7 DAYS DISCOVER SOUTH OF ANGOLA.
In addition to the amazing and diverse scenery, the south of Angola is a very popular holiday destination for tourists and locals alike. This area is also an interesting place to meet African indigenous peoples.
One of the first things you will see upon arriving in Lubango is one of the city’s most striking monuments: the statue of Cristo Rei, also known as Christ the King, which stands on a hilltop above the city. Based on the famous figure from the Brazilian city of Rio, Cristo Rei was erected in 1957 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
Visitors to the south are not only drawn to the variety of landscapes, but also to the numerous ethnic groups who live mostly nomadic lifestyles in the Kunene region, which borders Namibia to the south. Unlike other parts of Africa, many of these indigenous peoples are still present in the region and continue to lead their traditional lifestyles.Whether it is the colorful fabric, the expensive jewelry or the traditional hairstyle, each tribe has its own unique characteristics and customs. However, they all live peacefully together in this protected region of Angola.
In addition to the rich culture of the southern part of Angola, you will also find the Namib desert and the long coast with its sandy beaches. Take some time off during your desert safari and see another side of Africa.
Day 1
Today’s itinerary begins in Luanda with a flight from Luanda to Luila by a national airline, usually in the afternoon. When we arrive in Luanda, we’ll be picked up by our tour guide, who will then take us to the beautiful city of Momuíla, home to Cristo Rei.
To get you started, we’ll start our journey by heading towards the Tunda Vale gap, which is one of the most inspiring abysses in the whole of Luanda. This abyss is located in the heart of Lubango, right at the edge of the serra da Leba. On the way, we’ll pay a visit to Cristo Rei – one of the world’s largest Christ figures, built in 1957 – before we arrive at our hotel.
Day 2
After breakfast, we will depart from the hotel and make our way to Oncocua by road. Along the way, we will pass through the small town of Chibia, which is renowned for its large population of Mumuílas, and its famous markets and villages.
After passing through this interesting town, we will take a short break and visit some of the villages around it. Then, we will continue our long journey to the Oncocua area. Upon arrival, we will be greeted by the Soba (Headman) who will show us around the area/village before we get ready to set up our tents for the evening. We will arrive at Oncocua in the late afternoon, where we will spend the night in tents.
Day 3
After breakfast, we’ll meet people from various ethnic backgrounds, such as: The Himba tribe is one of the most well-known Himba tribes. However, the Himba don’t live in isolation, and they’re connected to the outside world,The Muhacaona or Mucawana, they are mostly found in this area of southern Angola and are most commonly found in the province of Cunene, where they are well-known for their beautiful hair, The Vátura, also known as the Pre-Bantu, is an ethnic group made up of the Cuissis, also known as Cuepes, and sometimes referred to as Cariocas. It is derived from the name of the river Curaco, on whose banks they inhabit.
Throughout the day, we will accompany the cattle herders to the water point or nearby places and observe their daily life. We will spend some time with various groups and learn a bit about their handicrafts or their daily life/ duties.
We will have dinner with the Sobe (Headman) of oncocua town. As this is our last night in this region, we will pack our belongings to depart early the following day.
Day 4
After a quick breakfast in the village, we will be leaving Oncocua and heading towards Namibe. Today’s journey will be long again, with some famous stops along the way. We will make our first stop at the beautiful Serra da Leba, where we will take some time to take some beautiful pictures for our postcards. Directly after the Serra da Leba, we will make another brief stop at Mercado das Mangueiras, a market where the mucubal and guendelengues trade their hand-made coats and oil.
After these impressive places, we will continue on our way to Namibe – Moçamedes, where we will arrive in the late afternoon. At the hotel, you will have time to relax after this long journey. After lunch, we will go to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we will return to the hotel and relax for the next day.
Day 5
Today we will have a very early Breakfast and then head towards Tchitundo hulo – the mysterious stone carvings. These are the most well-known and important archaeological sites in the south-eastern part of Angola.
Then we will visit the Mucubal tribal village and their market. The most characteristic feature of this tribe are the women’s clothing traditions. The Ompota hat, with atypical and colorful patterns, and the Oyonduthi rope, which tightens their chest, are their own characteristics. We will spend another night in our tents.
Day 6
Following breakfast in the village we will return to the village of Colinas. At the town of Colinas we will be visiting the red rock canyon, and the Lagoas dos Arcos. Our next destination will be Tombwa-Tômbua (formerly known as Porto Alexandria from 1895 – 1975). This town has a nice shipwreck, fisherman’s culture, and the history of this area. We will spend some time here to get an idea of the people living in this town.
The well-known monotypic genus ‘Welchwystia Mirabilis’ is also found here. We are going to Moçamedes, where we will be on a walking tour to visit the city sights.
Day 7
Before starting our journey to the Namib Desert, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel. The Namib Desert is one of Africa’s oldest and largest deserts, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of the country.
This will be our last stop on our southward journey. If you’d like to stay in Angola longer, we can pick you up from Luanda airport and drop you off at your hotel.
