CLIMATE
Angola has two seasons: the rain and the "cacimbo"
season. The cacimbo or dry season is less warm and goes from May to September.
The rain season is warmer, normally lasts from September to April. The
rains and the annual variation of temperatures are two common characteristics
to every region. The location of Angola in the inter-tropical and sub-tropical
region of the South hemisphere, the nearness to the sea, the cold stream
of Benguela and the relief features are factors that determine and characterize
two different regions concerning the climate.
Coastal region with humidity of annual
average higher than 30 %, annual raining lower than 600 mm going down from
North to South (Cabinda to Namibe), the average temperature is higher then
23º C.
Inland region it is divided in tree
areas: North area with a high level of rain and high temperatures; area
formed by the center tableland region characterized by and annual average
temperature near to 19º C with a dry season of minimum temperature;
SW area, semi-desert due to the nearness to the Calaari desert. Low temperature
in dry season and high in hot season. This region is influenced by great
masses of continental tropical air.
PEOPLE AND THEIR LANGUAGES The great majority of 12 000 000 inhabitants that form the population of Angola come from people of Bantu origin. However, other considerable component is formed by the mixing that began very early: firstly between the several groups that migrated to the territory and then with Europeans (in their great majority Portuguese) during colonization. There are still some minorities of non-Bantu like Bushman and a considerable number of Europeans and their descendant. The languages spoken today in Angola, are spoken by ancient order: Bushman, Bantu and Portuguese. The Bantu languages present a genealogical unity. The Angolan Bantu are divided in nine ethnolinguistic groups - Kincongo, Kimbudo, Tchokwe, Mbundo, Ganguela, Nhaneca-Humbe, Ambo, Herero and Xindonga that are on their turn sub-divided in about 100 sub-groups traditionally called tribes. 37% of the population live in urban areas and 63% in rural areas.
PRESENT DAYS 23years after Independence and 37 years after the beginning of the armed fight, the Lusaka Protocol (end of 1994) makes a theory true: that peace is only way out for the country. The government of MPLA and UNITA have finally reached an agreement and given their hands for the reconstruction of the country. There is already a Democracy, and a Government formed by several political parties represented in Parliament. This Government has the aim to reconstruct one of the most promising future countries of all Africa. However, paradoxically with its natural richness, the country is going through realities. MPLA has been government since Independence and always knew how to preserve national identity. The two Angola Presidents had tilled now came from MPLA. The first was founder of the Angola Nation, Agostinho Neto; the second is Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the current President of Angola who became Head of State in 1979 being the youngest President in the continent.
NATURAL RESOURCES Angola is a gifted country since it has great diversity of natural resources. The mineral resources are the biggest richness of the country leaving petroleum as the leader followed by the diamonds. There are others such as iron, manganese, copper, phosphate, granite, marble, and rare minerals. The main petroleum wells are situated near the coast, in Provinces of Cabinda and Zaire (Soyo) in the North. The diamond's area of Lunda is considered one of the most important of the world and they are highly admired for their quality. The fish is also other biggest richness of Angola. With a coast of 1 650 Km, Angola has a rich sea in fish, mollusk and crustaceans. The biggest activity is situated in the province of Namibe where the species of cold water are predominant. The tropical species appear in the North, in the province of Benguela where the fishing has also an important role. The forest resources are other richness and are situated in Cabinda (Maiombe forest) where there is wood of great economic value such as black-wood, rare-wood, ironwood, ebony and African sandalwood. The energetic potential of Angolan rivers is enormous. It is said that just Kwanza River would allow 30 billion KW per year production.
FORMALITIES To enter in Angola every foreign citizen needs to present the passport with an entry visa.
CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE The national currency is the Kwanza Reajustados (KZR) and its practical quotation (non-official) is made according to US dollar. It is extremely unstable and varies according to he intermediaries used for exchange. One can often find in streets of the city typical "kinguila" - the seller of money - who normally offers the best quotation. This practice is forbidden by authorities and offers some risks. Lately, the exchange houses became more numerous and offer a better quality service with total security. The banks have already begun to operate in the exchange. One advise to every foreigner is to bring only dollars since it is the only currency that can immediately be exchange according to a value known by everyone.
MEANS OF TRANSPORT The national territory is full of airports and airfields. Luanda has today one an intensive air traffic of all Africa, as well as one of the biggest infrastructures. The national company, TAAG - Angola Airlines - has been trying in a tremendous effort to improve its service in the last few years. Part of the movement of people and cargo is done by air, which implicates a considerable quantity of companies offering mainly charter flights. One must point out Angola Air Charter for its dimension, implementation and efficacy. There are other airlines aimed to renting such as Sonangol Aeronautic and SAL. The internationals airlines in Angola are: TAP-Air Portugal, SAA (South Africa Airlines), AIR-France, SABENA, AIR-Namibia. Due to a number of factors, especially the war, our transport by road and railway has reached a state of marked degradation and there is an urgent need for considerable investment. The main areas are: all road network, rail network (CFB in particular - the Lobito corridor), ports network and in the airline system.
