Faces de Angola

DAY 01: Group meets in Ondangwa

Plan your trip to arrive in Ondangwa no later than 16h00 on this day. Set up camp.
It is possible to check-in from 14h00.

Remember to fill up on fuel before checking in. Also use the time to stock up on firewood and all lunch time snacks, drinks and drinking water. There will NOT be time tomorrow morning for this.

18h00 Meet your Live the Journey guide team before dinner.

19h00 Enjoy dinner with the guide team and your fellow tour members. The guides will also give a tour briefing and assist guests with the process to exchange ZAR/N$ to Kwanzas.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Ondula Village Homestead Lodge
Meals included: Dinners prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

**Upgrade is possible to lodge accommodation for own account. Please ask our office to assist with upgrades and extra costs, subject to availability of rooms.

DAY 02 - 03: Border – Huambo

Day 2 … after we have enjoyed breakfast at the lodge, we will make an early start for the Santa Clara/Oshikango border post, the main border post between Namibia and Angola. Crossing the border into Angola is always a time-consuming process. One of our guide team is fluent in Portuguese and will assist to ensure that this process is as hassle-free as possible.

Some of the roads is in bad condition with lots of potholes, but this will gradually improve. Currently, the roads are under construction with one of the contractors being the former Springbok rugby captain, Gary Teichman.

For the next few days, we will proceed towards Huambo, which was once the headquarters of the Unita leader, Jona Savimbi. Many battles took place here in the south of Angola during the Bush War. Angola is in the process of removing the remnants of the 40-year war, but it is still possible to see skeletons of war equipment. The environment is also very beautiful, and as we move closer to Huambo, the Angolan landscape is constantly changing. Angola is known for an abundance of rivers and water, and we will see these as we progress and get a good idea of what awaits.

For 40-years Angola was a war zone (ended in 2002). The area that we will pass through in the next couple of days was a hot spot during the war. The South African forces were active in the area with a number of operations. War remnants are gradually being removed, but you will still see some weaponry along the roadside.

Experience your first wild camping in Angola on Day 2 & 3 enroute to Huambo.

On Day 3, the second day of our journey in Angola, we hope to reach our overnight spot close to Huambo.

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: 1 Breakfast at Ongula Lodge and other Breakfast and Dinners prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded).

DAY 06 - 07: Pedras Negras, Calandula Waterfalls

We leave the coffee plantations behind on Day 6 and travel to Pedras Negras. Pedra Negras is arguably one of the most beautiful places in Angola, in the heart of the Angolan Highlands. Here you will find a series of mysterious rock formations called the Black Rocks. Geologically, the rocks are a mystery – they are hard sedimentary conglomerates but are out of character with the surrounding topography. Many of these rock formations are shaped in the form of animals, standing high above the flat African Savanna. We will hike a short distance up a hill for a beautiful view of the surroundings. En route we will stop to show you footprints imprinted in the stones. This supports the myth of a princess that bathed and when soldiers approached her, she fled.

On Day 7 we continue our journey to the north towards the Calandula Falls. The Calandula Falls is an awe-inspiring sight and said to be Africa’s second or third largest waterfall. The 105-meter-high / 400 m wide waterfall is a spectacular site and will take your breath away when looking at the mighty force with which water plunges down to form mist giving the area a mystical feel. Our campsite tonight is close to the Calandula Falls. (Upgrading is possible to hotel rooms at own cost).

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

**Possibility to upgrade to rooms for the night at Calandula (upgrade own account).

There are old lodges that are now starting to open up again, nothing modern or luxurious. Expect it to be very expensive for old and basic accommodation. But it will be a room instead of a tent, so the option is there!

DAY 04 - 05: Via Huambo to Waka Kungo and coffee area

We are heading to the city of Huambo on Day 4. Huambo is the second largest city in Angola and was formally known as Nova Lisboa. Huambo was at one point during the war a stronghold of the guerrilla fighter, Jonas Savimbi. From here we will start to encounter more traffic. We are heading to the town of Waka Kungo located in a beautiful and very fertile area.

