Travellers have often described Angola as Southern Africa’s final frontier.

Due largely to the devastating civil war that racked Angola for nearly 30 years, tourism has barely touched this remote and spectacular country which offers a truly unique and unforgettable travel experience. Angola is located on the South Atlantic coast of West Africa. With a total area of 1,246,700kms (approximately five times the size of the UK), it supports a population of 11.5 million, the majority of whom live in and around the capital city of Luanda.

Angola ’s population consists of four main ethnic groups: Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, Humbundu, Bakango, with a large mixed population of Mulatto’s (mixed blood), and white Portuguese. Portuguese is the official language and is widely spoken.

The Portuguese first arrived in the former Kingdom of Congo in 1482, trading slaves for ivory and minerals. The colony of Angola was later founded in 1875 when 100 families accompanied by 400 soldiers settled the land around the Luanda enclave. The Portuguese remained until 1974, when the Lisbon government halted support for colonies. Mass fear spread amongst the Portuguese community and most fled for other countries. This started one of the longest and most brutal civil wars known to Africa, between the MPLA governing party and the UNITA rebels ending in 2003. Since then the country has seen incredible stability and growth, with a positive future ahead.


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