Trip to Angola, tribes and the Namib Desert with Baia dos Tigres
A trip to Angola that seamlessly combines tribal (culture), brutal landscapes, wildlife in Iona National Park and Portuguese colonial heritage in the ghost town of Sao Martinho dos Tigres and Mocamedes. An expedition through the Namib Desert to the remote enclave of Ilha dos Tigres and Foz de Cunene where we will hike.
After exploring the oldest desert in the world, we will continue with a visit to some of the most representative tribes of southern Angola such as the Mucubal, Himbas and Muilas. If we are lucky we might be able to attend some kind of ceremony as in 2024 where we witnessed a circumcision ritual.
The highlight of this trip to Angola will be crossing the Iona National Park through the Doodsakker Pass to reach the Tigers Bay and then by boat to the Ilha dos Tigres, where we will find an old Portuguese ghost town abandoned decades ago (and where we will spend the night) and also where we will be able to watch and play with hundreds of sea lions, thousands and thousands of birds and maybe with luck also whales.
This will be an incredible journey through the Namib Desert enjoying the spectacular landscapes of dunes and sea.
This trip will take place at the best possible time of the year as we will have the opportunity to see a huge number of sea lions together with their babies during our coastal route.
From Foz de Cunene, the natural border between Angola and Namibia, we will head inland to the Iona. In a spectacular enclave next to the river, we will spend a whole day hiking and calmly enjoying landscapes of incredible beauty.
From Foz de Cunene we will go back up to Lubango via Virey. On this stretch of the journey we will see tribes such as Mucubal and Himbas and near Lubango, Muilas.
Angola, an exciting destination
The years that plunged Angola into the chaos of war are long gone. On this trip to Angola you will discover that this is a serious country, comfortable to visit, with decent infrastructure, a friendly population and immense tourist potential. We travel with an exceptional local team and we guarantee that the food is rich and plentiful with meat dishes (game, chicken, beef) and fresh fish.
Modernity is making its way into the major cities: Luanda, Lubango and Lobito but not far from any of them there is an ancestral and tribal world that remains alive.
Nature is overwhelming in places like the Namib Desert, which we will explore. Of course, as usual on our travels, we will continuously sample the local food and we’re going out to party in the capital cities.
Iona National Park
Iona National Park is located 200km from Namibe in southern Angola and forms part of the northern tip of the Namib. This is the country’s largest nature reserve, and is a region that holds some of the most fantastic scenery you’ll see on this trip to Angola.
This park has 160 km of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, from Tombua to Foz de Cunene, and that coastline is a spectacular stretch of dunes and desert that ends abruptly at the Atlantic on many occasions. Incidentally, this marine area is in the process of becoming Angola’s first coastal protected area.
Baia dos Tigres
From Tombua, the last town, a three-hour 4×4 journey through the desert to Baia dos Tigres awaits us. A spectacular journey through dunes and desert beach to reach one of the most remote and isolated places on the West African coast. We have to drive half of the famous Doodsakker, a treacherous stretch that can only be done at low tide.
Visiting Ilha dos Tigres, a passion for abandoned places
Weather permitting we will take a boat from the Namib coast to the Ilha dos Tigres where we will walk through the deserted village with its old colonial buildings.
Foz de Cunene
Continue to Foz de Cunene (mouth of the Cunene River), the natural border with Namibia, another outstanding part of the journey where breathtaking scenery awaits. After a day of walking along the Cunene River, we will head inland to Iona National Park. From Espinheira we will try to visit some Himba villages.
Southern tribal Angola
In the tribal south of Angola there are a lot of different tribes, some of which we are sure to meet on our route. In the vicinity of Iona National Park there are some Himba settlements. Further north towards Virey you will see Mucubal settlements. Not far from Lubango live the Muila. We are likely to see these three different tribes on our Angola road trip.
Most Angolan tribes pay special attention to their appearance. Hairstyles, jewellery, attire, colours… they reveal a fascinating sense of aesthetics.
Travel to Angola to discover its colonial heritage
The streets of Mocamedes are painted in bright colours and it is a delight to stroll through them, chat with the locals and have a good beer from time to time in some of the tavernas. In Mocamedes, we’ll also stay in a pleasant colonial house that has been converted into a basic guesthouse. We will also stop in Chivia, another beautiful village with colonial architecture, and of course we will discover Luanda, the capital.
Camping in amazing places
During this trip to Angola we will be camping in very well selected locations. We will spend 4 nights in the Iona National Park, each night will be spectacular. Our locations will be the immense Namib dunes by the sea, the interior of an old colonial building in Ilha dos Tigres, the banks of the Cunene River and a semi-nomadic Himba population, what do you think?
If you want to sign up for this trip, don’t hesitate to ask us for the route and the rest of the details – Angola does not disappoint! 😊
