How to Book Travel on Sonair

Angola's reputation as a tourist destination has been marred by its history of civil war, but post-war, the Angolan government is eager to rebuild the economy and once again welcome tourists to its fair shores. Those hoping to book travel on Sonair should know that this airline offers domestic flights within Angola, as well as flights between Angola and the United States.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Proof of yellow-fever vaccination
• Passport
• Visa
• Computer with Internet access

Book Travel on Sonair

1. Reserve your tickets by visiting the Sonair Web site (see Resources below) and heading straight to its Reservations section. Follow the instructions given to contact the relevant Sonair-affiliated travel agencies. You can also call 011 ([phone].
2. Get up to speed on Sonair's international routes. Sonair only serves one international city: Houston, Texas. You can fly directly to Houston on Sonair from the cities of Malabo and Luanda.
3. Familiarize yourself with Sonair's domestic routes. Within Angola, Sonair offers service to cities including Benguela, Cabinda, Catumbela, Huambo, Lubango, Ondjiva and Soyo. It flies to most cities twice a week, and offers six weekly flights to Benguela and Soyo.

Prepare to Travel in Angola

4. Avoid health problems while visiting Angola by getting vaccinated against yellow fever prior to your trip. You will need to provide airport officials with proof of vaccination upon arrival in the country.
5. Get an early start by applying for your visa with your country's Angolan embassy a few weeks before your visit. It can take a couple of weeks for visas to be processed, since the embassies send all visa applications back to Angola for review. Applying well ahead of your visit will help avoid delays.
6. Arrive fully informed by visiting the U.S. State Department's Web site (see Resources below) to view the latest travel advisories prior to your departure. The site offers a wealth of information vital to ensuring that your trip to Angola is a safe one.

Navigate Angola

7. Schedule a foray to the National Park of Bicuar, in the Province of Huila. The park is home to a vast array of exotic African wildlife, including elephants, antelopes, elands, gnus and zebras.
8. Remember that AIDS and HIV are rampant in Angola. Unprotected sex is to be avoided.
9. Don't venture off the beaten path. Many less-traveled routes are subject to hazardous land mines.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally from outside the United States, check which prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Don't take photographs in public places while in Angola. The country remains under tight security, and if the police spot you taking pictures, you could face stiff penalties and detention.