Sunday 11^th February – Luanda – Pre Tour Extension: Cabinda Exclave Group €595

• Arrive at your convenience into Luanda – the capital city of Angola which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe.
• Airport transfer to our hotel can be arranged for €40, check into hotel, and freshen up
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Dinner and overnight in Luanda

Monday 12^th February – Luanda – Cabinda Exclave 

Morning

• Wake up early and head to the airport to board our 1 hour flight departing at 7:00am to the exclave of Cabinda – Cabinda is of special interest to YPT as both an exclave and having had an independence movement for quite some time. The area is rich in oil and is one of the wealthiest parts of the country.
• On arrival you’ll go straight onto a city tour of Cabinda, first stop is the 1^st of May Park.
• Visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception

Afternoon

• Lunch in town, and visit the central market where Cabinda Tree bark is most famously sold – it’s said to help prevent heart attacks, cancer, and diabetes. But the most common use of the tree bark is that it ‘powerfully’ increases your sexual performance according to locals.
• Photo opportunity at the Monument to the Treaty of Simulambuco – the treaty was signed back in 1885 by representatives of the Portuguese government and officials in the N’Goyo Kingdom. In contrast to the violent struggles between the Portuguese and Mozambique, the colonization of Cabinda was peaceful.
• Drive out and visit the DR Congo border and some smaller villages. Although we can’t cross the border, we’ll take a look here at one of the most dangerous border crossings of Africa.
• Head back to the airport for our 5:00pm return flight to Luanda.
• Dinner and overnight in Luanda.

Tuesday 13^th February – Luanda – Carnival

Morning

• Pre-tour Cabinda Extension concludes and those signed up for Group A continue on.
• Group A members – Arrive at your convenience into Luanda, Airport transfer to our hotel, check in and freshen up.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Explore Fortaleza de Sao Miguel – a military museum consisting of mostly propaganda which resembles a lot to the USSR and North Korea
• Visit the Iron Palace – local art scene with a wild history surrounding the origin of the building. It was supposedly designed by Gustav Eiffel and was supposedly found on the beach.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town and try a local famous dish of Moamba de galinha
• Visit the Old Colonial Church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré – built on the well-known 4 de Fevereiro Avenue
• We might be in Africa, but Luanda is just as famous in Africa for its carnival as Rio is in South America! We’ll get involved as much as possible and partake in the festivities around the city.
• Visit a concrete wall located by the highway to catch some amazing street art – it’s a big deal in Luanda and often there’s a political touch to it.
• Hit the town for a good feed and explore the vibrant nightlife on this special day.
• Overnight at hotel

Wednesday 14^th February – Luanda – N‘dalatando – Kalandula Falls

Morning

• Early wake up and head to Luanda railway station.
• Board an Angolan train for a 7 hour journey to N‘dalatando – a small town located centrally in Angola. Breakfast on the train.
• During your unique train journey you’ll truly get a sense of rural Angola with several stops and lunch onboard

Afternoon

• Arrive in N’dalatando and go for a short walk to stretch our legs
• Drive to Kalandula Falls – one of the most stunning waterfalls in the world. A horseshoe shaped waterfall 105 meters high and 400 meters wide.
• We’ll set up a campfire located by the falls and take in the surroundings
• Dinner and overnight at our nearby lodge

Thursday 15^th February – Kalandula Falls – Malanje – Kalandula Falls

Morning

• This morning you’ll wake up with a view of the Kalandula Falls – we guarantee it will be one of the most amazing morning views you’ll ever have!
• Breakfast at our lodging and head out for a hike towards the bottom of the falls to see them from a different perspective.
• We drive to the rapids of the Kwanza River, where the small village of Malanje lays.
• We’ll walk around the village, meet the locals and learn more about how rural life in Angola is and how they survive by what the river provides them.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the village
• We’ll head back to our lodge at Kalandula Falls – feel free to relax by the pool, go for a hike, or have a cold beer and take in the views. Previously we’ve had luck meeting the owner who is usually very happy to share his incredible stories from the civil war. A large battle took place in this very spot.
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Friday 16^th February – Kalandula Falls – Luanda

Morning

• Breakfast at lodge
• Begin our journey back by road to the capital along the way stopping at abandoned houses from both the independence war and civil war.
• We’ll visit the Pedras Negras do Pungo Andongo – these giant black stones were a place of resistance surrounded by mystery and magic against the Portuguese colonizers.

