Visiting Angola

Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Angola page at Yoogo.

Angola uses the Angolan Kwanza (AOA). Card acceptance is limited outside larger hotels and upmarket restaurants in Luanda, so carrying cash is advisable, particularly when travelling to smaller cities or rural areas.

Angola's main cities have functioning tourism infrastructure and are visited regularly by travellers, though petty theft and opportunistic crime occur in urban areas as in many cities worldwide. Check your government's current travel advisory before departure and stay alert in crowded public areas.

In Luanda, ride-hailing apps such as Yango offer a convenient and priced alternative to negotiating with individual taxis. Between cities, domestic flights are the most reliable option, as road conditions outside major urban centres can be poor, particularly during the rainy season.

The dry season from May to October is generally considered the best time to visit, with cooler temperatures, clear skies, and accessible roads to national parks and remote attractions. Luanda temperatures during this period typically range between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Portuguese is the official language and is spoken across the country, with Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo widely used in regional communities. English is spoken in some hotels and businesses catering to international visitors, but learning a few basic Portuguese phrases will be genuinely useful, especially outside Luanda.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry and must be obtained at least 10 days before travel. Malaria is present throughout the country, so consult a travel health professional about antimalarial medication and other recommended vaccinations such as hepatitis A and typhoid well before departure.

Tipping is not deeply embedded in Angolan culture but is increasingly common in tourist-facing establishments. Rounding up the bill or leaving around 10% in restaurants is appreciated, and tipping local guides is customary and welcomed.

Angola's main mobile operators are Unitel and Movicel, both offering prepaid SIM cards with data plans that can be purchased on arrival. International eSIM providers such as Airalo also offer Angola data plans, allowing you to activate coverage before departure and avoid airport queues.

Greetings are important in Angolan culture and a handshake with eye contact is the standard way to meet someone; using a person's title and surname until invited to use their first name shows respect. Meals are often communal affairs, and if invited to someone's home, bringing a small gift is considered polite. Photography of individuals, military installations, and government buildings should be avoided unless you have explicit permission.