ANGOLA

When you travel to Angola you will discover a country full of natural, scenic, cultural, ethnographic and heritage attractions.

The country also offers a wide range of tourism opportunities and is easy to navigate with an acceptable infrastructure.

Aware of this richness, we have decided to go on trips to Angola with more objectives than the classic one associated with this country, which is to photograph the tribal world.

In addition to group outings, we offer private trips for the months of July, August, September and October, when the pistes can be used due to the dry season. If you are interested, please ask us for the technical sheet with all the details, writing to info@kumakonda.com

  • Duration: 13 days
  • Departure: Luanda
  • Arrival: Luanda
  • Price: 1 person 5.200€ / 2 persons 3.900€
  • Planned itinerary
    • Luanda – Lubango
    • Lubango – Mumhuila villages
    • Oncocua – Muhakahona and Muhimba villages
    • Route to Espinheira (Himba and Mucahona tribes)
    • Iona National Park / Cunene River
    • Tachitundo Hundo / Virey – Mucubal and Mucui tribes
    • Lodge in a desert beach
    • Mocamedes – Luanda
trips to Angola

That said, here is an introduction to what Angola has to offer:

The spectacular Namib Desert

The Namib Desert stretches between southern Angola and Namibia. Considered the oldest desert on the planet, it is made up of towering dunes that end in the sea, providing a spectacular contrasting landscape.

On the Angolan side is Iona National Park, which is 200 km from Mocamedes and forms part of the northern tip of the Namib.

This is the largest nature reserve in the country and is a region that holds some of the most spectacular scenery in Angola and along the entire West African coast.

Iona National Park has 160 km of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, from Tombua to Foz de Cunene. It is a brutal stretch of dunes and desert that often ends abruptly at the Atlantic.

trips to Angola

The Doodsakker section, in particular, runs between the narrow strip of land between the towering dunes and the sea. These deserted beaches are only accessible at low tide and at full moon or new moon, when the waters recede the most.

And it’s not just dizzying scenery to see and experience in Iona National Park. There is also wildlife. From jackals and gazelles, and even zebras and hyenas if you’re lucky, to sea lion colonies and hundreds of thousands of birds… if you travel at the right time of year.

Black Cormoran Angola
Colonies of cormorants, gulls and flamingos – Trips to Angola

At Kumakonda we have prioritised the expedition to Iona National Park and Ilha dos Tigres, discussed below, on our recent trips. We will continue to do so.

Ilha dos Tigres

Ilha dos Tigres is situated just off the coast of the Namib Desert and is one of those places where time seems to stand still.

All that remains are the ruins of the village of São Martinho dos Tigres, which at the time of Angola’s independence in 1973 had 400 houses and just over a thousand people.

The population of Ilha dos Tigres, located in a place with rich fishing grounds, lived from fishing-related activities such as fish drying and fishmeal production.

São Martinho dos Tigres
Ilha dos Tigres – trips to Angola

After independence and the subsequent departure of the Portuguese settlers, Ilha dos Tigres was forgotten, as the harsh climatic conditions and lack of drinking water made life unviable.

Today it can be visited if the weather and currents are good. It should not be forgotten that to reach this isolated place it is necessary to take into account the tides, winds, waves and moons, and to take a minimum of two 4×4 cars for safety, as well as a boat to cross to the island.

But wandering the deserted streets and abandoned houses not so long ago, as well as spending the night within their ghostly walls, makes up for the challenge.

👉🏽 You can read more and see more pictures in our article about Ilha dos Tigres.

Abandoned construction on Ilha dos Tigres - Trips to Angola
Abandoned construction on Ilha dos Tigres – Trips to Angola
African Parks Angola
Sea lions – Trips to Angola

Foz do Cunene

The Foz do Cunene is the mouth of the Cunene River into the sea, which in turn marks the border between Angola and Namibia.

This place forms a unique landscape and ecosystem. The river winds its way through a canyon of rocks and dunes, hot springs pools and… crocodile colonies near the mouth.

The walks through this unique landscape and the fact of camping in these places make us feel like explorers of the old days. It is without a doubt one of our favourite places in Angola.

From the Foz do Cunene we can go back into the Iona National Park and explore the spectacular hinterland on a circular route.

Foz do Cunene – Trips to Angola

Tunda Vala Gorge

The Tunda Vala Gorge is one of the country’s iconic images. It dominates the highlands of the Lubango region and towers over 2,000 metres above sea level.

On the same route are the famous curves of the Sierra de Leva road, another of Angola’s most spectacular sights.

trips to Angola
Road curves in the Sierra de Leva – travel to Angola

Kalandula Falls and Pedras Negras

In the northeast of the country, in the province of Malanje, there are two natural landmarks worth visiting: the Karandula Falls and the Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo.

The spectacular Kalandula Falls are the second largest waterfalls in Africa after the Victoria Falls.