Afternoon

• Arrive back in Luanda
• Arrive and freshen up at our hotel before heading out for dinner and exploring the nightlife – highly recommend trying the local specialty Muamba de galinha or simply known as chicken muamba
• Overnight in Luanda

Saturday 17^th February – Luanda – Lubango 

Morning

• Group A members – breakfast at hotel and tour concludes
• Group B members – breakfast at hotel and continue tour
• 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 center of Luanda taking up 4,633 square miles. This beautiful brutalist architecture towers over the capital is said to reference a spaceship, which the locals jokingly refer to it as “Sputnik”.

Afternoon

• Begin making our way to the airport board a flight departing at 12:20pm heading south to Lubango – 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 meters tall and is one of only four in the world.
• We hit the town for dinner and overnight stay in a hotel

Sunday 18^th February – Lubango – Chibia – Oncocua

Morning

• Very early wake up and begin your adventure deep south of Angola towards the province of Cunene.
• Along the way we’ll stop for breakfast and after an hour drive we’ll arrive in Chibia – here you may explore the local market and meet regional tribespeople, including one of the most famous ones: the Mumhila. We’ll take our time here so you may soak up the atmosphere in this very traditional African market.

Afternoon

• Continue our drive down to Oncocua, on our evening arrival we’ll be greeted by the Soba (the elders) who’ll show us their area and help us familiarize our surroundings.
• Dinner will be prepared for us and overnight camping in tents

Monday 19^th February – Oncocua – Lubango

• Wake up to a gorgeous sunrise and breakfast
• Today will be mostly spent with the locals to meet and greet different ethnic tribes which may be a part of the Muhimba, Macahone, Vatwa or Mundimb. Do not be shy to get your hands dirty and feel free to provide assistance with the daily chores in the area or have an impromptu class with the students to teach them English
• We’ll tag along with a herder with escorting their cattle to the local watering hole.

Afternoon

• We’ll be invited to our lunch with the locals before we begin making our way drive to Lubango
• Dinner on arrival and overnight in Lubango

Tuesday 20^th February – Lubango – Tombua – Namibe

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin a more relaxing drive to the great coastal city of Namibe.
• Along the way we’ll stop at the viewpoint of the Serra da Leba Pass – one of the most breathtaking landmarks of Angola.
• Now that you’ve experienced rainforests and cities of Angola. Today you’ll head to the Namibe desert. Most of those who visit this desert at from the Namibia side. But from our experience the Angolan side is much more rustic!
• During our drive we’ll stop and take photos of the pink dunes, the Oasis of Arco, and the Red Canyon.

Afternoon

• Upon arrival in Namibe we take a walking tour through the iconic art deco city centre.
• After a lot of time on the road and outside the city it’s time we got to relax at the sea side with food and a few beers, fantastic views over the ocean and a chance to people watch in this unique place
• Grab some street food and find a great spot for dinner before having an overnight at hotel in Namibe

Wednesday 21^st February – Namibe – Luanda 

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and we’ll head out to meet the Nguendelengo tribe – what makes this particular tribe worth meeting is that the Women are famous for their unique bun shaped hair style. It’s also not unusual to see powdered red stone mixed with butter applied to their shoulders.

Afternoon

• We’ll return to the city to a famous local a restaurant most popular with the locals for its Kizaka dish.
• We’ll then make our way to Namibe airport and board our 9:00pm flight returning to the capital – Luanda.
• Overnight at Luanda

Thursday 22^nd February – Luanda

Morning

• We’ll head out for breakfast and drive out to Shipwreck Beach – an incredible spot to discover long lost forgotten ships from all over the world.
• Visit the Monument to the Kifangondo Battle – our local military guide will explain understand the importance of this spot in the struggle for the independence of Angola.
• Drop by the scenic spot of Moon Viewpoint for a great view of the Atlantic Ocean

Afternoon

• Visit Kilamba – this used to be known as a Chinese-built ghost town, but today’s a lively area of Luanda. One of our guides lives here and he’ll happily show us around.
• Farewell dinner and beers at a local Angolan joint popular with locals
• Overnight in Luanda

Friday 23^rd February – Luanda

• Tour concludes with airport drop-off arranged according to your flight details – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.
• Group members apart of our Sao Tome & Principe Tour board TAAG Angola Airlines on flight no. DT510 departing at 10:30am to Sao Tome – flight not included in tour price

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