Maquela do Zombo, Angola

With a population of just 42,000, this backwater town in Angola's Uíge Province is not for the faint of heart. The municipal area is home to 127,351 residents, but the city itself is a sleepy outpost that will test the patience of any newcomer. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the climate can be brutal.

This is a place for the truly adventurous - those willing to brave the challenges of living in an underdeveloped Angolan town in exchange for a slice of authentic African life. For most, Maquela do Zombo will be a tough sell.