Angola is probably not the first destination most tourists think of when looking to go on a beach vacation, nature-exploring or on safari. The country has a troubled past and a history of civil war and, while tourism has soared in other countries in West Africa over the past decade, Angola still remains firmly off the beaten track. However, its very unpopularity is one of its biggest selling points.
Angola is blessed with a varied geography: a long coastline on the Atlantic, studded with white sand beaches; the second-largest waterfall in Africa, and great plains teeming with wildlife. Its cities were shaped by its time as a Portuguese colony, evident in their architecture. Adventurous travellers can explore it all in relative solitude, away from the mass of tourists flooding the more traditional African holiday destinations. Cheap flights to Angola are relatively easy to find, though better deals may be available flying into neighbouring Zambia or Namibia. Once there, the cost of living is minimal.
On the flight to Angola, read up on the country’s history. A ceasefire was reached in 2002, before which the country had been gripped in civil war for 27 years. Along with the subsequent growth in tourism there has been a growth in the country’s economy – its natural oil and diamond reserves helping to steer the country out of poverty caused by war.