Road network

Angola's road network is improving but uneven. The EN1, running south from Luanda through Benguela to Lubango, is the best-maintained corridor and the backbone of long-distance driving in the country. Beyond the main highways, secondary roads are often potholed, unpaved, or washed out during the rainy season from October to April. Four-wheel drive is strongly recommended for anything off the principal routes. Luanda traffic is severely congested and can turn short urban trips into multi-hour ordeals. Police checkpoints are frequent on all major roads, and officers will ask for a driving license, vehicle registration, and insurance. An international driving permit is recommended. Some recently built highways, including the Luanda-Viana expressway, are tolled on a per-kilometer basis. Check current toll fees before travel as they change over time. Most of the broader network is toll-free.

Speed limits are 60 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on motorways. Headlights are required at night. The blood alcohol limit is 0.06 percent. The minimum driving age is 18. The emergency number is 113. Winter tires are not required. Fuel is heavily subsidized and among the cheapest in Africa, but stations become sporadic outside major towns and carrying a reserve supply is standard practice. Diesel can be in short supply away from urban centers. One detail that catches many visitors off guard: the contrast between Luanda's dense, slow-moving traffic and the near-total emptiness of the roads just a few hours outside the capital is abrupt and dramatic.