Is Angola safe to travel?

A large clearance programme is running, but Angola is still one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The worst areas are the inland regions hit hardest by the war, Cuando Cubango province above all, where many roads are closed to traffic and generally marked with signs. Do not leave the road.

Non-essential travel to the Cabinda enclave is advised against, because armed independence movements could attack foreigners as they have done in the past. If you are in Cabinda, keep away from crowds and demonstrations and follow what the local authorities say; avoiding gatherings applies in the rest of the country too.

Avoid the areas bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, where operations to expel irregular migrants and transfers of returning refugees from Lóvua take place. If you have to go near the border, head only for official crossing points. Non-essential travel in Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul is to be avoided, and any movement there should be flagged to your own embassy in advance.

Thefts and snatchings of phones, money and valuables, armed robberies and kidnappings happen in every district of Luanda at any time of day, the Ilha de Luanda beach area popular with foreigners included. Be careful going in and out of bars and restaurants, avoid the outlying districts of the big cities, and bear in mind the risk rises sharply after dark. If you are attacked do not resist, because the attackers are usually armed and will use their weapons: carry no large sums but keep some kwanza ready to hand over without hesitating.

The ministry says not to make trips into isolated areas without local guides with you. In rural areas far from towns, help can be very slow to arrive simply because of the distances.