Angola Travel Guide

Language

The official language of Angola is Portuguese. About 60 other African languages are spoken including Umbundu and Ovambo. Some French and Spanish is also spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in Angola is the Kwanza (AON), which is divided into 100 centimos. Visitors should bring enough cash for their needs. Money can be exchanged at authorized bureau de change, of which there are several in Luanda. US dollars are the most acceptable currency, but only the newer series US dollar bills (with large faces) can be used. Credit cards have only very limited acceptance in some establishments, and cash withdrawals are not possible, so it is unwise to rely on them. The few ATMs in Luanda do not accept foreign cards, and travelers checks are not welcome. Kwanza may not be taken out of Angola, and when departing from the airport, travelers can be subject to searches and possible confiscation of any Angolan currency.

93.5370

Time

Local time in Angola is GMT +1.

Electricity

Electrical current in Angola is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Angola is +244. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City codes are in use. Domestic and international telecommunications services are unreliable with connections frequently lost. This also applies to the mobile network, although there is GSM 900 coverage around Luanda and other main centers provided by Unitel. There are more mobile telephones than fixed lines in Angola. There are some Internet service providers in operation and Internet access is available at most major hotels.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Angola over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 500g cigars or other tobacco products; 250ml eau de toilette, 50ml perfume or aftershave; 2 liters wine or 1 liter spirits and gifts or souvenirs to the value of US$500. Prohibited and restricted items include firearms, ammunition or explosive materials; dangerous medicines, foodstuffs or drugs; pornographic material; plants originating from infected areas; gaming machines; pure alcohol; animals without corresponding certificates and stamps of value.

Tourist Office

National Tourist Agency, Luanda: +244 222 372 750.

Embassies in Angola

• United States Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 641 000.
• British Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 334 582.
• Consulate of Canada, Harare, Zimbabwe (also responsible for Angola): +263 4 252 1815.
• South African Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 330 593.
• Irish Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique (also responsible for Angola): +002 5821 491 440.

Angola Embassies Abroad

• Angolan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 785 1156.
• Angolan Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7299 9850.
• Angolan Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 1152.
• Angolan Ambassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 656 341 9360.
• Angolan Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0049.

Emergency

110 (Police); 118 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language of Angola is Portuguese. About 60 other African languages are spoken including Umbundu and Ovambo. Some French and Spanish is also spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in Angola is the Kwanza (AON), which is divided into 100 centimos. Visitors should bring enough cash for their needs. Money can be exchanged at authorized bureau de change, of which there are several in Luanda. US dollars are the most acceptable currency, but only the newer series US dollar bills (with large faces) can be used. Credit cards have only very limited acceptance in some establishments, and cash withdrawals are not possible, so it is unwise to rely on them. The few ATMs in Luanda do not accept foreign cards, and travelers checks are not welcome. Kwanza may not be taken out of Angola, and when departing from the airport, travelers can be subject to searches and possible confiscation of any Angolan currency.

93.5370

Time

Local time in Angola is GMT +1.

Electricity

Electrical current in Angola is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Angola is +244. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City codes are in use. Domestic and international telecommunications services are unreliable with connections frequently lost. This also applies to the mobile network, although there is GSM 900 coverage around Luanda and other main centers provided by Unitel. There are more mobile telephones than fixed lines in Angola. There are some Internet service providers in operation and Internet access is available at most major hotels.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Angola over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 500g cigars or other tobacco products; 250ml eau de toilette, 50ml perfume or aftershave; 2 liters wine or 1 liter spirits and gifts or souvenirs to the value of US$500. Prohibited and restricted items include firearms, ammunition or explosive materials; dangerous medicines, foodstuffs or drugs; pornographic material; plants originating from infected areas; gaming machines; pure alcohol; animals without corresponding certificates and stamps of value.

Tourist Office

National Tourist Agency, Luanda: +244 222 372 750.

Embassies in Angola

• United States Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 641 000.
• British Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 334 582.
• Consulate of Canada, Harare, Zimbabwe (also responsible for Angola): +263 4 252 1815.
• South African Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 330 593.
• Irish Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique (also responsible for Angola): +002 5821 491 440.

Angola Embassies Abroad

• Angolan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 785 1156.
• Angolan Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7299 9850.
• Angolan Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 1152.
• Angolan Ambassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 656 341 9360.
• Angolan Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0049.

