apologies for asking the same question(s) that are constantly renewed... perhaps i'm being too hopeful but i wondered if there were any hubbers with the latest news & contacts...

i'm travelling on an australian passport. there is no angolan embassy in australia. i'm heading from south (i.e. RSA / NAM) north into Angola. I'm really hoping to get a 30 day visa rather than have to rush through on a 5 day transit...

i've tried the following 'contacts' chasing visa information and a letter of invitation thus far without much luck (i'm not planning to book tours, and don't want to book expensive hotels etc.);

• Eco-Tur - Angola Tours, Nature Tours, Safaris, Hotels, 4x4 Hire
• Travel Services & Visas | AA Safaris - Angola Travel
• Angolan Getaways - Safaris & Adventures

Paul @ Eco Tur suggested the angolan embassy in singapore for the visa application in advance, which seems to align with a thread from an NZ traveller here
Getting visas for Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola - Lonely Planet travel forum
though i'm yet to find out whether the email address is still correct (anyone have updates?), and I still need an LOI before applying.

Mandy @ AA Safaris suggests Pretoria will be the 'only' likely place for the visa but includes a caveat that begging will be required... also booking with Flamingo lodge provides her clients with the LOI, likewise for Lezle @ tripostravel Sure Travel Contact Details according to the author of this blog. Angola, Angola - a tale of “três cavaleiros” - Page 4 - ADVrider

can anyone suggest another 'reliable' or 'potential' sources for providing the LOI that doesn't involve hotel bookings? or is flamingo lodge really the only way to go? anyone know what accommodation is worth / minimum booking requirements there? (google search for the lodge doesn't seem to list prices).

I read some time ago about a lady working for a charitable organisation who worked on the 'trust' system for payment etc. but i can't seem to find a link now. i do recall reading that she may have left angola or no longer provide the LOI 'service' based on non-responses to some hubbers email requests...

any other information would be much appreciated!

thanks in advance
dave

Why don't you book a hotel and then "change your mind" and cancel it for free afterwards?

I got an Angola visa in my home country and it was the hardest one I've ever applied for. Criminal records, Portuguese translations and stamps from authorities and so on.

Wish you the best of luck!

Hey guys wondering if anyone can help me out with some info about he Angola visa. I've contacted the Flamingo Lodge and Mandy there let me know that tourist visas are only good for 60 days from issue. As I'll be traveling from london, I won't even be close! Anyone know if this is accurate?

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bugsonmyboard.org
two wheeled wave hunting dispatches

We got our Multientry Angola visa at the embassy in Sweden. They told me that it was valid for ENTRY within 60 days and then you could stay in the country for 30 days. Ask about twenty times. I really hope that's the case because we would like to exit after the expiry (60 days) date!

Well this is not great. How on earth can anyone traveling south from Europe obtain a visa that is valid when they arrive! Nothing to do but take your chances along the way I suppose...

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bugsonmyboard.org
two wheeled wave hunting dispatches

Same actual informations here in Switzerland!

The thread opener has luck - when Angola has no embassy in australia - this may help! But I`m pretty shure - that they have a embassy in another country who has to handle the request from australians.

To get an "invation" beyond a Hotelreservation (if needed (we dont need)) try too airbnb, and couchsurfing (maybe there is something) to get contact to locals.

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Trans-Africa over the west coast

When i told flamingo lodge my time frame and asked if I could still receive a letter of invitation they stopped responding. I'll have a look on couchsurfer unless anyone has other options..

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bugsonmyboard.org
two wheeled wave hunting dispatches

Just want to confirm that this was true and with multi its possible to re-enter within 30 days from the date of first entry, even if its later than then expiry date on the visa. But not many had seen a multi visa so a few of them had to call their boss.
The Angola customs didn't recognize our Carnet de Passage at Ruacana. After a couple of hours we had to buy TIP for 550 N$.

is there any 'general consensus' that applying in the first instance for a 5 day transit visa is more successful than going for the 30 day tourist visa?

i am on a bit of a tight schedule. DHL'ing my passport to singapore would preclude me entering lesotho / swaziland (I only have 1 passport).

however I had planned to apply in pretoria / durban / cape town / windhoek.

someone suggests needing the LOI to be addressed to the specific embassy... is this 100% accurate? has anyone had luck at a different embassy / consulate to that which the LOI is addressed?? I don't want to pay for 4 LOI's, assuming Flamingo will in fact provide any.

what sort of time-frames are people getting for visa turn-around? a day? a week? i'd be happy to wait a week if i knew it would be successful. otherwise i'll save a whole bunch of effort, plan up lumbabashi-kinshasa and re-visit the caprivi.

thanks for all the replies & info.

i wonder if providing LOI's could become a 2nd 'job' for an industrious angolan???

dave