Angola Travel Guide

Angola — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Southwest Africa.
Language: The official language is Portuguese. African languages (especially Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo and Bantu) are spoken by the majority of the population.
Area: 1,246,700 sq km (481,354 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the European-style round two-pin type.
Population: 17 million (UN estimate 2007).
Population Density: 13.6 per sq km.
Capital City: Luanda. Population: 2.8 million (2005 estimate).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Fernando Dias dos Santos since 2002.
Head of State: President José Eduardo dos Santos since 1979.
Religion: Roman Catholic (38%), Protestant (15%) and local animist beliefs (47%).

Recent History

Jose Eduardo dos Santos has led Angola since 1979. Long-awaited presidential elections, the first since 1992, are scheduled for 2009. In preparation, a package of electoral laws was approved in April 2005. Local government elections, the first ever, are scheduled for September 2008.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +244.

Mobile Telephone

Coverage limited to Luanda and the surrounding area.

Internet

There are a few Internet cafés in Luanda. Access outside of the capital is limited.

Media

Government-controlled media are predominant. Angola's only daily newspaper, Jornal de Angola, and the terrestrial TV service, TPA, are state-owned and carry little criticism of the government. The constitution provides for freedom of expression but the government does not always respect this and the few private media outlets are liable to harassment.

Private radio stations operate in the main cities but the state maintains a monopoly in radio broadcasting across much of the country.

Post

Airmail between Europe and Angola takes five to 10 days. Surface mail between Europe and Angola takes at least two months. There is a fairly reliable internal service. Most correspondence is by telex.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Jan Martyrs of the Colonial Repression Day
4 Feb Start of Liberation War
8 Mar International Women’s Day
4 Apr Peace and Reconciliation Day
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
25 May Africa Day
1 Jun International Children’s Day
17 Sep Nation’s Founder and National Heroes Day
1 Nov All Soul’s Day
11 Nov Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Jan Martyrs of the Colonial Repression Day
4 Feb Start of Liberation War
8 Mar International Women’s Day
4 Apr Peace and Reconciliation Day
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
25 May Africa Day
1 Jun International Children’s Day
17 Sep Nation’s Founder and National Heroes Day
1 Nov All Soul’s Day
11 Nov Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
Holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are observed the following Monday.

Contact Information

Embassy of the Republic of Angola in the UK

22 Dorset Street, London W1U 6QY, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 9850.
Website: www.angola.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600; 0930-1300, closed Wed (consular section).