- British passport holders can usually visit visa-free for up to 30 days
- Kalandula Falls, the Serra da Leba and the Namibe desert are the big sights
- Luanda is famously expensive, but costs fall outside the capital
- Fly via Lisbon, Addis Ababa, Dubai or Doha, as there are no direct UK flights
- Airports
- Luanda Dr António Agostinho Neto International (NBJ)
- Flight time
- about 10-12h from London to Luanda with one stop, often in Lisbon, Addis Ababa or Dubai
- Best time to go
- May-October, the dry and cooler cacimbo season
- Currency
- Angolan kwanza (AOA)
Angola spent decades closed off by civil war and tricky visas, but it has opened up fast. In 2023 it scrapped tourist visas for British travellers, and adventurous visitors are discovering a country of enormous scale: thundering waterfalls at Kalandula, the hairpin bends of the Serra da Leba pass, the Tundavala gap's sheer cliffs and the Namibe desert, where the dunes run down to the Atlantic.
Luanda, the capital, is a lively, fast-changing city with a seafront Marginal, beach bars on the Ilha and a strong music scene. Angola is on West Africa Time (UTC+1), the same as the UK in summer and one hour ahead in winter. Plugs are mostly the European type C and F, traffic drives on the right and Portuguese is the official language. This is one of our Africa destinations.
Where to go in Angola
Luanda
The capital stretches around a wide bay. Walk the palm-lined Marginal, visit the Fortaleza de São Miguel with its armed forces museum, and the striking Agostinho Neto Mausoleum. The Ilha de Luanda peninsula is lined with beach clubs and seafood restaurants, and the Mussulo peninsula, reached by boat, is a weekend escape.
Kissama National Park and the Miradouro da Lua
Just south of Luanda, the eroded cliffs of the Miradouro da Lua (Moon Viewpoint) are a popular stop. Kissama (Quiçama) National Park beyond has been restocked with elephants, giraffes and antelope, and makes an easy safari from the capital.
Kalandula Falls
Around 400 km east of Luanda, the Kalandula Falls on the Lucala River are among the largest waterfalls in Africa by volume, over 100 m high and several hundred metres wide. Nearby, the Pungo Andongo black rocks are vast boulders rising from the plains.
Lubango, Tundavala and Serra da Leba
Lubango, in the cooler southern highlands, has a Cristo Rei statue overlooking the city. The Tundavala Gap is a cliff-edge viewpoint with a drop of around 1,000 m, and the zigzag road down the Serra da Leba is one of the most photographed in Africa.
Namibe and Iona National Park
The coastal desert around Namibe is home to the remarkable welwitschia plant, desert-adapted wildlife and the Himba-related Mucubal people. Iona National Park, Angola's largest, has dunes, canyons and a wild coastline, best visited with a 4x4 and experienced guide.
Benguela and Lobito
These coastal towns have colonial architecture, good beaches such as Baía Azul and a relaxed pace, with the Benguela Railway running inland.
Best time to visit Angola
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Cacimbo dry season (May-October) | Cooler, dry and often hazy; best for travel and the south |
| Hot rainy season (November-April) | Hot and humid with heavy rain in the north; waterfalls at their fullest around March-April |
Getting to Angola from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK. Common routes include TAP Air Portugal or TAAG Angola Airlines via Lisbon, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha. Journey times are usually 10-12 hours. International flights use the new Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ), about 40 km south-east of central Luanda, so allow time for the transfer.
Entry requirements
British passport holders can usually visit Angola visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum of 90 days per year. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to parts of the country, including areas of Cabinda province and the diamond-mining Lunda provinces, so check the current map. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.
Getting around
Distances are huge, so domestic flights with TAAG link Luanda with Lubango, Benguela (Catumbela) and other cities. Main roads have improved, but some stretches are still rough, and driving at night is best avoided. For the south and desert areas, a 4x4 with driver and guide is the sensible choice. In Luanda, ride-hailing apps such as Yango and Heetch are widely used.
Money and costs
Angola uses the kwanza. The currency has fallen in value in recent years, making it cheaper than its reputation, but Luanda hotels remain expensive. Budget around £80-150 per person per day for a mid-range trip, more with a private driver. Cards work in larger hotels and restaurants in Luanda, but carry cash, ideally US dollars or euros to exchange at banks, elsewhere.
Fly Luanda to Lubango and explore the south by road; it saves a long, tiring drive and the scenery around Lubango and Namibe is the country's most spectacular.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Angola?
Not usually for tourist trips of up to 30 days, after Angola introduced visa-free entry for many countries in 2023. Check the latest rules before booking.
Is Angola safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without trouble, but street crime is a concern in Luanda. Avoid walking at night, keep valuables out of sight and stick to main roads, as landmines remain in some rural areas.
What language do they speak in Angola?
Portuguese is the official language and English is not widely spoken outside business hotels.
Can I combine Angola with Namibia?
Yes. The south of Angola borders Namibia, and some overland trips cross at Santa Clara and Oshikango.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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