YPT Tours to Angola

Our Angola tours are unique and also the gateway to many other interesting countries in Western and Southern Africa. For years Angola was infamous for its very hard-to-get visa. As of October 2023, the visa on arrival scheme in Angola has been extended to a whopping 98 countries in a move that is expected to help boost tourist numbers to the Southern African nation.

Angola was a Portuguese possession from 1575 until its independence in 1975. It has gone through a communist regime and most recently a bitter civil war, and has been renowned for just how difficult it was to get a visa. While things had slowly started to get better for the nation, the first announcement of new tourist visa policy in 2018 was slightly unexpected. 

Since the visa was so difficult to obtain for Angola and the fees for any tourist activities were hefty, most tourists stayed away from the country. Things are slowly changing now, but it’s still way off the tourist trail compared to its neighbouring countries. Expect curious faces, unspoiled tourist attractions and a unique travel experience. 

Angola may not be known for its incredible nature or famous local tribes, but that’s mostly because no-one ever goes there and tells you about it! Just outside Luanda is the Kissama National Park. The park is just a few hours from Luanda but feels already like a world apart. Wildlife (giraffes, elephants, zebras) and the incredible Moon Viewpoint make this one of the best parks in the whole country. In the middle of Angola, you will find the mighty Kalandula Falls, which are some of the best in Africa. 

The South of Angola is mostly famous for its local tribes. Here, you go back in time and are able to experience real Angolan village life. Traditions are still a big part of the culture here.

And last but not least, it’s truly a real YPT destination. Expect propaganda artwork at the Military Museum, no tourists, off the beaten track tours, Shipwreck Beach, street art, a great night life, a train ride and of course Marxist heritage. This country is a truly unforgettable destination and one should not forget about Cabinda, the resources-rich exclave of the Republic of Angola. The Angolan flag bears a machete and a gear wheel emblem, making it one of YPT’s favorite flags. As well as discovering the cultures of those seldom-visited places, you’ll see how the three countries got divided by the European colonizers who drew their borders.

Group Tours to Angola

YPT runs group tours to Angola as part of our Carnival in Africa Tour or our combined Congo, DRC & Angola Cabinda Tour.

Carnival in Africa – Angola Tour – March 2^nd-March 17^th/25^th 2025 – €2145 – €4395

Congo, DRC & Angola Cabinda Tour – December 2^nd to December 8^th/12^th, 2025 – €2345/€4995

Independent Tours to Angola

YPT can arrange Angola tours deep into the country, leveraging on its network of local partners. Our Angola tour can be combined with our São Tomé and Príncipe Tour, as well as options for DRC and Gabon. Make the most out of your visit to Africa and combine both tours. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent Angola tour.

Below is an example Angola tour. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent tours.

Example of a 5-day Angola Itinerary 

Day 1 – Arrival in Luanda

• Arrive at your convenience into Luanda, the largest and capital city of Angola which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe.
• Meet your local guide at arrival and transfer to our hotel to relax and freshen up.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner at a lively local restaurant which serves delicious sea food.
• Overnight stay in Luanda.

Day 2 – Luanda

• Breakfast at the hotel before we explore Fortaleza de Sao Miguel. Built during the Dutch Loango-Angola era, the fortress now serves as a military museum consisting of Angolan military hardware and destroyed South African armoured trucks and helicopters from the civil war.
• We’ll take an epic group photo at the gateway of the fortress which looks a lot like Soviet or North Korean mosaics.
• Independence Square, where the first president of Angola declared independence from the Portuguese. There’s massive statue of Antonio Augustinho Neto with mosaics depicting Angola’s road to freedom.
• Visit the Iron Palace, locally known as Palácio de Ferro. The wild history surrounding the origin of the building is still unclear, as no officials records exists. It was supposedly designed by Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel tower. The pre-built palace was found on a grounded ship off the Angolan coast.
• Visit a concrete wall located by the highway to catch some amazing street art. The art scene is a big deal in Luanda and there is often a political touch to it favouring the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).
• Drive through the government area, which was reserved for the politically elite and military.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town . You can try the freshly caught grilled fish, alongside beans and rice.
• Visit the Old Colonial Church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, built on the 4 de Fevereiro Avenue.
• Visit the Monument to the Kifangondo Battle, that sealed the fate of Angola. Our local military guide will explain the importance of this spot in the struggle for the independence of Angola.
• You’ll have time to visit the museum and ask questions. This is a very important and emotional site for Angolans and Cubans, where delegates come to place flowers.
• We’ll head to the Slavery Museum, where countless slaves were baptised before being transported to the Americas – a dark stain on Portuguese history.
• For those wishing to pick up a few souvenir, we’ll head to the craft market.
• Overnight stay in Lunda.

Day 3 – Luanda – N‘dalatando – Kalandula Falls

• Early morning start with breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• We’ll begin our scenic road trip to Kalandula Falls, one of the most stunning waterfalls in the world. This horseshoe shaped waterfall, 105-metre-high and 400-metre-wide, is one of the largest in volume on the continent.
• On the way, you’ll truly get a sense of rural Angola as we take rest stops in small villages to break up the journey.

