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Angola travel guide

A vast, little-visited stretch of Africa for travellers who want dry-season landscapes without crowds

Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Photo: TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY / Pexels

Capital
Luanda
Language
Portuguese
Currency
Angolan kwanza
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
115 / 116 / 113

Why visit Angola

Angola suits independent travellers drawn to wide landscapes, from the coastal dunes near Moçâmedes to the highlands around Lubango, rather than those wanting polished tourist infrastructure. The dry season from May to August is the best time to visit, with Luanda staying pleasant into September. Travel here is honest work: with a population of 38,778,554 spread across 1,246,700 km2, distances are long and facilities outside the main cities are limited.

  • A capital of scale

    Luanda is Angola's capital and largest city, with a population of about 2,487,444. It sits on the coast, and June through September are its best months to visit, with drier, cooler weather.

  • Highlands around Lubango

    Lubango is inland, away from the coast, with roughly 903,564 people. Its best months run from May to August, giving travellers a cooler, drier stretch for exploring the surrounding highlands.

  • Coastal variety south of Luanda

    Benguela and Moçâmedes are both coastal cities. Benguela, with about 561,775 residents, favours April, May, June and October, while Moçâmedes, near 255,000 people, is best from June to September.

  • One clear dry-season window

    Malanje, home to about 604,215 people, has a single recommended month: June. That narrow window reflects how sharply this inland city's conditions shift between seasons.

  • A dry-season country-wide pattern

    Angola's overall best months are May, June, July and August. This run lines up with the dry season across most cities in the fact pack, from Luanda on the coast to Lubango inland.

Is Angola right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want warm sea water year-round, 22 to 29°C in Luanda
  • Trips planned for June to August, when Luanda gets under 1mm of rain and just 0 to 0.5 rain days
  • Visitors heading inland to Lubango, best from May to August with drier, cooler air
  • Coastal city trips to Benguela or Moçâmedes outside the wet season
  • Travellers comfortable with a single time zone and Portuguese as the main language

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike heavy rain, since Luanda gets 14 to 17 rain days in March and April
  • Beach trips in the November to April wet season, when Luanda sees 70 to 118mm of rain a month
  • Anyone wanting cooler nights, since Luanda lows stay above 18.5°C all year
  • Travellers who need English widely spoken, as Portuguese is the main language

Angola right now: November

7.1/10
Avg high
29°C
Avg low
24°C
Rain days
13
Sea
27°C

Averages for Luanda.

Weather by month

In Luanda, June through September is driest and coolest, with highs of 26–27°C, almost no rain days, and plenty of sun, making it the easiest stretch for sightseeing. March and April are toughest, with 14–17 rain days and up to 118mm of rainfall as the wet season peaks, though temperatures stay warm around 30°C.

Average highs and lows in Luanda by month January: high 30°C, low 24°C , 11 rain days . February: high 30°C, low 24°C , 11 rain days . March: high 30°C, low 25°C , 14 rain days . April: high 30°C, low 24°C , 17 rain days . May: high 30°C, low 23°C , 3 rain days . June: high 27°C, low 20°C , 0 rain days . July: high 26°C, low 19°C , 0 rain days . August: high 26°C, low 19°C , 1 rain days . September: high 27°C, low 21°C , 1 rain days . October: high 29°C, low 23°C , 4 rain days . November: high 29°C, low 24°C , 13 rain days . December: high 30°C, low 24°C , 15 rain days . 30°C 24°C JAN 11d 30°C 24°C FEB 11d 30°C 25°C MAR 14d 30°C 24°C APR 17d 30°C 23°C MAY 3d 27°C 20°C JUN 0d 26°C 19°C JUL 0d 26°C 19°C AUG 1d 27°C 21°C SEP 1d 29°C 23°C OCT 4d 29°C 24°C NOV 13d 30°C 24°C DEC 15d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Luanda · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Angola: month-by-month weather →

Angola's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Luanda Coast

    Luanda

    Highs reach 29.9°C in January and drop to 25.6°C in July, with rain on about 89 days a year. June to September are the coolest, driest months and the best time to visit.

    Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

  • Lubango Highlands

    Lubango

    Temperatures stay mild year-round, from 24.4°C in July to 24.5°C in January, but rain falls on about 104 days a year, the most of any region. May to August are the driest, best months to travel.

    Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug

  • Malanje Interior

    Malanje

    This inland region gets the heaviest rain, about 145 days a year, with highs of 27.5°C in January and 30.1°C in July. June is the standout dry month for a visit.

    Best: Jun

  • Benguela-Moçâmedes Desert Coast

    Benguela, Moçâmedes

    The driest region by far, with only about 31 rain days a year. Highs range from 23.1°C in July to 27.7°C in January, and June through October offer the most settled weather.

