Most visitors to Angola come to Luanda for oil, construction or diplomatic work, and those with time travel on to the beaches of Benguela and Lobito, the Kalandula Falls, the Tundavala gap near Lubango or the desert around Namibe. Angola is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for Angola
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: police 113 (the UK lists 110); ambulance 112
- Embassies: in Luanda
Areas to avoid
The UK advises against all but essential travel to Cabinda Province, except Cabinda city, and to within 1 km of the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Lunda Norte, except at official crossings and on their access roads. Landmines and unexploded weapons are still a problem on some roads, verges and bridges, so stay on well-used routes.
Luanda
Coverage is good in Luanda. Muggers can be armed and some attacks have been fatal, and criminals target areas popular with foreigners, so avoid walking around the city, especially alone or after dark, and keep phones and laptops out of sight in traffic. Take particular care at banks and cash machines, where people have been followed and robbed, and be wary if another driver stages a minor collision to get you out of your car. Demonstrations can start with little notice and turn violent quickly.
ID and the police
Always carry ID: the safest option is a certified copy of your passport's photo page, kept apart from the original. Police checkpoints are frequent, and you can be fined 15,000 kwanzas on the spot if you have no ID with you. Do not use cameras, binoculars or GPS devices near government buildings. Drug offences are punished severely and prison conditions are very poor. Public displays of affection may attract negative attention.
Roads
Road conditions vary widely, especially outside the main cities, so avoid driving at night where you can.
Visas, health and money
British passport holders can visit for up to 30 days for tourism without a visa, so check the rules for your own passport. Keep your yellow fever certificate with you, as some onward destinations, including South Africa, ask for it. The currency is the kwanza. You must declare cash worth 5,000 US dollars or more when you arrive, and you cannot take out more than that amount in foreign currency.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up at home connects when you land in Luanda, and your home SIM keeps receiving texts and bank codes.
Angolan SIM cards from Unitel, Africell or Movicel are sold in Luanda, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Angola
- Call 113 for the police and 112 for an ambulance. The UK lists 110 for the police and 118 for the fire brigade, so if one number fails, try the other.
- Embassies are in Luanda. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If your EU country has no embassy or consulate in Angola, any other EU country's embassy must help you just as it would its own citizens (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in Portuguese, the official language, ready to show on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Angola
Does my EU plan work in Angola?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, since Angola is not part of Roam Like at Home.
Which areas should I avoid?
The UK advises against all but essential travel to Cabinda Province outside Cabinda city and to the strip next to the DRC border in Lunda Norte.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Angola?
It depends on the plan, with 4G where available.
What ID do I need to carry?
A certified copy of your passport's photo page is the safest choice; without ID you can be fined on the spot.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, carry a certified passport copy, avoid walking in Luanda after dark, take care at cash machines, stay on main roads by day, and save 113 and 112.
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