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.