    Best: Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct

Sample itineraries

7 days

Angola's Coast and Highlands in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Luanda

    Start in the capital, Luanda, a coastal city on the Atlantic. June to September are the best months here, with drier and cooler weather for walking the bay and markets.

  2. Day 4–5

    Malanje

    Head inland to Malanje, best visited in June. Use these two days to explore the surrounding highlands and rock formations before moving on.

  3. Day 6–7

    Lubango

    Finish in Lubango, set away from the coast in the southern highlands. May to August bring its most pleasant weather, good for exploring the escarpment views around town.

10 days

Angola North to South: Coast, Highlands and Desert Edge

  1. Day 1–2

    Luanda

    Begin in Luanda, Angola's coastal capital. Visit between June and September for drier, cooler conditions ideal for exploring the seafront.

  2. Day 3–4

    Malanje

    Travel inland to Malanje, best in June, and spend two days taking in the surrounding countryside and rock outcrops.

  3. Day 5–6

    Lubango

    Continue to Lubango in the southern highlands. June to August and May are the most comfortable months for walking the escarpment and town.

  4. Day 7–8

    Benguela

    Drop to the coast at Benguela, a port city best visited in April, May, June or October, when the weather suits beach walks and the old town.

  5. Day 9–10

    Moçâmedes

    End in Moçâmedes, further south on the Atlantic, where July to September give the driest, most settled weather for exploring the desert-meets-sea landscape.

Food to try in Angola

Muamba de galinha

This is Angola's national dish: chicken stewed with palm oil, garlic, and okra, often spiced with chili. It's cooked in homes across the country and served with funge.

Funge

A thick, smooth paste made from cassava flour or cornmeal, cooked with water until it thickens. It's the everyday starch served alongside stews and sauces.

Calulu

A stew of dried or fresh fish, vegetables, and palm oil, sometimes made with meat instead. It reflects Angola's long Atlantic coastline and traditional cooking methods.

Mufete

Grilled fish, usually served whole, with a side of beans, sweet potato, plantain, and palm oil sauce. It's a popular weekend meal, often eaten outdoors or by the coast.

Pastel de Angola

A savory pastry filled with fish, meat, or vegetables, fried until crisp. It shows the Portuguese colonial influence on Angolan street food.

Ginguinga

A strong local spirit distilled from fruit, often homemade. It's typically drunk in small amounts, especially during social gatherings.

Know before you go

  • Language: Portuguese is the official language of Angola. English is not widely spoken outside business settings, so a few Portuguese phrases help a lot with everyday travel.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Angolan kwanza. Plan to use it for most purchases, since independent travel here runs on cash and local payment options.
  • Plugs and voltage: Angola uses type C plugs and runs on 220 V. Travellers from countries with different plug types or lower voltage will need an adapter.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Angola. Keep this in mind if you're used to left-hand driving, especially when crossing roads or renting a vehicle.
  • Emergency numbers: Angola has three emergency numbers: 115, 116, and 113. Save these before you travel, since response details can vary by region.
  • Calling code: Angola's international calling code is +244. You'll need this to dial local numbers from abroad or set up a local SIM card.
  • Time zone: Angola runs on UTC+01:00 year-round. There's no daylight saving adjustment to account for when planning calls or flights home.

Angola: frequently asked questions

Is Angola good to visit in August?

Yes. August scores 8.8 out of 10 in Luanda, with highs of 25.7°C and lows of 18.9°C. It's part of the dry season, so rain is almost nonexistent (0.5 rain days, 2mm), and sea temperatures sit around 22.1°C. It's one of the best months to travel, along with June, July and May.

When is the best time to visit Angola?

June, July, August and May score highest, between 8.6 and 9.5 out of 10. These months fall in the dry season, with rain days dropping to near zero in June and July (0.1 and 0 days) and temperatures cooler than other months, with highs around 25.6 to 29.9°C in Luanda.

Is Angola rainy in April?

Yes. April is one of the wettest months in Luanda, with 16.9 rain days and 118mm of rainfall, the highest monthly total in the data. Highs still reach 30°C. If you want to avoid heavy rain, the dry months from May to September have far less rainfall.

What is the weather like in Luanda in December?

December in Luanda brings highs of 29.6°C and lows of 24°C, with 14.6 rain days and 99mm of rain. It scores 7.1 out of 10, rated 'good' but not among the top months. Sea temperature is 28.2°C, among the warmest of the year.

Is the sea warm enough for swimming in Angola?

It depends on the month. Luanda's sea temperature ranges from 22.1°C in August to 29.4°C in March. The warmest sea conditions run from December through April, when temperatures stay above 27°C, while the cooler dry season from June to September drops to 22–25°C.

What's the coolest month in Luanda?

July is the coolest month, with a high of 25.6°C and a low of 18.5°C. It also has the least rain, with 0 rain days recorded and just 1mm of rainfall. This cooler, dry stretch runs from June through September.

Similar destinations

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