Early Pictures   T. Ernest Wilson Family Young Postal Delivery Boy A Young Family On the Mission Field     Angola        Located on the south-western coast of Africa, the Republic of Angola covers a geographical area of about 481,353 square miles, (1.247 million square kilometres) which is larger than Texas and California combined. Angola's neighbours include Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, and Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north. Luanda is the capital of Angola and the biggest city; quite overwhelming for the average traveller. Along the coast, the cities of Lobito and Benguela are more tranquil, but certainly worth a visit. Further south Lubango offers magnificent scenery and quiet surroundings, connected by Angola's best road, to Namibe - a lovely and quiet coastal town.     Diamond dust beaches, almost virgin wildlife parks and Africa's second largest waterfall; Angola holds a lure that few other places can match. And with a landmark 2002 ceasefire ushering in a new era of peace and economic stability, opportunities for exploration are slowly opening up. Angolans have long had a troubled history. The many ethnic groups and tribes - the main ones being Ovimbundu, Kimbundu and Bekongo - consider themselves very different and have rarely seen eye to eye. So when the Portuguese settled coastal Luanda in 1575, the warring tribes plundered and sold each other into slavery in return for food and booze, rather than grouping together against a common enemy. Angola's tropical plateau climate means it gets pretty damp between October and March, especially higher up inland. At this altitude, the months stay comfortably temperate, usually around 25 to 28°C (77-82°F). Lower and coastal regions are slightly warmer in the summer, with average temperatures a low 20-24°C (68-75°F) in winter; however, fresh coastal breezes can sometimes keep the mercury down. From "The Lonely Planet"