The next day, Day 5 we will pass the famous Bridge 14 (Brug 14), over the Nhia River. In 1975 during Operation Savannah the South African forces pushed the Cuban forces back over the Nhia River after the famous Battle of Bridge 14.

The MPLA forces sabotaged the bridge and destroyed it. Within no time, the South African forces had it rebuild. It was important to have a bridge over the river as the main battlefield was along the road due to the impenetrable marshy conditions of the area.

We will drive over a new bridge that crosses the Nhia River, but the remains of the old steel bridge that was built by the South African forces are still visible.

We should also be able to see white and red markers on trees which indicates the possibility of minefields beyond the trees. These are the remains left by demining teams when cleaning the area. There are still demining teams working on removing some of the last mines that can still be found in remote parts of Angola.

We are on our way to a traditional deserted Coffee Farm and will start seeing the remains of old coffee plantations. Coffee is one of Angola’s most important agricultural products. Prior to independence in 1975, coffee production in Angola reached about 230 000 tons per year, making Angola the fourth largest coffee-producing nation in the world. You will have the chance to buy some local coffee, subject to availability. (Upgrading is possible to hotel rooms at own cost).

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

**Possibility to upgrade to rooms for night at coffee farm (upgrade own account).

There are old lodges that are now starting to open up again, nothing modern or luxurious. Expect it to be very expensive for old and basic accommodation. But it will be a room instead of a tent, so the option is there!

DAY 08 - 09: Luanda - Kwanza

Our aim is to reach Luanda on Day 8 of our journey. The roadside scenery from Calandula to Luanda is beautiful with massive baobab trees.

You will reach the beautiful Angolan coastline here at Luanda. It is also the turning point of the tour and for the next 6 days, we will explore the stunning coastline. But first we must tackle the traffic of Luanda. We will take the Ring Road around the city to avoid the traffic jams in the city center. It is a busy city with a population of between 5 and 8 million. The gap between poor and rich is huge and one will experience some of this. The daughter of ex-President dos Santos, Isabel dos Santos, became the richest woman in Africa in 2020.

We will stop at a big shopping complex to refuel and replenish stock for the next couple of days. Our destination for Day 8 & 9 is Rio Curinge Lodge, a beautiful lodge on the banks of the Kwanza River. Tonight, you will be spoiled with lodge accommodation. The 2 nights at Rio Curinge Lodge will be a great treat after all the camping days. The day at the lodge can be spent just relaxing or going on a boat trip on the breathtaking Kwanza River (at own expense). For people interested in golf - there is a beautiful golf course close to the lodge. On previous tours clients really enjoyed a round of golf (for your own account).

Dinners at the lodge is excluded from your package and will be for own account, the hotel has a A ‘La Carte menu only to choose from. It is also possible to enjoy one of the dinners at a nearby restaurant.

O/N Lodge: Rooms at Rio Curinga Lodge or similar
Meals included: Bed and Breakfast at Lodge (All drinks excluded and for your own account)
Excluded 2 x Dinners at Rio Curinge Lodge’s A la Carte restaurant for your own account

DAY 10 - 11: Kwanza to Celes, Lobito

After breakfast at the lodge, we will depart for Celes on Day 10.

Working our way south via Sumbe, crossing the Keve River, we want to reach the Kumbira Forest, if possible, depending on our driving speed and the road conditions. Kumbira Forest is under government protection and serves as an educational example to the locals of how-to live-in harmony with the forest and to protect it. We will set up camp enroute, if possible high on top of a mountain, promising to deliver quite a sight.

On Day 11 we travel from Seles to Lobito which dates back to 1843. Lobito is an important seaport and the beginning (or end) of the Benguela railway line. During the colonial era the town was the playground of rich Portuguese and the remains of some of these beautiful holiday houses are evidence of this. The town was well-known for its carnivals and prosperity.

