Packing list for Angola, travel insurance for Angola and taking your belongings

What to take to Angola: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival. For many travelers, a visa is no longer required for a short tourist stay these days, but always check the current entry rules for your nationality. Bring multiple paper and digital copies of your passport and travel insurance. The local currency is the Angolan kwanza (AOA). Withdrawing cash is usually possible in Luanda and other major cities, but ATMs are scarce outside the cities due to malfunctions or empty machines. Therefore, bring sufficient cash (euros or US dollars) to exchange.
• Clothing: light, airy clothing made of breathable fabrics is comfortable for the warm climate. Are you traveling during the dry season (May through September) or to the highlands (such as Huambo or Lubango)? Then it can cool down considerably in the evenings; bring a warm sweater or fleece. When visiting churches or villages, covering/modest clothing is appreciated. Shoes: Comfortable shoes are suitable for cities like Luanda and Benguela. If you are going on safari, hiking, or visiting nature reserves such as Kissama National Park or the Tundavala Gorge, bring sturdy hiking boots. Sandals or flip-flops are pleasant for the coast.
• Personal care and hygiene: sunscreen with a high protection factor, lip balm, hand gel, and wet wipes are very useful in the warm climate.
• Packing and protection: a rain cover for your backpack is handy during the rainy season (approximately October-April). Waterproof bags protect electronics from tropical showers and dust.
• Insects and animals: a good mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridine is essential.
• Sleeping and sleeping: a sleeping bag liner can be pleasant in simple accommodations. An impregnated mosquito net is advisable, when you are staying outside larger hotels.
• Medicines and travel first-aid kit: a comprehensive first-aid kit with plasters, blister plasters, oral rehydration solution (ORS), painkillers, anti-diarrhea medication, and personal medicines. Outdoors and practicals: a reusable water bottle (with filter), sunglasses, and a sun hat or cap.
• Technology and equipment: a universal travel adapter for type C and F sockets, a flashlight or headlamp, and a power bank for power outages.
• Safety and theft: use a money belt or concealed document pouch and keep valuables out of sight. Check the current travel advice before departure, especially when you are traveling outside the major cities.

To consider:

• Binoculars for wildlife parks and bird areas.
• A dust scarf or buff for traveling on unpaved roads.
• Water purification tablets or a water filter for remote areas.
• Small gifts when visiting local communities.
• A few words of Portuguese are also useful, as English is rarely spoken outside the tourism sector.

Are there mosquitoes in Angola?

• Yes, mosquitoes are present in almost all of Angola year-round and are particularly numerous during the rainy season.
• Angola is a country where malaria is prevalent. Additionally, mosquitoes can also spread dengue, yellow fever, and other mosquito-borne diseases.
• Therefore, protect yourself well with mosquito repellent, protective clothing, and, where necessary, a mosquito net.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Angola?

• Sandflies generally do not pose a problem for tourists in Angola.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Are DEET, or other mosquito repellents, available in Angola?

• Yes, but there isn't much choice. In Luanda and a few other larger cities, mosquito repellents are available at pharmacies and larger supermarkets. Outside the cities, the selection is often limited.
• If you want to be well protected, it can be useful to bring a product from home.

Is it legal to buy a joint or weed in Angola, or to bring it with you to Angola?

• No, cannabis is illegal in Angola. Possession, use, sale, and import carry severe penalties. Bringing it along is therefore not a good idea.
• Medical cannabis is also illegal.