Afternoon

• Stop at N’dalatando for lunch and to stretch our legs.
• Continue driving along the scenic journey to Kalandula Falls.
• On arrival, we’ll check you into what we believe to be one of the most amazing lodges in the whole of Africa.
• We’ll head straight out to explore the small town which boasts amazing street art, a perfect opportunity to take some awesome pictures.
• We’ll take a short drive to Kalandula Falls and spend some time there to appreciate the spectacular natural wonder.
• Dinner and much deserved drinks at our lodge after a long day.
• Overnight stay in Kalandula Falls.

Day 4 – Kalandula Falls – Kwanza River – Malanje

• Breakfast at the lodge.
• This morning, you’ll have the opportunity to admire Kalandula Falls from another view. We’ll take a hike through the foliage down to the base of the waterfall, where you’ll really be able to appreciate its splendour and power.
• We’ll begin our drive to Malanje, stopping on the way at the rapids of the Kwanza River. The Angolan currency name derives from this mighty river.
• We’ll walk around the village, meet the locals and learn more about how rural life in Angola is and how they survive with what the river provides them.
• If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to see tribal dancing, something that was almost wiped out with the introduction of Christianity.
• Before arriving in Malanje, keep an eye out for leftover Soviet tanks hidden in the farm fields. It’s not an YPT trip without taking an epic group photo on a tank!
• On arrival to the hotel, we’ll check in and head to the pool before dinner.
• Overnight stay in Malanje

Day 5 – Malanje – Luanda

• Breakfast at hotel before we check out.
• We’ll begin our epic road trip back to the heart and capital of Angola, stopping along the way for photo opportunities.
• We’ll visit the Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo. These giant black stones were a place of resistance surrounded by mystery and magic against the Portuguese colonizers.

Afternoon

• Arrive into Luanda. Freshen up at our hotel before we head out for dinner and to explore the nightlife. We highly recommend trying the local specialty moamba de galinha, also known as muamba chicken.
• Overnight stay in Luanda

Day 5 – Luanda – Lubango

• Explore the Mausoleum of Antonio Augustinho Neto. Neto served as Angola’s first president from 1975 until his death in1979, after Angola secured its independence from the Portuguese. Built in 2012, it occupies the centre of Luanda taking up 4,633 square miles. This beautiful brutalist architecture towers over the capital and is said to reference a spaceship, which the locals jokingly refer to as “Sputnik”. However, the deeper connection is to Neto’s poem “The Path of Stars”.
• Lunch at our favourite bbq restaurant which serves the best piri-piri chicken in Luanda. There are also vegetarian options available.
• We’ll make our way to the airport and board our afternoon flight heading south to Lubango.
• On arrival, we’ll head straight out to explore the second largest city in Angola.
• Visit the Tundavala Gap, an amazing viewpoint on the edge of the Serra da Leba cliff. The escarpment marks the most western limit of Bié Plateau.
• Visit the local famous Christo Rei Statue. It’s not just carnival that Angola has in common with Rio! Built in 1957, it stands 30 metres tall and is one of only four in the world.
• We’ll hit the town for dinner and a few refreshing drinks.
• Overnight stay in a Lubango.

From here you can join us further onto deeper parts of the country in Southern Angola with places such as Chibia, Oncocua, Namibe, or venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to Angola

As part of our travel packages within Central and Southern Africa, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to Angola. These can be done as full Angola tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Safari in Angola

Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the national parks of Angola like Iona or Kissama, offering unique Safari opportunities. For the adventurous and inquisitive traveller, this stunning African country offers an unparalleled experience of breathtaking tropical forests and distinctive deserts, creating the ideal holiday destination. The diverse array of wildlife, including giraffes, oryxes, zebras, gazelles, ostriches, klipspringers, and quelengues, makes Iona an exceptional destination to explore.

Angola Coastal Exploration

Boasting a long and beautiful coastline surrounded by wildly different landscapes, a coastal exploration tour around Angola is far from the usual. Golden sands and azure water are one thing, but pink dunes, the Oasis of Arco, the Red Canyon, mysterious Tigres Island, or the viewpoint of the Serra da Leba Pass are yet another while heading down south from Luanda. 

Angola to DRC Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Luanda and its surroundings we will then head to Kinshasa, the capital city of DRC. We offer an in-depth exploration of Kinshasa, one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. Furthermore, you’ll meet the “Sapeurs”, known for their stylish fashion and unique lifestyle, and visit an interesting religious sect found in Gondo village. Its followers wear sackcloths and ashes from burnt palm leaves.

Kwanza River Tour

Starting at the Kwanza River bar, one of Angola and Africa’s largest rivers, which spans approximately 900 kilometers. The Kwanza River is renowned among sport fishing enthusiasts. It also offers a boat safari, allowing visitors to observe a diverse array of bird species, including river guards, palm vultures, and the magnificent African osprey.

Underground Angola Tours

Luanda, Lubango, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and underground and dark tourism tours to Angola. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Filming in Angola

Through our media arm Pioneer Media we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within Angola from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.

Frequently asked Questions about travel to Angola

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