TELECOMMUNICATION Angola's communication system has been built by our accompanying the world telecomunication network with a view to studying the possibility of introducing systems based on new technologies. We use a powerful micro-wave and tropospheric station system, which has meant expasion of telephone channels, cellular network, radio and television broadcasting facilities. TPA (Public Television of Angola) and satellite television broacast in all territory. The phone network is being modernized and national company - Angola Telecom - had launched new services for cellular phones for a quite long time. RNA (National Radio of Angola) has five official station, VORGAN and some privates, like: LAC (Luanda Antena Comercial), Radio Ecclésias, Radio Morena (in Benguela) and Radio 2000 (in Lubango). Correios is the main post office, but there is there is other private post networks.
HEALTH Hospitals are weak at all levels, because of the present socio-economic situation of Angola. There is however a considerable number of private clinics with good facilities and providing normally a quality service. We point out the Clinica Sagrada Esperanca (among the others) in the island of Luanda modernly equipped, with good facilities and with a completed clinical staff.
CAPITAL - LUANDA - Luanda went through several critical situations in the last two decades such as urban war, the immigration of technicians, the invasion of the city by rural population and the consequent collapse of infrastructures. Today, Luanda is recovering quite well and the first buildings post-independence built with every detail will be finished during the first semester of 1995.
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE
Luanda has a group of quite good hotels, but
accommodation is expensive. Here are the list of the bests hotels: Hotel
Presidente Meridien, Hotel Tivoli (Esta), Hotel Tropico (Esta), Hotel Continental,
Hotel Panorama, Hotel Mundial, Hotel Vice-Rei, Hotel Avenida, Hotel
Costa do Sol, Ilha Lodge and The Norwegina Guesthoue.
A strong cooking tradition, great number of
good cookers, good variety and quality of fish and shellfish, good meat,
strong spices and a lot of restaurants make Luanda a place where eating
is a pleasure. One should try some restaurants such as Barracuda, Afrodisiakus,
Trapalhoes, Farol Velho, Ponto Final, Surf , Gruta, Chez Wou - the best
chinese restaurant in Africa, Club dos Empresarios, Pinto's, Restaurant
Zero, Tambarino, Varandinha, Morabeza Mundial, Onjango, O Regente, Rialto,
Cine Loanda, Espanol, Esta - Vip, Fish Paradiso, Grill, Grill - V.I.P,
Restaurant Tam - 8, Pizaria Bela Napoles, XL, Hipica near handicraft market
of Benfica and Arco-Iris near quay to Mussulo. There are also the hotels'
good restaurants such as President, Tivoli, Tropico and Continental.
Night Life was always intense in Luanda. Today
that tendency becomes stronger: discos, nightclubs, American bars, Pubs
and esplanades, etc…. The pubs and clubs are: Balumuka, Pub la Bamba, Cafe
Paris, Cenarius, Club Maritimo da Ilha, Contencioso, Havana Club,
N'guenda Club, Pandemonio, Paralelo 2000, Sassassa II, Tambarino, Teatro
Avenida, Xavarotti and Brazilia. The music, in this clubs, are very diversified,
one can listem to Kizomba, Zouk, Funana, Rap, Reggae, Techno, Hip Hop,
Samba and Rock´n´Roll.The heat of the music, the sensuality
of the dance, the temperature of the air, the good shellfish, the cold
drink together with the experts on having fun give to the night of Luanda
a very special strength. Everything shows that at last in times of peace
Luanda is preparing to be in the continent the Queen of the night.
OTHER PROVINCES (18 in total) are Benguela, Namibe, Huila, Cabinda, Zaire, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Kwanza-Sul, Kwanza-Norte, Uige, Bengo, Malange, Huambo, Bie, Moxico, Cunene, Kuando-Kubango.
Benguela and Lobito: The distance between these two cities is only 30 km and can be done in a normal car. Benguela is a boming town with lots of construction going on. Many international organizations have their officies here. An interesting visit is the Chimalavara Reserve where you can see the Hartman's Zebra in an arid savanna ecosystem. The Hotels and clubs are: Hotel Turimar, Hotel Mombaka, Restaurant and Discotheque Escondidinho, Restaurant Sombra and Restaurant Bodona, and in Lobito: Restaurant Zulu, Restaurant Kabana and Tamariz among othes.
Huambo: Once it was called the "City of Flowers" but today Huambo is quite literally a shell of its former self. As Angola's second largest city, it has been savagely mutilated by war. But you can still see its former beauty reflected in the wide aveneus favoured with trees ans flowers everywhere and crisp, clear air. There is space and you can move fairly freely even on foot in town. People are open and kind, and at the market you can buy locally grown vegetables. For accomodation, ask for Dona Isabel, a family run house, which also serves meals. Nice setting, clean, and well prepared food.
