What You Need To Know

Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city in Angola, and the country’s most populous and important city, primary port and major industrial, cultural and urban centre. Located on Angola’s coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola’s chief seaport and its administrative centre. It is also the capital city of Luanda Province, and the world’s third most populous Portuguese-speaking city, behind only São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, both in Brazil, and the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city in the world, ahead of Brasília, Maputo and Lisbon. The city is currently undergoing a major reconstruction, with many large developments taking place that will alter the cityscape significantly.

Area: 113 km²
Population: 22.8 million

Currency

The national currency is the Kwanza.

Language

The inhabitants of Luanda are primarily members of African ethnic groups, mainly Kimbundo, Ovimbundu, and Bakongo. The official and the most widely used language is Portuguese, although several Bantu languages are also used, mainly Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo.

Climate

Luanda has a mild semi-arid climate. The climate is warm to hot but surprisingly dry, owing to the cool Benguela Current, which prevents moisture from easily condensing into rain.

Economy

Around one-third of Angolans live in Luanda, 53 of whom live in poverty. Living conditions in Luanda are poor for most of the people, with essential services such as safe drinking water and electricity still in short supply, and severe shortcomings in traffic conditions.On the other hand, luxury constructions for the benefit of the wealthy minority are booming. Luanda is one of the world’s most expensive cities for resident foreigners.

Independence

By the time of Angolan independence in 1975, Luanda was a modern city. The majority of its population was African, but it was dominated by a strong minority of white Portuguese origin. After the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon on April 25, 1974, with the advent of independence and the start of the Angolan Civil War(1975–2002), most of the white Portuguese Luandans left as refugees, principally for Portugal, with many travelling overland to South Africa. There was an immediate crisis, however, as the local African population lacked the skills and knowledge needed to run the city and maintain its well-developed infrastructure. The large numbers of skilled technicians among the force of Cuban soldiers sent in to support the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.

Transport

there are many public bus line such as TCUL and MaconTaxis are the best way to get around cities in Angola. Luanda has an abundance of candogueiros or mini bus cabs, which are easy to spot thanks to their pale blue and white paint. They are safe and convenient during the daytime, but think twice past 8:00 p.m. It is often safer to have the number of a private taxi company on hand especially after a late night out. Macon Taxi (+244-222-470-520), Empresa de Taxis de Luanda (+244-222-351-333), Marine (+244-222-397-049), and Auto Taxi do Palanca (+244-222-442-012) are all reliable operators that serve Luanda.

Sports

In 2013 Luanda together with Namibe city, hosted the 2013 FIRS Men’s Roller Hockey World Cup, the first time that a World Cup of roller hockey was held in Africa. however the most popular sports are the football, basketball and the handball.