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Angola travel guide

Angola rewards travellers who want dry-season landscapes and coastline without a tourist trail

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 after wide landscapes, Atlantic coast towns and a route that still feels unplanned by anyone else. May to August is the best window, with dry weather across Luanda, Lubango, Malanje, Benguela and Moçâmedes. The honest limitation: outside this capital and these few cities, tourist infrastructure is thin, so trips take more planning and patience than in neighbouring countries.

  • A clear best season

    Our data rates May, June, July and August as the best months to visit Angola. Aim for this window if you can. If your dates fall outside it, check local conditions carefully before you book.

  • Luanda, a capital on the coast

    Luanda is both the capital and a coastal city, with a population of 2487444. It is the largest city in our list, so most trips start here. Portuguese is the language you will hear and need.

  • More coast south of the capital

    Angola's coast does not end at Luanda. Benguela (population 561775) and Moçâmedes (population 255000) are also coastal cities. They are much smaller than the capital and give you a different view of the Atlantic side of the country.

  • Inland cities for contrast

    Lubango (population 903564) and Malanje (population 604215) are inland cities. Adding one of them to a coastal trip shows you a side of Angola away from the sea. Driving is on the right if you plan road travel.

  • A very large country

    Angola covers 1246700 km² and has a population of 38778554. There is a lot of ground to see, but distances between cities are long. Do not try to cover everything in a short trip; pick one region and give it time.

Is Angola right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want dry, sunny days: June to August in Luanda sees under 1mm of rain and about 10 sun hours daily
  • Coastal trips combining Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes, all listed as coastal cities
  • Warm-sea travellers, since Luanda's sea temperature stays above 22C even in the coolest month, August
  • City-and-nature trips pairing Luanda with inland Lubango, both best visited June to August
  • Visitors fine with a single rainy season rather than year-round showers, since rain is concentrated November to April

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike heavy rain, since Luanda gets around 118mm of rain across 17 days in April
  • Beach-only holidaymakers, as the fact pack lists just three coastal cities out of five major ones
  • Sun-seekers chasing peak warmth, since July highs in Luanda drop to 25.6C with sea temperature around 22.2C

Angola right now: October

7.7/10
Avg high
29°C
Avg low
23°C
Rain days
4
Sea
26°C

Averages for Luanda.

Weather by month

In Luanda, June to September is the dry, cooler stretch, with highs of just 26-27°C, almost no rain, and sea temperatures dipping to around 22°C. The toughest weather comes from March to April, when rain days climb to 14-17 and monthly rainfall reaches 105-118mm, making the wet season feel heavier and more humid.

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

    Luanda stays warm all year, with highs of 29.9°C in January cooling to 25.6°C in July. With 89 rain days a year, the driest and mildest stretch runs June to September.

    Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

  • Lubango Highlands

    Lubango

    Lubango's highland air keeps temperatures steady, from 24.5°C in January to 24.4°C in July. Rain falls on about 104 days a year, so May to August is the clearer, cooler window.

    Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug

  • Malanje Interior

    Malanje

    Malanje is Angola's wettest region, with 145 rain days a year and highs climbing from 27.5°C in January to 30.1°C in July. June stands out as the one notably drier month.

    Best: Jun

  • Benguela-Moçâmedes Desert Coast

    Benguela, Moçâmedes

    This dry southwestern coast around Benguela and Moçâmedes sees only 31 rain days a year, the lowest in the country. Highs run from 27.7°C in January down to 23.1°C in July, with June through October the recommended stretch.

    Best: Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct

Sample itineraries

7 days

Luanda, Malanje and Lubango in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Luanda

    Angola's coastal capital has about 2487444 people. Spend your first days exploring the waterfront and city sights, best enjoyed June to September when the weather is kindest.

  2. Day 4–5

    Malanje

    This inland city of around 604215 people is best visited in June. Use the time to explore the surrounding highlands and landscapes.

  3. Day 6–7

    Lubango

    An inland city of about 903564 people, Lubango is best from May to August. Spend your last days here before heading home.

