On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:17:34 +0100, "Gerald Oliver Swift"
wrote:

I'm hoping
that I won't have to pass up Angola for the same reason. Anyone ever
hear of someone being refused the visa after they meet all the
requirements and apply? (And purchased plane tickets).

Why would they - providing you meet all their requirements. They are
probably glad to have a few tourists about these days!

Gerry


Actually, they don't give a dingo's testicle for a tourist in Luanda.
The bureacracy in Angola in mind-numbingly staggering. I don't know of
anyone offering tours in Luanda (there are tours commencing in Namibia
and heading upwards, but I doubt if there's much around Luanda.

Unless you have a very specific reason for visiting Luanda, I can't
actually recommen that you go there. I've been there many times, and
Luanda is a busy, filthy, overcrowded, dangerous, and chaotic city.
Hotels are ludicrously overpriced, and even with a FIRM, PRE-PAID
hotel reservation you will find that you get to the hotel and there's
no room available. I've had that happen twice at the Tropico Hotel
which is the best hotel in Luanda.

The Ilha (a spit of land in the harbour) is quite nice to visit, but
the food is overpriced, lousy quality, and just getting to the Ilha is
a two-hour drive through the worst traffic imaginable. Generally, the
restaurants in Luanda are lacklustre and expensive. Service levels are
shocking, and they make absolutely no attempt to welcome tourists.

If you're determined to go to Luanda, make sure you have a Yellow
Fever innoculation certificate and a visa. Visas are expensive too.
You could apply for a visa while in Johannesburg. It takes about three
days, and I've never had one refused.

Marc.