Angola is one of the fastest developing countries in the world currently. The country is rich in oil and diamond deposits. It has the largest oil reserve in the sub-Saharan region. After over 26 years of civil war which ended in 2002 after the independence of the country from Portugal, it is quickly recovering improving living conditions, expanding its cities and allowing for numerous new businesses to open.

Travelling info

All visitors traveling to Angola are required to have a valid passport. Depending on the nationality of visitors there are different requirements of entry. Some nationalities, exclusively African, are allowed to enter Angola without obtaining a visa. Others must obtain a visa online or on arrival or before the trip depending on the nationality. Visitors who wish to drive in Angola may do so as long as their domestic driving permit has their holders photograph on it. Those who have driving permits without a photograph are required to obtain an International driving permit. Such a document may only be obtained in the tourist country of origin. Beware that an IDP is only a translation of the original document and does not substitute for it. Both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Travelling hazards

The aftermath of the Angolan civil war brought on many difficulties and one of them is the poor infrastructure in the country. Due to the rapid development of the country many roads are being paved and improved however many are still in disrepair and often impossible for ordinary vehicles meaning that a lot of roads still require a solid four-wheel drive to get around. The Angolan civil war also left numerous places filled with landmines. The Angolan government has set efforts to clear these places however there are still many minefields only marked with warning signs. Tourists who wish to drive should stick to roads and not go off-road. The principal safety threat is vehicle accidents. Serious accidents in Luanda are less common than in the provinces. Traffic accidents increased throughout Angola in 2017. This is attributable to unpredictable roads that are affected by stretches of potholes, inexperienced drivers, increased traffic, and continued abuse of alcohol while driving.

Environmental hazards

Angola is a vast country, roughly twice the size of Germany. The country is very diverse spanning across savannas and tropical shrublands. The vastness of Angola allows for very diverse flora and fauna. The big five can be found in Angola. Elephants being the biggest animals on earth are generally docile however when angered or startled these animals can easily trample people. The hippopotamus is rather rare and only can be found in the very south of Angola. Hippos look docile and harmless, despite that they are fierce and will try to kill any encountered intruder. Lions are the apex predators of Africa. These large felines are responsible for over 250 deaths across Africa every year. There are 7 lethally venomous snakes in Angola. All of these are capable of delivering a deadly dose of venom. Survival often depends on the proximity of emergency services. When it comes to the waters of Angola, the fresh waters i.e. rivers and lakes are settled by crocodiles. The Nile crocodiles in Angola are among the largest reptiles in the world and are responsible for numerous deaths across the continent every year. The coast of Angola is generally safe. There has been only a single reported shark attack however many more unreported attacks have taken place. Tourists are generally advised to visit designated and guarded beaches only.
Angola mainly experiences floods, droughts, and landslides in the mountainous areas. Floods are vastly responsible for most damage caused by natural hazards and exclusively responsible for mortality.

Health hazards

There is a risk of yellow fever in Angola. All tourists visiting Angola are required to get a yellow fever vaccine. Apart from yellow fever risk, there is also a risk of contracting the Zika virus. Mosquitoes in Angola are infected with Zika and transmit the disease by biting. Pregnant women are recommended to reconsider travel due to the risk of contracting Zika. Apart from the yellow fever vaccine and the Zika virus, there are no other required vaccinations and no other outbreaks of any diseases. There are however several vaccinations that are strongly recommended to ensure a disease-free trip. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, cholera, and rabies. There is also a possibility of contracting malaria from mosquito bites. Despite the fact that there are no vaccinations against malaria, there are alternative ways to protect against the disease. Mosquito nets and mosquito repellents are strongly advised. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria. Public healthcare is very limited in Angola, almost exclusive to Luanda and barely existent outside of it. Expats mostly rely on private healthcare facilities which provide services at a higher expense than their public equivalent however the quality of service is much better.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

According to Angolan crime statistic crime overall has increased. The robbery remains the most commonly committed crime both on the local populace and on the expats. Assaults and carjackings, sometimes escalating to homicide, have been recorded throughout Luanda. Violence is more common after dark, though care should be taken to avoid becoming a victim. Travel in groups when possible and try to include at least one person capable of communicating in Portuguese. When inside your residence, use all security devices and lock doors. If you have a safe haven, sleep there. Do not investigate suspicious noises yourself, send your resort guard or call for help. Be alert when you depart or arrive. Use a peephole viewer before opening the doors. Use secure storage for valuables and store expensive items when you go away. Lock doors and remove keys to areas that you consider off-limits. All of these precautions will certainly increase your safety as break-ins and home invasions remain a serious concern in the country. There is no terrorist threat in Angola. All sorts of narcotics are illegal. Despite that Angola has to combat traffickers and cultivators of drugs within the country.

Summary

Despite being a developing country, Angola is one of the most expensive tourist destinations. This, in turn, translates to the small number of tourists arriving. Despite that Angola provides tourists with numerous attractions including incredible safari trips and sightseeing. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about the nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources
(Visa)
(Vaccinations)