Today Lobito represents a very modern part of Angola with many ships and oil rigs in the harbour. The peninsula with its nightlife and variety of small restaurants makes it ideal for a stopover. Here you will receive a chance to relax on the beach and enjoy the atmosphere.

Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant to allow you to experience the rhythm and vibrance of the city (tonight’s dinner is excluded from your package and will be for own account at a local restaurant).

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Both Breakfast and 1 x Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)
Excluded 1 x Dinner in Lobito at a local restaurant for your own account.

DAY 13: Klofie to Namibe

Our aim is to reach the beautiful harbour city of Namibe on Day 13. The city was founded in 1842 and until 1985 had the name of Mocamedes. Namibe is officially the start (or end?) of the Namib Desert. It has a dry climate with arid vegetation. Namibe has the third largest port in Angola,
after Luanda and Lobito. It is also the terminus of the Namibe Railway. The town has a gigantic market where you can buy nearly anything. You will have the opportunity to spend some time shopping there. Our overnight location tonight will be a wild camp, but extremely special.

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 12: Lobito to Klofie

Leaving the boundaries of city, we head south on Day 12. We leave the lush and green mountains behind, which is replaced by a more arid environment. The coastline is really beautiful. There will be an opportunity for fisherman to cast their lines if the tide allows. The beauty and natural wonders of this area is something to discover.

We will camp one night close to Klofie. Here the group can really enjoy the beautiful coastline and warm water and also fish for those who want to!

O/N Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 15: Santa Clara Border to Namibia

Our journey is drawing to a close. Enjoy your last bush breakfast prepared by our team. Then it is the final stretch before we will enter Namibia at Santa Clara border. From Lubango, we will head south towards the border post of Santa Clara. We will cross the border by midday. You will be back in Namibia. It is time for sad farewells as we all depart in our own direction for our homebound journey!

Meals included: Breakfast prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

END OF TOUR ONCE WE CROSSED BACK INTO NAMIBIA.

DAY 14: Namibe, Leba Pass, Lubango

It is time to bid the coastline of Angola farewell as our journey to the Namibian border begins. The next 2 days before we reach Santa Clara border again, on 24 May, will be full of highlights. First on the agenda is the spectacular Leba Pass with its awesome hairpin bends and waterfalls. It is a road construction masterpiece with an elevation of 1 000 m within 15 km.

The pass is the gateway from the coast to the interior and the city of Lubango. During the Bush War the South-African forces had several attempts to sabotage the road that would have cut off the supply line from the coast, but they never succeeded. It is believed that the pass was designed by a Portuguese lady who passed away on the day that the construction of the road was completed.

After the Leba Pass it is about 20 km before reaching the town of Humpata. This town has a strong South African connection as it was here where the Dorsland Trekkers settled in 1881. Humpata was a prosperous little town where the South Africans enjoyed farming the fertile soil. Visiting the Dorsland Trekker cemetery will be memorable as you will recognise surnames like Alberts, van der Merwe and de Jager.

The Christ the Redeemer statue is our next sightseeing stop. The Monumento do Christo Rei keeps a watchful eye over the city of Lubango. The white marble statue is 30 meters high and situated on a hill near the city. The statue is a smaller version of the one in Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon.

Our last stop for the day is at Tundavala, 5 km outside of Lubango. Standing on this cliff you can imagine that the earth has split open here. On a clear day you can see the Namib Desert. It is a beautiful tranquil place, but 50 years ago during the Angolan Civil War MPLA soldiers executed deserters and dispose of the bodies by throwing it in the gorge. The gorge at Tundavala drops
1 200 m to the floor of the plateau which creates a very impressive view.

Weather permitting our last camp in Angola will be near Tundavala promising an amazing view. If the weather does not play its part, we will look for an alternative. On our last night there is a possibility for a last restaurant dinner (own account).

O/N: Wild camping: In the wild NO Facilities (LTJ team to set up basic bush shower and toilet facility)
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)
Possibility of the last dinner at a restaurant but it is for your own account.