Emergency

110 (Police); 118 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language of Angola is Portuguese. About 60 other African languages are spoken including Umbundu and Ovambo. Some French and Spanish is also spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in Angola is the Kwanza (AON), which is divided into 100 centimos. Visitors should bring enough cash for their needs. Money can be exchanged at authorized bureau de change, of which there are several in Luanda. US dollars are the most acceptable currency, but only the newer series US dollar bills (with large faces) can be used. Credit cards have only very limited acceptance in some establishments, and cash withdrawals are not possible, so it is unwise to rely on them. The few ATMs in Luanda do not accept foreign cards, and travelers checks are not welcome. Kwanza may not be taken out of Angola, and when departing from the airport, travelers can be subject to searches and possible confiscation of any Angolan currency.

93.5370

Time

Local time in Angola is GMT +1.

Electricity

Electrical current in Angola is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Angola is +244. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City codes are in use. Domestic and international telecommunications services are unreliable with connections frequently lost. This also applies to the mobile network, although there is GSM 900 coverage around Luanda and other main centers provided by Unitel. There are more mobile telephones than fixed lines in Angola. There are some Internet service providers in operation and Internet access is available at most major hotels.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Angola over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 500g cigars or other tobacco products; 250ml eau de toilette, 50ml perfume or aftershave; 2 liters wine or 1 liter spirits and gifts or souvenirs to the value of US$500. Prohibited and restricted items include firearms, ammunition or explosive materials; dangerous medicines, foodstuffs or drugs; pornographic material; plants originating from infected areas; gaming machines; pure alcohol; animals without corresponding certificates and stamps of value.

Tourist Office

National Tourist Agency, Luanda: +244 222 372 750.

Embassies in Angola

• United States Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 641 000.
• British Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 334 582.
• Consulate of Canada, Harare, Zimbabwe (also responsible for Angola): +263 4 252 1815.
• South African Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 330 593.
• Irish Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique (also responsible for Angola): +002 5821 491 440.

Angola Embassies Abroad

• Angolan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 785 1156.
• Angolan Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7299 9850.
• Angolan Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 1152.
• Angolan Ambassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 656 341 9360.
• Angolan Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0049.

Emergency

110 (Police); 118 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language of Angola is Portuguese. About 60 other African languages are spoken including Umbundu and Ovambo. Some French and Spanish is also spoken.

Currency

The unit of currency in Angola is the Kwanza (AON), which is divided into 100 centimos. Visitors should bring enough cash for their needs. Money can be exchanged at authorized bureau de change, of which there are several in Luanda. US dollars are the most acceptable currency, but only the newer series US dollar bills (with large faces) can be used. Credit cards have only very limited acceptance in some establishments, and cash withdrawals are not possible, so it is unwise to rely on them. The few ATMs in Luanda do not accept foreign cards, and travelers checks are not welcome. Kwanza may not be taken out of Angola, and when departing from the airport, travelers can be subject to searches and possible confiscation of any Angolan currency.

93.5370

Time

Local time in Angola is GMT +1.

Electricity

Electrical current in Angola is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round pin attachment plugs are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Angola is +244. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City codes are in use. Domestic and international telecommunications services are unreliable with connections frequently lost. This also applies to the mobile network, although there is GSM 900 coverage around Luanda and other main centers provided by Unitel. There are more mobile telephones than fixed lines in Angola. There are some Internet service providers in operation and Internet access is available at most major hotels.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Angola over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 500g cigars or other tobacco products; 250ml eau de toilette, 50ml perfume or aftershave; 2 liters wine or 1 liter spirits and gifts or souvenirs to the value of US$500. Prohibited and restricted items include firearms, ammunition or explosive materials; dangerous medicines, foodstuffs or drugs; pornographic material; plants originating from infected areas; gaming machines; pure alcohol; animals without corresponding certificates and stamps of value.

Tourist Office

National Tourist Agency, Luanda: +244 222 372 750.

Embassies in Angola

• United States Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 641 000.
• British Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 334 582.
• Consulate of Canada, Harare, Zimbabwe (also responsible for Angola): +263 4 252 1815.
• South African Embassy, Luanda: +244 222 330 593.
• Irish Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique (also responsible for Angola): +002 5821 491 440.

Angola Embassies Abroad

• Angolan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 785 1156.
• Angolan Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7299 9850.
• Angolan Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 1152.
• Angolan Ambassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 656 341 9360.
• Angolan Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0049.

Emergency

110 (Police); 118 (Ambulance).