Going beyond the guidebook.
Portuguese-speaking guide
Wild camping
“It is the voyage not the ship that matters.”Angolan proverb
Although we are not going to travel by ship to Angola, the voyage (journey) that awaits will surely be epic … and that is what matters. During this 16-day journey covering 4 200 km in Angola you will be mesmerized by landscapes, different climates, rivers, cultures, and colours. You will drive over high mountains, across vast open plains, see white beaches and be engulfed by thick tropical rainforests. Angola has it all, as if each of its eighteen provinces is a different country.
Much of the landscape is dramatic, with plunging waterfalls, bizarre rock formations and deep gorges. Leba Mountain in the Huila Province rises out of the Tundavala gorge to give stunning views of the vast Namib Desert. It is not often that you will encounter huge baobab forests, mighty rivers, the legacy of Portuguese culture, impressive waterfalls, and secluded little beaches along the Atlantic, all on one tour.
Prepare yourself for a road trip of a lifetime!
Please note that the itinerary for Angola serves as an indication of the route. It will be adjusted according to local conditions and the condition of roads. There are almost no tourist facilities in the areas we will travel through, and most of the nights we will spend wild camping. It is impossible to plan exactly the distances per day and we will set up camp every day as progress allows.
Highlights
- Pedras Negras — black rock formations rising strangely out of open savanna
- Calandula Falls — 105 m high, 400 m wide, among Africa’s largest waterfalls by volume
- The Leba Pass — 1,000 m of elevation in 15 km of hairpin switchbacks
- Two nights at a lodge on the Kwanza River after a week under canvas
- Luanda’s Atlantic coastline and the turning point of the journey
- Lobito and the old Benguela railway heritage
- Bridge 14 on the Nhia River, site of the 1975 Battle of Bridge 14
- The Christ the Redeemer statue keeping watch over Lubango
- Twelve nights of wild camping in landscapes with no one else around
Sixteen days, 4,200 km, eighteen provinces.
This tour is going to be an expedition. The itinerary serves as an indication of the route, but due to bad road conditions and unforeseen circumstances the day-to-day programme may be adjusted.
Group meets — Ondangwa / Rundu
Make your way to Rundu no later than, check in and set up camp. Meet your Live the Journey guide team before dinner. Upgrade is possible to lodge accommodation for your own account. Please ask our office to assist with upgrades and extra costs, subject to the availability of rooms.
Border crossing to Huambo
Set off for an early start to Katwitwi (Rundu) border post. Once in Angola, the road follows the mighty Cubango River. Our objective is to reach the source of the Cubango River in 3 days’ time. For the next few days, we will proceed towards Huambo, which was once the headquarters of the UNITA leader, Jona Savimbi. 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. Experience your first wild camping in Angola on Days 2 & 3 en route to Huambo. On Day 3 of our journey, we hope to reach the town of Mengongue. Here we will refuel, and you will see the remnants of buildings that were affected by the war. Interestingly enough, people still live in these buildings. On Day 4 of our journey in Angola, we hope to reach our overnight spot close to Huambo.
Via Huambo to Waka Kungo and Calulo
We are heading to the city of Huambo, 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. 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. We will set up camp in the area close to Calulo.
Pedras Negras and Calandula Falls
Today we travel towards Pedras Negras, 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. En route, we will stop to show you footprints imprinted in the stones. On Day 8, we continue our journey to the north towards the Calandula Falls, 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. We will travel a bit further before we set up camp for the night.
Luanda and the Kwanza River
Baobabs line the road to Luanda, a city of five to eight million and your coastal turning point, six days of shoreline lie ahead from here. The ring road skips the worst of the traffic, then it’s a stop to refuel and restock. Two nights follow at a lodge on the Kwanza River (Resort Kianda or Rio Curinge, or similar) a great treat after all the camping days. We spend the day at the lodge with activities to keep everyone happy.
Kwanza to Lobito via Sumbe
We depart for Celes on Day 11. Working our way south to Sumbe, we will set up camp en route. On Day 12, we travel from Sumbe, Celes to Lobito, which dates back to 1843. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant to allow you to experience the rhythm and vibrance of the city. We will set up camp at Camp Alfa on the beach.
Lobito to Klofie
Leaving the boundaries of the city, we head south on Day 13. We leave the lush and green mountains behind, which are replaced by a more arid environment. The coastline is really beautiful. The beauty and natural wonders of this area are something to discover. We will camp one night close to Klofie, in a dry river-bed, if Mother Nature allows us access.
Klofie to Namibe (Moçâmedes)
We will visit the site at Klofie this morning before we depart. Our aim is to reach the beautiful harbour city of Namibe, also still referred to by the old name, Moçâmedes. Our overnight location tonight will be a wild camp, close to Colinas, but extremely special.
Namibe to Lubango via the Leba Pass
The next 2 days before we reach Ruacana, Calueque border again, 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. 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 that the Dorsland Trekkers settled in 1881. The Christ the Redeemer statue is our next sightseeing stop. The Monumento do Christo Rei keeps a watchful eye over the city of Lubango. Our last night camping in Angola will be just outside the town of Lubango.
Lubango to the Namibian border
Our journey is drawing to a close. Enjoy your last bush breakfast prepared by our team. Then it is the final stretch before we enter Namibia at the Calueque/Omahenene border post close to Ruacana. From Lubango, we will head south towards the border post of Calueque. Back in Namibia. It is time for sad-wells as we all depart in our own direction for our homebound journey! End of tour once we have crossed back into Namibia.
Everything you need to cross a country most tour operators won’t touch. Nothing you don’t.
Included
- Experienced guides and logistical team, travelling in their own vehicles
- Portuguese-speaking guide
- One night’s camping at Hakusembe River Lodge, plus dinner and breakfast there
- Two nights at Resort Kianda or Rio Curinge Lodge (or similar) on a bed and breakfast basis
- Twelve nights of wild camping, with a bush shower and toilet set up for the group each night
- 15 breakfasts and 12 dinners as per the programme
- Two-way radios for every vehicle
- All camping fees
- Concession and community fees
- Park fees
Not included
- Your 4×4 vehicle, equipped with camping gear — this is a self-drive tour
- Fuel for your vehicle
- Vaccinations, including Yellow Fever and malaria precautions
- Angolan border fee, approximately R600
- Travel and medical insurance (make sure this is sufficient before you book)
- Vehicle insurance
- All beverages and drinking water
- Lunches and snacks
- Meals in restaurants where specified in the programme (the Lobito dinner, two lodge dinners at Kwanza)
- Upgrades to lodge accommodation from wild camping
- Tips and gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa costs (South African passport holders do not require a visa)
Two scheduled departures in 2027.
Per adult sharing: R38,950. Single supplement: R5,500. Minimum group size: 18 travellers, for this departure to run.
Prices for concession fees, taxes, and park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control, and any increase levied will be for the traveller’s account.
Use a currency converter for an approximate figure in your local currency, noting that the final cost is determined by the exchange rate at the time of confirmation and payment.