Angola - Officially known as the Republic of Angola, this appealing safari destination filled with wild adventures, stunning stretches of white sandy beach and virtually undiscovered wildlife game parks, is regarded as Africa’s last frontier and the ideal holiday destination. Angola lies on the west coast of Southern Africa, stretching across an area of 1 246 700 square kilometres, bordering on Namibia to the south, and the Republic of Congo to the north.

You may be told that Angolans are lazy - it's not true. They have grown up in a place where nothing is straightforward; where even the most basic task can be problematic. What's not here today may be here tomorrow: water, electricity, family, peace...

History & Background: Since the ceasefire in 2002, now peaceful Angola has become one of the safari destinations, due partly to its inexperience in the tourist industry, which translates into largely virgin territory for visitors on vacation to their country. This is the first time in 40 years that Angolans are at peace. There is a complete revival of both the economy and the social sectors, and UN agencies and NGOs have partnered with the government for this purpose. The country’s major industry is obviously oil, and Angola earns US$100 million a day for its exports. The Angolan culture originates from the traditions of the central Bantu people and the ancient kingdom of Kongo. The Portuguese may have ruled over Angola for 400 years, evident in the widespread adoption of the Portuguese language, but they concentrated on their control of the slave trade, influencing the Angolan culture relatively little, other than religion (Roman Catholic) and language. Interestingly, 4% of the population, in the Moxico province of Angola, speak Spanish - Cuban troops were stationed there during the civil war (1975-2002).

Best Time to Visit: The dry months of June through September are the best time to vacation in Angola, mainly because you don’t want to get caught off the main roads on dirt tracks which dissolve into mud baths when it rains. However, there is a bonus to holidaying here during the wetter months – safari tours are cheaper and popular tourist destinations are less busy. And if you’re touring Angola on a scheduled or tailored Jenman safari package, your tour leader gets to worry about the state of the roads.