They are over 100 metres high and 400 metres wide. Undoubtedly a vision of nature that leaves an indelible memory, with the rainy season being the best time to see them, due to the increase in their flow.

kalandula falls trips to Angola
Kalandula Falls – Trips to Angola

The Black Stones of Pungo Andongo are a series of huge monolithic rocks, with a geological age of several million years.

Some are said to be shaped like animals of the savannah, but we are more interested in the sacred character attributed to them by the Mubundu, the majority ethnic group in the region.

Cabinda or Tchiowa

Cabinda is also known as the Portuguese Congo and is one of the 18 provinces of Angola.

In Cabinda there is a series of sacred hills where the Bakama do Tchizo shrine is located.

Attending the mask ceremony of the secret society of the Bakama, one of the nuclei of the spiritual power of the natives of south-central Cabinda and beyond, is an experience that leaves no one indifferent.

Likumbi Mya Mize Ceremony

Tribes of Angola

In the tribal south of Angola there are a lot of different ethnic groups, and we are more than likely to meet them on our routes. In fact, on our trips to Angola we always try to share some of our nights with them.

Muila

The Muila are herdsmen and farmers who continue to practice their animist religion, which revolves around the worship of the sacred bull.

Moreover, their women maintain a very original aesthetic: they wear large coloured necklaces that cover their bodies and part of their chests, and a fantasy hairstyle by smearing their hair with a paste made from crushed stone.

Muila woman with her characteristic necklaces and hairstyle covered with the paste they make for it – trips to Angola

Mucubal

The Mucubal are the largest tribe of Bantu origin in Angola and are semi-nomadic.

They live around Virey, on the edge of the Namib Desert, a very arid place that forces them to live on the move. The search for water and pasture for their livestock is their main need. It is not uncommon to find abandoned villages or villages where only children and old people are left.

The Mucubal are believed to have arrived in the Namib Desert after a long migration from the Great Lakes Region during the 16th century.

Mucubal men at the door of one of their homes – Trips to Angola

Mugambue

This tribe, also of Bantu origin, lives its present day between tradition and modernity.

Thus, it is not unusual to see how they mix traditional aesthetics with Western clothing. For example, the girls wear bras that match their colourful necklaces.

On the other hand, they are characterised by being very sociable and fun-loving.

Mugambe girl dancing -trips to Angola

Muhimba

The Muhimba are the same tribe as the famous Himba of Namibia who are found on the other side of the Cunene River in the Kaokoland region.

The Muhimba are a semi-nomadic people whose main occupation is cattle herding. In times of drought, they are forced to move away from their usual places, as are other ethnic groups in the region.

One of the aspects that have made them most famous is their aesthetics, both in hairstyles and in the care of women’s skin.

Muhimba and Himba women smear their bodies with ochre powder mixed with animal fat, and only wash their bodies two or three times a year. Their skin is left shiny and perfect with this ointment and, apart from aesthetics, they use it to protect themselves from the sun and mosquitoes.

As with the Mugambe, they tend to be open and friendly.

Muhimba woman – trips to Angola

Cities of Angola

Although they are not the main purpose of our travels in Angola, it is essential to pass through some of the cities we find on our route. Of these, we would highlight:

  • Luanda, the capital: a dynamic centre that mixes modern skyscrapers with Portuguese colonial architecture. Among its main attractions are the São Miguel  Fortress, the Mausoleum of Agostinho Neto and the beaches of the Ilha de Luanda, ideal for relaxation and water activities. In addition, there is the National Museum of Slavery, which provides an insight into the country’s historical past and its cultural impact.
  • The lovely Mocamedes, with a beautiful historic centre full of colourfully painted colonial houses, is always a pleasure to stroll through.
  • Lubango, the capital of Huila province, is where most of Angola’s tribes are concentrated on market days.
Skyline of Luanda
Luanda – trips to Angola
mocamedes ciudad city of Angola
A street in Mocamedes – trips to Angola

Angolan gastronomy

Last but not least, we would like to highlight Angola’s gastronomy, which incorporates Portuguese and Brazilian influences mixed with African cuisine.

The result is a varied, tasty, aromatic cuisine that contrasts sharply with that of other countries in the region. From grilled meat and fish to rice dishes with seafood, meat and fish stews accompanied by vegetables… we can say that eating is a pleasure in Angola.

Selling seafood at a market of Angola
Selling seafood at a market – trips to Angola

As Angola opens up to the rest of the world, more and more travellers are becoming interested in the wonderful landscapes and unique tribal groups it has to offer, so don’t miss out on our trips to Angola.

The next group expedition will be in November 2025 and you can contact us for more information at any time.

About to embark to Ilha dos Tigres – travel to Angola

    Information request

    If you prefer, you can contact us directly by writing to info@kumakonda.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

    Other destinations

    Likumbi Mya Mize Ceremony

    2900€ / Person

    Zambia, Likumbi Lya Mize and Kulamba ceremonies in August 2025

    17 August -
    31 August 2025
    Ilha da Baia dos Tigres​

    3600€ / Person

    Angola, tribes and Baia dos Tigres Expedition / November 2025 – 12 days

    17 November -
    28 November 2025