I have been going to Angola for the last 10 years,,, spent about 2 there in total.
Like the expats always say, Angola is not for sissies.....
If you are planning to do a contract there, you must prepare yourself and also make sure that the terms that they offer is acceptable. As previously stated it is expensive to stay there. Other issues are transport, medical and sometimes even food.
* do not even think of driving there unless you are fluent in Portuguese, and you have been there for a few months.
* Most contracting companies will provide you with food and lodging. If it is a good company you will get a house that usually gets shared between a few people. If you aren’t.... well that can be a problem. I know that we paid for a house $ 10 000 p.m. and that was cheap. A nice flat will be min $ 2500 p.m.
* Medical is a big problem. Make sure that they make use of the private clinics in Luanda and they have International insurance for emergency flights to SA. And malaria is a big problem, but if you are smart everything will be OK.
Luanda itself is isn’t too bad, but I always get look after nicely by the companies that I went up for.
BTW, the internet there is horrible, unless you will be lucky enouh to get a company that has a good V-SAT link. Diginet/Cable is there but can be brilliant or the worst in the world, varies for day to day.
There is 3G, but that can be down for a day or 2 at a time.
So, if you are planning to go, you must do your homework.