Flights to Angola can be found in Australia from Perth Airport (PER) travelling to Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD) with a journey time of around 44h; however, they are relatively expensive. Cheap flights to Angola can be found from other Australian airports, and a more economical option can be found from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) with a journey duration of roughly 27h. Other routes are available from this airport, with flight times which extend up to 50-67h. Another economical option is to travel from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Luanda Airport, with a journey time of about 49h. No flight routes are available for Angola’s other airport, Cabinda Airport (CAB), from Australia.
Unfortunately, direct flights from Australia to Angola are not available. However, you can find Angola flight deals from Australia with one or two layovers. You can choose an option from Melbourne to Luanda Airport with two layovers, one in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) for about 1h 45min and another approximately 16h 20min transfer time in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), with a total journey time close to 49h. You could also choose to fly from Sydney Airport to Luanda Airport in Angola with either one or two layovers. A flight route with one layover offers a transfer at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) for roughly 4h 35min, with a total journey time of about 27h; or a two-layover route would involve a roughly 5h layover at both Adelaide Airport (ADL) and Doha Hamad Airport, with a total journey time of around 34h. A flight from Perth to Luanda is also available, with a transfer at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and a total flight duration close to 44h.
Transport options in Angola can be somewhat difficult due to poor infrastructure; although, the country is now trying to rebuild its transport systems. There are three train networks; however, they only serve the regional areas and do not connect nationally. These are Luanda Railway, in the north, serving the Luanda district; Benguela Railway, in the central region; and Mocamedes Railway, serving the southern provinces. Bus services are limited and often crowded, and a better option would be to look out for blue and white painted minibuses, which serve as shared taxis and can be found in most larger cities like Benguela, Lubango and Luanda. It is also possible to take a scenic route by train if you are travelling from Benguela to Cubal.
Angola has a variety of natural landscapes and dramatic scenery to enjoy. Quicama National Park and Kalandula Waterfalls are must-sees. Try a trip to Miradouro da Lua, where you can view layers of colourful soil that have been created by years of natural erosion; take a trip down Kwanza River; or visit Sangano Beach and Ilha do Mussulo, one of Angola’s islands where you can enjoy beaches or water sports. If you are interested in museums and history, consider visiting Fortaleza de Sao Miguel, a 16th-century fort that showcases old war equipment and aspects of Angola’s military history.
All citizens of Australia will require a visa to travel to Angola. A tourist visa typically costs around €111 (A$ 178), is valid for 30 days and must be used within 60 days from the date of issue. Once applied for, the visas usually take around eight days to process, and they must be applied for at your nearest Angolan embassy. A full passport is required with at least nine months of validity, and you must also show proof of a return journey ticket and sufficient funds for your trip.