Angola Discovering Angola

International flight to Luanda

Arrival in Luanda

Luanda, a lively city full of contrasts. The main port and economic centre of the country, it was founded in 1576 by the Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais.We will spend the day visiting it at length, appreciating its beautiful blend of modernity and colonial past.Although for some years it has held the title of being one of the most expensive cities in the world, its current situation is different. Its paradigm is to move on and overcome more than 30 years of civil war.Visiting and strolling through some of its neighbourhoods filled with colonial architecture is a pleasant experience. In addition, 25 kilometres north of Luanda is Santiago beach, in the bay of the same name.A few stranded and abandoned boats on the beach make this place a unique visit, where we will be able to have fun with our cameras.Accommodation at Hotel Villa Alice. Accommodation and breakfast.

Luanda – Lubango (domestic flight)

Domestic flight to the southern city of Lubango. Once we have landed and flight schedules permitting, we will head up to Tundavala in the heart of the Sierra de Leba, to enjoy the sunset over the Namibe region. This is a magnificent lookout point at an altitude of more than two thousand metres with an attractive access from Lubango.Accommodation at Kimbo do Soba Hotel. Full board.

Lubango – Chibia – Muhila Villages

We will head south of Lubango towards the quiet and peaceful town of Chibia, where we will stop for a walk and visit some of its colonial buildings. We will then enter the territory of the Muhila or Mumuhila people. Our first contact with this community will be in the small market of Mucuma, where the Muhila women usually come to trade. From here, heading towards Jau, we will look for a village to spend the night and learn a little more about their customs. The Mumuhila women have one of the most spectacular hairstyles to be found in Africa. They use the bark of a tree called Eunbao and mix it with lard to make their unique hairstyles of compacted braids.Accommodation in camp. Full board.

Muhila Villages – Humpata – Namibe

We will leave our hosts to continue on our route towards Humpata. Once here, we will take the road that crosses the Leba mountain range which will take us to the city of Namibe, in the heart of the Mucubal people’s territory. What stands out is the 1,000 metre section of road that zig-zags downwards. Built in 1915 by Portuguese engineer Artur Torres, it is a 20-kilometre work of art, with 19 bends and a number of viewpoints from which to admire the landscape.Namibe, or Moçamedes as it is still known, is a pleasant seaside town with a promenade where you will find good fish restaurants. The afternoon will be a good time to stroll along the beach and visit the “Independence”, the ship that got stranded on the beach and which originally sailed from Cape Verde.Accommodation at Chik Chik Hotel. Full board.

Namibe – Tchitundo Hulo – Mucubal Village

After breakfast and before leaving the town of Namibe, we will visit the old Portuguese lighthouse. From here, the ships that pass along the coast every day are still monitored using a spyglass and noted down in a logbook.We will continue our journey in the direction of Virei, the nerve centre of the Mucubal people. We will make a short stop at the market before heading for Tchitundo Hulo. As we leave Virei, the landscape changes and rocky mounds become more and more common. The rocks known as Tchitundo Hulo are considered to be the sacred mountains of the Mucuis, who along with the Mucubal, inhabit this region. The Mucubal people still lead a nomadic lifestyle due to the harshness of the semi-desert territory in which they live. In the Tchitundo Hulo rocks there are some unique paintings and rock carvings. We will camp very close to the cave that houses some of these paintings.Accommodation in camp. Full board.

Mucubal and Mucui Villages

Day to explore the Mucui and Mucubal territory. Although the Mucuis live in the region, they still lead a nomadic lifestyle with some similarities to the Khoisan, making them difficult to track down.The Mucubal people have cattle and their settlements are more important in the area. However, in times of drought the young Mucubal men tend to move long distances in search of pasture for their animals. We will easily recognise the Mucubal villages by their particular light coloured houses made of adobe.Accommodation in camp. Full board.

Virei – Namibe

We will pack up our camp and head to Virei where we will stop to see the large Mucubal cemetery. Hundreds of antlers mark the graves of some of the most important members of Mucubal society.We will continue our journey and stop at the Arco Oasis where the curious rock formations accompanied by natural lagoons formed by the Curoca River, make for an interesting stop. After lunch, we will continue to Namibe where we will spend the night in a hotel.Accommodation at Chik Chik Hotel. Full board.

Namibe – Garganta – Nguendelengo Villages

We will head towards the small village of Garganta. This mountainous region is the territory of the Nguendelengo people. We will visit some of their villages. They are a very small community in Angola and, although they have similarities with the Mucubal, the women have a unique look of their own with very unique hairstyles. They practice the “Fico” or women’s initiation ceremony.Accommodation in camp.Full board.

Garganta – Lubango – Canhimei – Mudimba Villages