Angola is a country that has been listed as one of the top places to visit in Africa. Knowing where to go and what Angola has to offer can make your trip much more informative, but sometimes an atlas just isn’t enough for you. In this article, we’ll cover Angola’s attractions and some of the best ways to plan your trip.
Map of Angola
Angola, a country located in south-central Africa, is the second-largest country in the region after South Africa. With an area of approximately 1,247,100 square kilometers (491,000 square miles), Angola is slightly smaller than France. The total population of Angola is about 25.5 million people as of January 2008. The official language of Angola is Portuguese.
Angola’s geography is diverse and includes highlands in the north and central regions, a coastal strip along the Gulf of Guinea, and extensive plateaus and prairies in the east and west. The climate ranges from tropical rainforest to semiarid steppe. Angola has rich mineral resources, including oil, diamonds, gold, and tin.
The Angolan Civil War began in 1975 and ended in 2002 with a peace agreement that established a multiparty democracy. However, civil unrest continues sporadically throughout the country; the most recent outbreak was in May 2016.
Angola Travel Guide For Tourists: Map Of Angola Photo Gallery
Location: Largest Country in Africa
Angola is the largest country in Africa and second largest in the world. Angola is located in the south-central region of the continent and shares its borders with Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. With an area of almost 1 million square kilometers, Angola is about the size of Texas.
Angola is rich in natural resources including diamonds, tin, uranium, coal, and more. It also has vast expanses of forest and savannah. The capital city is Luanda.
The Angolan people are mainly of African descent with some Portuguese and Dutch settlers. Angola became an independent republic on November 11th 1975. The first president was Agostinho Neto who ruled until 1985 when he was overthrown by a military coup led by Jonas Savimbi. Savimbi ruled until he was killed in a U.S.-supported military operation in 2002. The current president is Joao Lourenco who took office in March 2017.
Angola’s official language is Portuguese but many people also speak African languages such as Xhosa, Zulu, Swahili, and Chinua Achebe’s Igbo which are all spoken throughout southern Africa.
Angola Travel Guide
Angola is a destination for tourists who are interested in experiencing a culturally rich region with stunning landscapes. The country is well known for its oil reserves, but there’s much more to Angola than this. Angola has diverse scenery including the Benguela Highlands, the Cuvee River Valley and the Luanda Highlands.
The country’s capital, Luanda, is a vibrant metropolis with a wide range of things to see and do. You’ll find museums, art galleries and lively nightlife. You can also explore colonial-era neighborhoods and enjoy views of the city from high up in the hills.
Angola also has some great wildlife-watching opportunities. The Malanje National Park hosts an abundance of big game including elephants, lions, leopards and hippos. The park also has numerous bird species including flamingos and herons. The Huambo National Park is home to lions, elephants, rhinos and many other animals.
Angola is a safe country to travel in, with little crime or violence reported. However, you should take sensible precautions such as not leaving your belongings unguarded in busy areas and avoiding travelling at night when traffic can be hazardous.
Natural Resources of Angola
Angola is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The country has rich natural resources and is endowed with a great diversity of landscapes and climate zones. The Angolan landscape ranges from the densely forested highlands of the central plateau to the savannahs of the north, and from the rugged coastline to the densely vegetated river valleys.
Angola’s mineral resources include coal, oil, diamonds, copper, uranium, magnesium, zinc and antimony. Forest resources include teak, mahogany and cedar. Angolan agriculture is based on subsistence farming with emphasis on cash crops such as coffee and cotton. The country has a population of about 27 million people.
Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south-west, Zambia to the north-east, Botswana to the north-west, Zimbabwe to the east and South Africa to the south-east.
The Portuguese first landed in Angola in 1484 but it was not until 1885 that Portugal formed a colonial province called Angola. In 1976 Angola became an independent republic following a long period of struggle against colonial rule.
Angola is one of Africa’s most impoverished countries with an annual per capita GDP of only $1,100 (2008).
The People of Africa
Angola is a country located in the southern region of Africa. The people of Angola are diverse and culture-rich. They are known for their warm hospitality, vibrant dance and music scenes, and rich history. Visitors to Angola can enjoy a variety of activities such as exploring the stunning colonial architecture, sampling the local cuisine, or taking in a traditional tribal spectacle.
In addition to its rich cultural heritage, Angola is also home to some of Africa’s most inaccessible natural wonders including the rainforested Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the world’s oldest and highest active volcanoes. The country’s diverse landscape includes rolling hills, pristine valleys, craggy peaks and vast plains.
The people of Angola are friendly and welcoming and you’ll feel right at home in this beautiful country.
What to do in Angola?
The Angolan capital of Luanda is the most populous city in the country and a great place to start your Angola travel itinerary. The colonial architecture and streets lined with cafes, bars and restaurants make it a pleasant place to wander around. There are also plenty of museums and monuments to explore, including the impressive National Museum of African Art.
Just outside of town is the stunning São Jorge da Mina National Park, which occupies an area of around 1,000 square kilometers and contains a range of wildlife habitats, including rainforest, savanna, montane forest and lakes. Another great spot to visit is Benguela National Park on the border with Zambia. Here you can see elephants, lions, leopards and hippos in their natural environment.
Angola also offers excellent hiking opportunities in the Mitimaçu Mountains and the Cuvee Mountains. For those who enjoy swimming, there are many crystal-clear rivers and lakes to be explored in the country such as the Cuanza River Valley and Lake Kiova.
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