Eleven Days Angola Vacation

Day One: Arrival in Luanda

Upon your arrival at the airport in Luanda, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and then transfer you to the hotel. Dinner and overnight Hotel Ilha Mar or similar.

Day Two: Lubango

This morning, you will go for the city tour and visit the impressive old colonial buildings and bustling markets, as well as the small anthropology museum if open. Later transfer to the airport and fly to Lubango, the main city in southern Angola. Set in the valley guarded by a statue of Christ, Lubango is rich in colonial heritage mixed with the vibrancy of local culture. Dinner and overnight at Vanjul Lodge or similar.

Day Three:  Chibia to Muila village

After breakfast, you will visit the small town of Chibia with its interesting colonial architecture, and head out into the surrounding countryside to a village belonging to the Muila people, where we meet the chief and learn a little about their culture and customs. Return to Lubango for the night. Dinner and overnight at Vanjul Lodge or similar.

Day Four: Oncocua

Today, you will drive south to Oncocua, a former Portuguese settlement in the middle of a cultural ‘island’, inhabited by three different ethnic groups – the Himba, the Mucawana and the Mutua. On the way we stop in the small town of Cahama, the site of an important battle during the long civil war. Dinner and overnight camping.

Day Five: Oncocua

After breakfast, we will visit the different tribal groups that live in this area, taking time to learn about their culture and customs. This is one of the most traditional areas of Angola and visitors are rare, but the local people are friendly and welcoming. Dinner and overnight camping.

Day Six: Lubango

For this day, we will visit another tribal group nearby, the Mucuis. Return to Lubango, stopping at Ontitchau where we may be able to meet a few individuals of the Mugambue and Mudimba groups. Dinner and overnight at Vanjul Lodge or similar.

Day Seven: Mungongo to Namibe

On this day, we will descend from the plateau on the famous Serra de Leba Pass, and head towards the coast. We stop en route at the oasis of Mungongo, where we can meet the Mucubal and Umbundu people. We continue to the coastal town of Namibe and explore its old colonial centre on foot. Dinner and overnight Infotour Hotel or similar.

Day Eight: Tchitundo Hulo

You will drive towards Virei, stopping en route at the oasis of Arco and the colonial town of Tomboua. After lunch, we drive to Tchitundo Hulo making a stop to see the prehistoric weltwishcia plants at Tchitundo Hulo and see a vast collection of prehistoric rock art, with paintings of animals, plants and men – possibly up to 20,000 years old, but no-one really knows. The area is also home to the Mucubal people, who we should be able to meet when here. Dinner and overnight camping.

Day Nine: Namibe to Garganta, Lubango and Luanda

Today we drive to Namibe and then the village of Garganta. Here we meet the Nguendelengo people, who live by hunting, gathering and rearing livestock, and they are just three or four hundred individuals. Continue to Lubango for an evening flight to Luanda. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ilha Mar or similar.

Day Ten: Muxima to Kwanza River

After breakfast, head out of the city to the nearby town of Muxima, with its old 16^th century church and Portuguese fort. We take a boat trip on the Kwanza River to visit a nearby fishing village, then return to Luanda for the night, passing through forests of baobabs. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ilha Mar or similar.

Day Eleven: Luanda

This morning, you will visit the old Portuguese fort, as well as Miradouro du Lua, with its interesting rock formations. On the way back to Luanda we stop at the artisans’ market, then finally transfer to the airport for your onward flight.