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Angola% POP 25.8 MILLION / 244

Includes  Introduction Understand For most people, is one of Africa’s last great travel Angola...... 499 mysteries. Despite its elemental landscapes and boom-bust Angola Today...... 499 oil-dependent economy, the country remains closed off to all History...... 500 but the most adventurous travellers thanks to stringent visa Culture...... 501 policies, high prices and a history that’s been more about war than peace. Environment...... 501 It’s a shame. Angola has the potential to be one of Africa’s dazzling highlights. Lurking within its wild borders lies the continent’s second-largest waterfall, scattered remnants of Portuguese colonial history, a handful of emerging national Fast Facts parks, beaches galore and a diverse and unbelievably stoic Capital cross-section of people. Population 25.8 million Whether Angola will open up to outsiders any time soon is anyone’s guess. The underdeveloped tourist industry has Portuguese, Languages yet to spread it wings and take flight. The sooner the gov- various Bantu languages ernment tackles the country’s nagging political issues, the Area 1,246,700 sq km quicker it can emerge from its protracted slumber and show Currency Kwanza (Kz) the world what’s it’s been missing.

Angola at a Glance Kalandula Falls These massive waterfalls are as spectacular and large as any in Africa, but, as yet, get very few visitors. Miradouro de Lua A magnificent lookout over a canyon of moonlike cliffs that cascade dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean. Parque Nacional da Kissama Angola’s most accessible and largest national park has been partly replenished with big fauna. Angola’s cultural capital has colonial architecture, reasonable restaurants and some blissfully quiet Atlantic beaches. Almost untouched by the war, the highland city of Lubango has busy markets, dramatic volcanic fissures and a giant statue of Christ. Angola UndAngolersata Todnda Angoly a 499 - - - - - 300 km A 150 miles Z A M B I A Dilolo 0 0 B O T S W A N

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Longa O As always, the poor were hit the hardest. the poor were As always, turmoil, Ango Despite the economic (450km R E P U B L I C O F C O N G O Windhoek Lurem River ligerent opposition party, appears to have have to appears party, opposition ligerent guns for the ballotpermanently swapped its president, ageing the country’s 2016 In box. second-longest Eduardo do Santos (Africa’s ly, Angola was facing its biggest its facing was Angola economic ly, the war. crisis since and humanitarian a protractedDespite in the 2000s oil boom and 2010s,of Ango one-third an estimated By early line. poverty the below stilllans live the poorest conditions among sections2016, bad as the war said to be as of society were The was exacerbatedyears. by a se situation in Luanda cou outbreak rious yellow-fever that drought in the south pled with a deadly the triggered failure and precipitated a crop for a quarter food crisis in Angola worst of a century. la has logged small achievements. several Landmine continues, aided by clearance such as thehumanitarian organisations bel the one-time while Unita, Trust, Halo Kwanza River Cubango - - - - - A River Kuito Parque Nacional da Cuango Malange Barragam do Gove Santa Clara Oshikango Parque Nacional da Mupa Ondjiva Falls Kunhinga KINSHAS Kalandula Matala a Uige

Pedras Negras River Cuim Ruacana Parque Calenga Gabela Nacional do Bicuar

Negage Congo Dondo N'Dalatando Congo M'Banza Matadi Calueque a Koaleck Reserva de Namibe Cunene River N A M I B I A Lubango Caxito Benguela N'Zeto da Kissam Porto Amboin do Iona LUANDA Parque Nacional Namibe Tombua OCEAN CABINDA REPUBLIC OF CONGO The country’s heavy reliance on oil – The heavy country’s (ANGOLA) Miradouro De Lua ATLANTIC Parque Nacional Angola UNDERSTAND ANGOLA UNDERSTAND nomic diversification. half of Angola’s which contributes to nearly whenroostGDP – came home to in 2015 to US$30 US$100 global oil prices fell from Reeling from a year. over per barrel in little kwanza Angola the of value the shock, the soared. Sudden dropped 25% as local prices age rate of 17% rate age six years annually in the first after 2002 – niggling problems continue to in huge corruption, most pressingly, grate, a worrying and come disparity of eco lack precedented period of peace and stability, stability, and peace of period precedented least front. Economically, on the political at theWhile bumpier. little a been has ride the an aver has grown – at economy Angolan end of its debilitating 40-year-longSince the end of its debilitating un an has enjoyed Angola civil war in 2002, Angola Today