10 days

Coast to Highlands Across Angola

  1. Day 1–3

    Luanda

    Start in Angola's coastal capital, home to about 2487444 people. June through September brings the most pleasant conditions for walking the city.

  2. Day 4–5

    Benguela

    This coastal city of roughly 561775 people is best visited in April, May, June or October. Relax along the coastline and explore the old town.

  3. Day 6–7

    Moçâmedes

    A coastal town of about 255000 people, Moçâmedes is best from June to September. Spend time by the sea and take in the desert-meets-ocean scenery.

  4. Day 8–10

    Lubango

    Finish inland in Lubango, home to around 903564 people. The city is best visited from May to August, so plan your final days around exploring its highland surroundings.

Food to try in Angola

Muamba de galinha

Chicken stewed in red palm oil with okra, garlic and often squash. It is widely seen as Angola's national dish and is common at family meals and in local restaurants.

Funge

A thick, smooth porridge made from cassava flour, or from maize flour in some areas. It is the everyday side dish, eaten with stews such as muamba, usually by hand.

Mufete

Grilled fish served with beans cooked in palm oil, plus boiled cassava, sweet potato or plantain. Look for it at seaside eateries in Luanda, especially on weekends.

Calulu

A stew of dried and fresh fish with tomatoes, onions, okra, sweet potato leaves and palm oil. It is a coastal dish, usually served with funge or rice.

Kizaka

Cassava leaves pounded and slow-cooked, sometimes with peanuts or fish. It is a common home-style side dish across the country and pairs well with funge.

Kissangua

A lightly fermented, slightly sour drink made from maize, traditionally prepared at home in the south. It is low in alcohol or non-alcoholic, depending on how long it ferments.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Angola uses Type C plugs and 220 V. If your devices have a different plug, bring an adapter. Check that chargers and appliances work at 220 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Angola drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency numbers: The emergency numbers in Angola are 115, 116 and 113. Save all 3 in your phone before you arrive, so you do not need to search for them in a hurry.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Angolan kwanza. Plan how you will get kwanza before you travel, and do not rely on only one way to pay.
  • Language: Portuguese is the language of Angola. Learning a few basic Portuguese phrases, or carrying a translation app that works offline, will make everyday tasks easier.
  • Time zone: Angola uses UTC+01:00 all year. Check the time difference from home so you can plan calls and connections.
  • Calling code: The country calling code for Angola is +244. Use it when you save local numbers or when people call you from abroad.

Angola: frequently asked questions

Is Angola good to visit in August?

Yes. August scores 8.8 out of 10 in Luanda and falls in the best-rated stretch of the year. Expect dry weather with just 0.5 rain days and 2mm of rain, a high of 25.7°C and a low of 18.9°C. Sea temperature sits at 22.1°C, cooler than the rest of the year.

When is the best time to visit Angola?

June, July, August and May score highest, from 8.6 to 9.5 out of 10. This stretch is Angola's dry season: July has 0 rain days, June has 0.1, and August has 0.5. Temperatures are also milder then, with July highs around 25.6°C, compared to 30°C-plus in the wet months.

Is Angola rainy in April?

Yes. April is the wettest month in Luanda, with 16.9 rain days and 118mm of rain. Highs reach 30°C and lows 24.4°C, so it's hot and humid as well as wet. The score for April is 7 out of 10, still rated good despite the rain.

What is the weather like in Luanda in January?

January in Luanda is hot and fairly rainy, with highs of 29.9°C and lows of 23.9°C. There are 11.4 rain days and 70mm of rain that month. Sea temperature is warm at 28.6°C, and the month scores 7.2 out of 10, rated good.

Is the sea warm enough for swimming in Angola?

It depends on the month. Sea temperature off Luanda peaks at 29.4°C in March and drops to 22.1°C in August. If you want the warmest water, aim for the rainier months between December and April rather than the drier June-to-September period, when the sea cools noticeably.

Similar destinations

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