesn't matter where you will find your accommodation, you will surely be blessed with a spectacular view.
Read the following list and choose accommodation according to your requirements:
Green Hotels
The concept of green hotels comes with a sense of sustainability and a responsible tourist; you must know how to travel sustainably. So, here are some of the top green hotels in Angola:
- Fazenda Rio Uiri
- Wembley Eco Resort
- EPIC SANA Luanda
- Alvalade Hotel
- Thomson Art House
- Hotel Tropico
Hostels and Guest Houses
Here are some of the popular guesthouses and hostels in Angola:
- Downtown Guest House
- Hostel No Quintal
- Paridiseos
- Residencial Marvanuel
- Guesthouse Terezinha
- Residencial Dumas
- Kwanza Lodge
Apartments
As mentioned before, Angola is under the process of overall development. This is why businesses like tourism carry a great value more than anything else. In the last few years, Angola has developed itself quite quickly, and today things like renting an apartment here became pretty easy. All you need to do is log into a proper website and find an apartment that fits your requirements perfectly.
Hence, a rental apartment question can easily be solved, but you need to be more concerned about your safety. Yes, you will not have any problems with the Angolans as they are very friendly and respect their culture more than anything else. Still, it's a foreign country, and you are searching for an apartment, which means you plan to stay here for a little longer. So judge all these criteria before finalizing.
Couchsurfing
You must have seen or heard about Couchsurfing.com. It is an online community where people from across the world gather who have an interest in Couchsurfing. Log in to the website, and you will surely get a Couchsurfing companion in no time. Having access to such a website can also help you know about your Couchsurfing partner before starting. You can also ask local people about this concept if you want to learn more details.
Camping
Angola can be a lot of unpredictable things, but camping is quite predictable here. Such a place enriched with natural beauty and lush greenery has several camping sites to offer. There are several national parks, beaches, and mountainous sites where you can comfortably stay overnight in a tent surrounded by nature.
However, here are some popular campsites in Angola:
- Wild Camping Tundavala
- Epupa Falls Lodge and Campsites
- St.ives camp
- Camp Syncro Namibia
- Quedes de Kalandula
- Camp Hogo
- Turtle Beach campsite
Regions
| Greater Luanda The population centre of the country and home to the capital Luanda |
| Northern Angola Northern area mostly bordering Democratic Republic of the Congo with significant areas of rainforest |
| Central Angola Highlands A series of irregular, high escarpments which drop steeply to the Atlantic coast |
| Southwest Angola the most arid region of the country with savanna plains and the northern continuation of the Namibian desert |
| Southeast Angola Mostly savanna plains interesected by five great rivers |
| Cabinda Northern exclave on the Atlantic ocean with a huge proportion of the nation's oil reserves and an active secessionist movement |
Cities
Angola has nearly 200 cities. Luanda is the capital city of Angola and one of the most expensive cities in the world. Luanda is the home of more than 2.5 million people of Angola. All the other major cities are much smaller than Luanda, and Huambo is the second-largest city.
Here are the names of the major cities of Angola:
Getting There and Moving Around
Remember, Angola is still recovering from its massive damage in the civil war. So, you may have to bear some hassle in the concept of getting there and moving around, but there are ways. All you need to do is choose the right path.
Air
Quarto de Fevereiro Airport is the main international airport in Angola. Besides tourists, it is mainly used by diamond and oil industries and locals who live abroad, mainly in Brazil.
TAAG Angola Airlines is responsible for operating the flights within Angola.
Bus
Tiny white and blue buses are the main public buses available here. They are called Candongueiros. Otherwise, the bus transportation system is not very developed here in Angola. Taxis are the best options for you to get around.
Train
The train system of Angola was destroyed during the war, which was recently restored. The middle line is fully functional and serves Cubal, Lobito, Luau, and Huambo, where the southern line is still under construction. However, there are three main routes, Luanda to Make, Lobito to Dilolo, and Namibe to Menongue.
There is no rail available in Angola that can link it to other nations.
Hitchhiking
First, you have to reach Namibia in order to enter Angola by road. However, you might be able to reach Angola by Hitchhiking, but getting around will be a challenge for you! Not because you will be riding with a stranger person, but the roads here are quite off-track. Let's think you might be able to figure it out anyway, but you need to know that most drivers here are unlicensed, and they are most likely to ignore signals. So, bottom line, think twice before choosing the road.
