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Tourism
Although
Angola is located in a
sub tropical zone, its
climate is not typical
of such areas due to the
following factors:
The cold current from
Benguela running along
the southern part of the
coast. The highlands in
the interior. The
influence of the Namibe
desert, situated
southwest. As a result
Angola has its own
specific climate, with
two distinct seasons,
the rains, from October
to April and the mist or
“Cacimbo” from May to
September, a much dryer
season with lower
temperatures.
High
rainfall levels are
registered along the
coastal areas slowly
decreasing from 800 mm
to 50mm, as one moves
further south. The
average mean temperature
is normally around 23º.
The inland area can be
divided into three
zones. The North, where
the rainfall is very
heavy and the
temperatures high, the
Central Plateau zone,
which is generally dry
with average
temperatures of 19º and
finally the South, where
oscillations in
temperature are
registered due to the
proximity of the
Kalahari Desert and the
influence of tropical
air fronts.
Beaches
With an
Atlantic coastline
stretching for over
1.650 kms, mighty rivers
flow into wide estuaries
depositing sediments
they have brought with
them from the high
plateaus to form
numerous small islands,
bays and sandbanks and
where excellent beaches
can be found. In Luanda,
special mention must be
given to the beaches of
Ilha do Cabo, Mussulo,
Palmeirinhas, Corimba
and Santiago. In
Benguela there is Morena,
Restinga, Caóta, Caotina,
Baia Azul and Baia Farta
and finally in Namibe,
two more, Das Miragens
and Azul.
Although
the climate is such that
the beaches can be
visited all year round,
it is in fact during the
hot season that they are
most frequented. The
bars all filled and the
local music and dancing
provide an animated and
exotic atmosphere that
mixes well with the
mystery of the African
nights.
Landscapes
The
orography and the
climatic characteristics
of the land provide
Angola with a vast
diversity of animal and
vegetable species.
In Cabinda, there is
dense, humid forestland,
rich in exotic woods and
the natural habitat of
gorillas. South of
Zaire, in the basins of
Kwanza, Kuango, Cuito
and the tributaries of
the Cassai can be found
savannah forestland. On
the elevated plains, the
open forestland provides
a natural habitat for
those species normally
to be found in such
regions.Further South is
the desert area of
Namibe. A vegetable
species known as
Welwitshia Mirabilis and
unique in the world,
grows here. |