Angola: Overview

The Republic of Angola covers 1,247,000 km² in the western region of Southern Africa.  It is the second largest country south of the Sahara after the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country contains six major geomorphologic areas: Coastal area, marginal mountain chains, the old tableland, Zaire basin and the basins of the Zambezi and Cubango. Angola has two seasons, the rainy and dry (cacimbo) seasons, with an average annual rainfall of 400 mm and lowest and highest average temperatures at 18˚C and 35 ˚C respectively.

Luanda (formerly spelled Loanda) is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and administrative center and has a population of approximately 4.8 million. It is also the capital city of Luanda Province. Luanda is located at 8°50'18" South, 13°14'4" East (-8.83833, 13.23444). The city is currently undergoing a major reconstruction, with many large developments taking place that will alter the cityscape significantly.

Huambo is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268. Huambo is a main hub on the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (CFB) (the Benguela Railway) that runs from the port of Benguela to the Congo border and is served by the Albano Machado Airport (formerly Nova Lisboa Airport).

Lobito is a town and municipality in Benguela Province in Angola. It dates from 1905 and owes its existence to the bay of the same name having been chosen as the sea terminus of the Benguela railway to the far interior, passing through Luau to Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Benguela (São Felipe de Benguela, formerly spelled Benguella) is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E. Benguela is Angola's second most famous city and self-appointed cultural capital. It is a charming muddle of low-rise apartment blocks and sputtering motorcycles that weave deftly between Benguela's famous crimson acacia trees.

Namibe (pre-1985: Moçâmedes) is the capital city of Namibe Province in Angola. Namibe is located in southwestern Angola and was founded in 1840. The city's current population is 132,900 . Namibe has a cool dry climate and desert vegetation.