Others
Angola has no ferry service linking it with other nations. Till 2003, it was possible to enter Angola through a small passenger ferry in Namibia. Locals mostly used this path. Until 2007, there were different ferry services available to get around a few particular cities in Angola.
Today, you can still find a few ferries to get around, and if not, then you can ride Cargo planes that fly between Cabindra and Luanda.
Sustainable Shopping
Angola is developing itself in several ways, along with that, the country's fashion industry is also growing. Simultaneously, the number of eco shoppers is increasing, and sustainable Shopping is becoming a trend; Nadanovo is such an eco-friendly fashion brand of Angola.
Here are some places where you can shop sustainably in Angola:
- ULENGO
- Belas Shopping
- Ginga Shopping
- Shopping Avennida
- Xyami Shopping
- Chamavo
- Kero Hypermarket
- Futungo
Recycling
Recently, Luanda got a recycling plant to value the solid waste by the Environment minister Fàtima Jardim.
On the other hand, Angola is recycling its war scraps. The ADA steel mill uses scrap metal and guns left behind from the 30 years of civil war as the primary resource of several raw materials.
Angola is also taking serious measures to reuse the scrap from the can-making process and the used beverage cans from across the city. According to recent reports, the initiative might belong to the time before the Recycling plant was brought to Luanda. Still, they are going to use the plant to make the initiative successful.
As you can see, Angola is truly devastated by the brutal war, but the country is trying hard to stand back up on its own feet. It might be very hard for Angolans, but as a responsible tourist, you should help them in every way possible.
Waste
Being the home of over 30 million inhabitants, Angola is a country where only from the capital city, more than two hundred thousand tons of waste is collected in a month. The capital city has only one official destination for waste disposal, and that is the landfill of Mulenvos.
Angola's plastic waste management is not working properly. A lot of the plastic wastes end up in the oceans, which causes several problems in the country, and one of the main problems is the lack of clean water. On the other hand, the country is suffering from some serious consequences of being one of the leading mineral and oil producers.
Today, Angola's institutions do not have enough capacity or resources, or coordination mechanisms. And that's why the faster Angola is becoming economically strong, the more waste the country is producing every day.
After realizing the depth of the situation, Angola is taking several measures. To support the Angolan government, the UN Environment's Chemical and Waste Management has decided to take serious action.
So, if the overall recycling and initiatives like the one mentioned above become successful, hopefully, the country will recover its burden of trash in no time.
Work and Study Abroad
Angola has six years of compulsory education. In the case of higher education, Universidade de Angola, Luanda is the prime University here. However, Universidade de Agostinho Neto, Universidade de Católica de Angola, are the other two major universities here. There are also a few private universities that are back on track in the 2000s after the war ended.
On the other hand, being one of the most economically driven countries, Angola has several work opportunities. For more details, you need to visit Angola's official site, consisting of all the work and study details.
Exchange Student
Schools and Universities here in Angola organize exchange student programs every year with the Angolan government's help. These programs help Angola improve its educational status and the economy and offer international students an amazing opportunity to stay and study in such a beautiful place like Angola.
Au Pair
The three-decades-long civil war was truly a big deal for Angolans, and it was a big break too. After the war, developments here in Angola took over a fast track. But it is also true that several things are yet to adapt by the Angolans; the Au pair concept is one of those. In this era of development, the concept is also not something totally unheard of, but the real deal is acceptance.
To be more clear about this, all you need to do is talk with a few locals. No other research can be more fruitful than a conversation with local people.
Volunteering
Angola is a place that needs support more than any other place in the world. Only a few days ago, Angola used to be a living hell for the locals. The brutal civil war may have come to an end, but the way it affected Angola is going to be long-lasting. This is why, as a responsible tourist, you should jump into every opportunity to help Angolans, And volunteering is one of the easiest ways to do that. Here are some volunteering Programs available in Angola:
- IniciativA Angola
- Angola Red Cross
- Angola Field Group
- Blood Donation
- DIY Mask making
- Teaching Languages
- HelpStay (stay for free in Angola in return for few hours of help)
- Help in Recycling