Lubango: Is hte capital of Huila Province. The town lies ina beautiful, natural setting, and from the top of the cliff, Crist sureys the town. Lubango has not been affected by the war as much as Huambo has. It has plenty of multicoloured flower gardens and eucalyptus trees. Its clean streets make Lubango an attractive place for those seeking relief from stress ans for those who wish to see another side of Angola. A beautiful place to stay is the Grande Hotel da Huila. There are many restaurants, cafes and bars in town. Night life is booming and there is a choice of discotheques and pubs.
I will upgrade with information of other provinces of Angola.
(GENERAL DATA)
Capital: Luanda (more than 2000000 inhabitants)
Main Cities: Luanda, Huambo, Lobito, Benguela, Lubango, Malange, Namibe and Cabinda.
Administrative division: 18 provinces.
International Airport: 4 de Fevereiro. (in Luanda)
Main Harbours: Luanda, Lobito and Namibe.
Official Language: Portuguese.
Religion: Catholic, Methodist, and Evangelist.
Currency: Kwanza Reajustados.
Government: Democracy lead by GURN (with representabts of MPLA - majurity-, UNITA and other small parties.
President: Jose Eduardo dos Santos
(HISTORICAL DATA)
Colonizing Country: Portugal.
Independence: 11 November 1975.
(GEOGRAPHICAL DATA)
Location: Western coast of Southern Africa.
Area: 1 246 700 square Km.
Frontier: By land - 4 837 Km: Congo, Zaire, Zambia and Namibia. By sea - 1 650 Km Atlantic Ocean.
Climate: Tropical.
Main beaches: Ilha do Cabo, Palmeirinhas and Mussulo (Luanda); Baia Azul, Caota and Caotinha (Benguela); Restinga (Lobito); Miragens and Azul (Namibe).
Main rivers: Kwanza, Cunene and Cubango.
Highest point: Moco Hill (2 620 meters) in Huambo.
Average temperature of the air: 34 C max. and 17 C min.
Oil: Greater production and greater source of foreign currency. Recent industry using advanced technology it reaches high levels of profitability.
Diamonds: In Angola one can find the best diamonds - jewellery - and Lunda is one of the most important diamonds area in the whole world.
Coffee: Product of excellent quality, it benefits from the exceptional climate in some regions.
Fishing: Angola has a long coast rich in srustaceans and famous varieties of fishes. It has a dynamic industry with developing infrastructures.
Agriculture: Thanks to a good hydrographic distribution and a varied ecological picture, Angola has a large production of tropic and sub-tropical cultivation.
Cattle raising: Big nature resources. Developing projects of species and the production of milk and its products give live to this sector.
Forests: Rich forest in tropical wood.
Tourism: Friendly population; city life, big spaces, tropical climate; beaches; rivers, and mountains; hunting and fishing, gastronomy; music; by night; etc.
Hotels: Dozens of hotels recovering and a great need in all provinces to open new ones.
City life: People used to doing business and to living together inside and outside (there are a big number of Angolans studying in foreign countries) the country with the people of the 5 continents. Intensive air traffic of national and foreigners.
Commerce and Industry: In restructuring adaptation to international standards. Big gaps in many sector of activity.
Staying: The strong charismatic of the city of Luanda, a very Latin Stile of live, big spaces and goods perspectives invite to stay.
Animals: In the past there
were more but there are still many, from the Elephants to the rare Palanca
Negra Gigante (Black Giant Sable) that exist only in the province of Malanje,
Angola.
Crafts work: Souvenirs of ivory, wood, ceramics and metals of great beauty and originality. Painting is very developed.
By night: Great tradition in night live. With everything coming to normal they are already in Luanda fun places of good qualities and strong identity.
Hunting and Fishing: Some reserves need to reorganize and many others to create. The hunting habit is very strong among some ethnic groups and some urban elite’s. Long coast with the best conditions for fishing.
Tropical climate: Beach during all the year. Colder alternatives in the interior (altitudes).
Dance and Music: Sensual movements, hot rhythms, strong emotions along with what there is off best in African Continent.
Sports: Few structures. Great potential for hunting and fishing, scuba diving; water sport in general, worse riding; target practice and sky diving; golf, soccer, basketball, volleyball and hokey.
Angola style: there are several ethincs in Angola with something in common, the "Angola style". It is something contagious that identifies the Angola and distinguishes it from the other Africans.
Gastronomy: good fish, good meat, good shellfish, and strong spices, many culinary specialties and competent cookers, result in one of the best gastronomes of Africa.
Hospitalities: Not even 23 years of war managed to contradict these characteristics of all population.
Sunset: It is undoubtedly the best show nature offered to you.
Beaches: Some have coconut palms, others are near the cities, other is a permanent desert but in all of them the sand is white and water is warm.
Rivers and Waterfalls: Large rivers and beautiful waterfalls.
