Electricity in Angola is 220V, with a frequency of 50hz. The Type C electrical plug (or Europlug) is used. Type C is a two-wire plug that has two round pins. It fits into any socket that accepts 4.0 – 4.8 mm round contacts on 19 mm centres.

CurrencyThe New Angolan Kwanza (KZ) is the currency used in Angola. It’s split into 100 cêntimos and is issued and managed by the Banco Nacional de Angola.Currently, printed banknote denominations are 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 Kwanzas. Coins are split into denominations of 1, 2, 5 kwanzas 10, 50 cêntimos (10 and 50 cêntimo coins are no longer used as their value is negligible).The international currency code for Kwanza is AOA, and the currency symbol is Kz.BankingBanks in Angola are open from: 08:00 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 15:00 (Monday to Friday)When using your credit or debit card from your bank at home, you will find that use will be very limited as few hotels and restaurants accept them. There are ATM machines in Luanda and in other cities, they are few in number but the amount is increasing.Check before leaving with your card issuer that your card will be accepted at ATM machines in Angola. Using your card does come with a warning, as there have been recent reports of credit cards being cloned for fraudulent purposes.Travellers cheques are not accepted anywhere in Angola so do not rely on them as a form of money. You may wire money to and from Angola through Western Union. However, do be aware of the charges for using this company.It is advisable to bring American dollars instead of euros with you as euros are scarcely recognised in Angola.On entering Angola, residents need to continue to declare amounts over US$15,000 and non residents amounts over USD10,000.You can convert money into kwanzas at banks and at bureau de change offices. However, do be prepared when converting money at the bank that they sometimes do not have sufficient kwanza cash to convert with you.  

While food hygiene standards in most higher end restaurants and hotels are relatively high, care should be taken with hygiene and food, particularly street food. Avoid eating unpeeled, unwashed fruit and vegetables. The milk in Angola is unpasteurised and should be boiled; alternatively use tinned milk reconstituted with purified water.Because Angola was a Portuguese colony for centuries, Portuguese cuisine has significantly influenced Angolan cuisine, with many foods being imported from Portugal.Staple ingredients include flour, beans and rice, fish, pork and chicken, various sauces, and vegetables such as sweet potato,tomatoes, onions, and okra. Spices such as garlic are also frequently used.The water supply is not safe to drink, visitors should drink bottled water. Drinking water should be treated or bought in sealed bottles (avoid ice cubes in drinks).

Angola is located in the equatorial tropical region but its climate is tempered by altitude and sea. The weather is cooler and wetter in the southern part of Angola with an average temperature of 23° C to 30°C from July to August. The rainy season in Angola is during the months of November to April.In the capital Luanda, situated on the coast, the climate is humid during the rainy season (October-May). Luanda has substantially lower rainfall than that of the surrounding areas. Temperatures range from 25°C to 30° C in summer (October to mid-May). In the cool season, from mid-May to September, average temperatures drop to 18°-22°C.The best time to visit Angola is during the months from May to October. During these months it is winter in Angola and there’s a slight decrease in the temperature and rainfall. The rainy season is November to April and, coupled with the heat, the weather is hot and steamy.

Transport and driving in Angola are some of the most challenging aspects of visiting the country. Much of the road infrastructure was destroyed and neglected during years of conflict, and despite efforts to rebuild, many of its roads are still riddled with potholes and few of them are paved.Expats should arrange with their hotel for airport transfers well before they arrive. Hiring a car in Angola isn’t advisable unless it’s accompanied by an experienced and reputable driver.Driving without an experienced driver when first arriving is risky, as many areas are still many heavily land-mined and foreigners won’t know which areas are safe. There’s the added challenge of the language barrier, as the country predominantly speaks Portuguese, and this could pose difficulties in all sorts of scenarios.Many roads in Angola can’t be negotiated without a four-wheel drive vehicle, and external factors like wandering livestock and heavily overloaded vehicles mean that expecting the unexpected is the best course of action.Angolan public transport largely comprises of poorly maintained blue and white taxis or buses that are known for their reckless driving as they careen in and out of the gridlocked city traffic. Foreign travellers and expats rarely use them, as they’re largely deemed to be unsafe.

Winter is from April to September in Angola. It can get cool in the evenings in winter, so bring lightweight warm clothes. If you’re visiting in summer and journeying to south Angola, lightweight cotton and linen clothing should be enough to get you through your visit. For those travelling to the north of the country, it gets very hot in summer so pack clothing suitable for the tropics, especially a sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Waterproof clothing is a must if you are travelling to Angola during the rains (October to March). Lightweight suits are appropriate for business meetings.