ANGOLA

Warning

Angola's outlook is bleak. After more than 20 years of war the countryside is littered with mines, the infrastructure is in ruins and the country's social fabric is tattered. Shortly after the Portuguese withdrew in 1974, the transitional government to independence broke down and the country was thrust into civil war. The latest and longest break in the fighting lasted from 1994 to 1998, but by early 1999, war was the answer to the question on everyone's lips. Angola hit the international news in December 1998 and again in January when two United Nations planes were shot down over Angolan territory. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, called it 'an outrageous crime' intended to intimidate the UN. He recommended that the United Nations shut down its peacekeeping operations because the government and UNITA rebels were bent on wiping each other out militarily, and UN peacekeepers could no longer do their jobs. The big losers in the whole affair are, of course the Angolan people, more than 100,000 of whom have been killed since the fighting began.
Lonely Planet (April 1999)

Travel Tips

Luanda is a great place to live but very expensive as literally almost everything has to be flown in or comes by ship. I don't know about prices of hotels/pensions in the city but (if you can find a place), they would probably be about $50-60 for the bottom end of the market. Outside of Luanda going south to Sumbe, Lobito and Benguela, prices are about $25 for room in a pension - don't expect anything fancy! The coastal strip is perfectly safe as long as all your documents are in order. I recently drove down to Benguela from Luanda in a Peugeot 204 and the road is OK (about 20km of bad stuff). There are regular buses to Benguela/Lobito.

You can break your journey at lovely safe places like Porto Amboin and Sumbe where prices are reasonable, although may be a bit high for backpackers. There are fantastic langostines all the way down the coast at giveaway prices. There are landmines here but not on the main roads and beaches or in the towns. I would certainly be careful in Luanda especially at night, but no more so than in any other large city - I was far happier walking around here than Johannesburg or Harare.
Andy (Jan 98)

For more news, views and the odd bit of gibberish, drop in on the rec.travel.africa newsgroup.

For detailed up-to-date travel information check out Lonely Planet's Destination Angola.

Check out more African Postcards