By Andy Hicks
Andy is a Denver-based small business owner and points and miles fanatic on a quest to complete the UN list by age 50 and maybe the TCC list by 60.
For many years, only a few things came to mind when thinking of Angola: the oil and gas industry, sky-high accommodation costs, and difficulty in obtaining a visa. Oil and gas still dominate the economy, but the previously common challenges have greatly improved. Starting in late 2023, Angola went visa-free for citizens from over 90 countries (including the US), and affordable hotels are widely available throughout the country. While the tourism industry is still minuscule, there are still plenty of reasons to visit “The Land of the Giant Sable.” In the interest of time and our desire to visit isolated tribes, instead of going it alone, we utilized the services of Marta from her namesake company, Marta Tours and Trips, which proved to be an excellent decision.
Arrival & Getting Around
Luanda’s international airport has decent connectivity to major gateways (and can be an affordable “hack” for transit onto Namibia via TAAG Angola). Public transit is limited and not very desirable, both in Luanda and intercity. Either a private car with driver or flying is advisable if covering large distances, and travel by taxi/private car within Luanda is recommended due to safety concerns.
Why Go?
Angola’s primary attractions are its landscapes and its remarkable tribal groups, some of whom are considered the most traditional and untouched on the entire continent. Kalandula Falls makes its way onto many visitors’ itineraries. In addition to several national parks, the breathtaking confluence of coast and desert in the Namibe Province and farther south is worth a visit.
Lodging
For a cheap stay near Luanda airport, check out The Mingaxi Guesthouse. Or at the opposite end of the spectrum, stay at the Luanda Intercontinental, where I redeemed IHG points for two nights of pure luxury (and functional Wi-Fi and a good gym). In Luanda, the Art House is also a favorite of visitors. In Lubango, many tourists stay at the Pululukwa Resort, located within a small nature reserve.
Our Itinerary/What to See
Since Luanda has limited points of interest, we focused our attention elsewhere in the country, basing ourselves primarily in the city of Lubango, which is most easily accessible from Luanda by air. Our main motivation for the trip was to visit some of Angola’s incredible tribal communities — several of which have very little interaction with modern society and are subsistence farmers.
We visited three different tribal groups between Lubango and Namibe, each with their own cultural identities, including the Mucubal tribe, whose female members often carve their two upper center teeth in such a way as to produce a triangular opening. Meeting members of the Mumuila included tasting their local alcoholic beverage, which packed a punch! The highlight was visiting women of the Ngendelengo tribe. Considered to be one of the most isolated in Angola — untouched by Portuguese colonization or the influence of missionaries, they have largely lived life like they have for generations, off-grid and off the land. We felt genuine connections, respectfully meeting with these communities without it feeling like a tourist stop.
In addition to the memorable human interactions, we experienced jaw-dropping landscapes—from the Tundavala Gap near Lubango to the famous “Zig Zag Road” through Serra da Leba and the Iona National Park within the Namibe Province, where the brutal coast and the vast desert meet.
If spending a day or two in Luanda, a visit to Ilha do Cabo is a nice respite from the city’s chaos. There are multiple nice restaurants and an attractive coastline.
References
Marta Tours: mkayimbi@gmail.com
Marta Kaymbi Manuel
WhatsApp: +244942381493
