Middle Africa · AfricaAngola
Discover Angola - a land of dramatic landscapes from desert to rainforest, birthplace of kizomba dance, and one of Africa's fastest-growing economies.
Where Is Angola?
Angola is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is Luanda.
- Capital Luanda
- Population 39M
- Area 1,246,700 km²
Angola is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world by area, and it spent most of the late 20th century tearing itself apart. A brutal 27-year civil war following independence from Portugal left the country scarred but unbroken. Today Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second-largest oil producer, and Luanda consistently ranks among the most expensive cities on Earth - a surreal contrast in a country where most people live on a few dollars a day.
But Angola is far more than oil rigs and war stories. The country gave the world kizomba, the sensual dance style that swept through Lisbon and Paris before going global. Its landscapes are staggering: the Namib Desert's giant sand dunes in the south, tropical rainforests in the north, the otherworldly rock formations of Tundavala Gap, and a 1,650-kilometer Atlantic coastline. The Kalandula Falls are among the largest waterfalls in Africa by volume. Angola is raw, underexplored, and full of surprises for anyone willing to look beyond the headlines.
At a glance
Largest cities in Angola
Luanda
Huambo
Lobito
Benguela
Lubango
Famous people from Angola
Agostinho Neto
PoliticsPoet and physician who led Angola to independence from Portugal in 1975, becoming the country's first president
Jose Eduardo dos Santos
PoliticsLed Angola for 38 years (1979-2017), one of the longest-serving heads of state in African history
Bonga
MusicIconic singer and semba musician whose protest songs became anthems of the Angolan independence movement
Anabela
MusicQueen of kizomba music whose romantic voice helped popularize the genre across the Portuguese-speaking world
Traditional cuisine of Angola
- Muamba de Galinha
- Angola's national dish - chicken stewed in red palm oil with okra, garlic, and chili, rich and deeply savory
- Calulu
- Dried fish stew slow-cooked with tomatoes, okra, onions, and sweet potato leaves, a comforting Angolan staple
- Funge
- Smooth cassava flour porridge served as the main starch alongside stews, the Angolan equivalent of fufu
- Mufete
- Grilled fish served with roasted sweet potato, plantains, and a tangy onion-vinegar sauce - coastal Angola on a plate
- Cocada Amarela
- Rich egg-and-coconut dessert with a golden custard-like texture, inherited from Portuguese colonial confectionery
- Ginguba
- Roasted peanuts ground into a paste or sauce, used as a base for stews and snacks throughout the country
Nature and landmarks in Angola
- Kalandula FallsLandmark
- One of Africa's largest waterfalls by volume, plunging 105 meters into the Lucala River surrounded by lush forest
- Tundavala GapCanyon
- Breathtaking 1,000-meter cliff drop on the edge of the Huila Plateau, offering views stretching to the lowlands below
- Namib Desert (Angola)Desert
- The northern reaches of the Namib extend into Angola's Iona National Park with towering sand dunes and desert elephants
- Iona National ParkNational Park
- Angola's largest national park spanning desert, savanna, and coastline, home to rare desert-adapted elephants and oryx
- Kissama National ParkNational Park
- Coastal national park near Luanda undergoing wildlife restoration, with elephants, giant sable antelope, and mangroves
Sports in Angola
- Football
- Palancas Negras qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the country's first and only appearance at the tournament
- Basketball
- 11-time African champions, making Angola the most successful basketball nation on the continent
- Handball
- Women's handball team is a dominant force in African competition, regularly qualifying for World Championships
Did you know?
Angola is the birthplace of kizomba, the sensual partner dance that has swept dance studios across Europe and the Americas
The giant sable antelope, Angola's national symbol, was thought to be extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 2005
Luanda was once ranked the most expensive city in the world for expatriates, with a simple lunch costing over $100
Angola is Africa's second-largest oil producer and the world's fourth-largest diamond producer by value
The Benguela Railway, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Congolese border, took over 25 years to rebuild after the civil war
Portuguese is the official language, but there are over 40 indigenous Bantu languages spoken across the country
Angola's civil war lasted 27 years (1975-2002), one of the longest conflicts in African history
Can you find Angola on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Angola and its neighbours without a second thought.
