Bailundo, Angola

At nearly 300,000 residents, Bailundo is no sleepy backwater. But the reality is that this provincial capital in Angola's central highlands is a bureaucratic headache, with a local kingdom that still wields significant influence. A tragic 2008 plane crash that killed 13 people only adds to the sense that Bailundo is a place where visitors must be on their guard.

While the town has a population of over 70,000, the larger municipality clocks in at nearly 300,000 people. This is no small-town existence. And with the local non-sovereign Kingdom of Bailundo maintaining a powerful role in community affairs, there's plenty of red tape and tradition to navigate. Those seeking a quiet life in the Angolan countryside may find Bailundo's amalgam of city and tribal politics to be a persistent annoyance.

In short, Bailundo is a place for the resilient and adaptable, not the faint of heart. The risks, from bureaucratic hassles to potential safety issues, mean this is no easy expat destination - unless you're prepared to put in the work to understand the local power dynamics.