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Angola: Country Guide

angola - general country guide

Sample

Map

Angola, map ^{Source: CIA World
Factbook}

Summary Data

summary data
Total Area (km²)	1,246,700
Land (km²)	1,246,700
Water (km²)	0
Population	12,531,357
Population Density (/km²)	10
Capital	Luanda
Religion (%)	Indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
Time	GMT+1
Climate	Semiarid in the south of the country and along the coast to Luanda. The north has a cool, dry season from May to October, and a hot, rainy season from November to April.

^{Source: CIA World Factbook}

Geography

Situated on the west coast of Africa, Angola is the seventh largest state in Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Namibia, Zambia and the Congo. The country has a very diverse landscape with hills in the southern part of the country and along the coastline, and flat land towards the north. The majority of the population have come to live in the northern areas of the country. The province of Cabinda is separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Government

Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and now has a Republic government led by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos who also acts as the head of state. Provisional parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for 2008/09 but remain dependent upon repair to road and rail infrastructure. The Angolan legal system is based on the Portuguese civil law system and customary law.

Language

The official language of Angola is Portuguese and African languages such as Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo and Chokwe are also widely spoken throughout the country.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the European-style round two-pin type.

Passports/Visa

Passports with two blank pages that are valid for at least six months are required by all nationals to enter Angola. Application forms to the Embassy of Angola in the UK can be photocopied but to a high standard and all signatures must be original.

Visas

Visas are required by all nationals to enter the country except those in transit travelling to a third country and not leaving the airport.

Passport/Visa Information

Embassy of Angola UK

22 Dorset Street

London

W1U 6QY

Tel: 00 44 (020) 7299 9850

Fax: 00 44 (020) 7486 9397

Airports and Airlines

Fevereiro International Airport (LAD)

Location: The airport is two miles (4km) from Luanda.
Time: GMT + 1
Contacts: Luanda Airport, Angola, CP 841, Luanda
Tel: +244 (0)2 352387
Transfer between terminals: There is only one terminal in the airport.
Transfer to the city: Taxis are not available. Visitors are advised to make advance arrangements to be met by their sponsor, hotel representative or business colleagues.
Car Rental: Avis car rental has an office at the airport.
Facilities: Airport facilities include a restaurant, bar, post office, bureau de change, and 24-hour medical facilities offering a cholera and yellow fever vaccination service.

Standard of Living

Since the civil war Angola has not had a very high standard of living especially as the country is still trying to rebuild itself. Locations such as Benguela that were less affected by the destruction of the conflict have since become flourishing cultural centres of the country with much development still to come. There is a growing interest from tourists each year and the government has set out new plans to develop the country to increase tourism and foreign investment. There is a clear link between the increase in development and the standard of living, both of which are continuing to rise although the country still has a long way to go.