City · Luanda
Luanda
The capital and the entry point for almost every trip. Expensive, loud and worth a few days.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Explore
Where to go in Angola
Angola is roughly twice the size of France, and the distances catch people out. This map shows the 17 places we have written a full guide for, so you can see how they sit relative to each other before you start planning. Filter by what you are actually looking for, then open the guide.
Explore Angola on the map
17 places we have written a full guide for. Filter by what you are looking for, then open the guide.
Select a place to see the details.
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City · Benguela
Benguela
Colonial avenues and calm beaches. Widely reported as easier and more relaxed than Luanda.
- Time needed
- 2 days
City · Benguela
Lobito
A port city on a sand spit, half an hour from Benguela and often visited together.
- Time needed
- 1 day
City · Huila
Lubango
Highland city and the base for Tundavala and Serra da Leba. Cool nights, big views.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
City · Namibe
Namibe (Mocamedes)
Where the desert meets the Atlantic. The gateway south towards Iona.
- Time needed
- 2 days
City · Huambo
Huambo
The central plateau city, rebuilt after the war and rarely on tourist routes.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
City · Malanje
Malanje
The base for Kalandula Falls and Pungo Andongo, and the closest town to the giant sable.
- Time needed
- 2 days
City · Cabinda
Cabinda
The exclave north of the Congo river. Reached by air, with rainforest inland.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
City · Zaire
M'banza-Kongo
Angola's only inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site and the old capital of the Kingdom of Kongo.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
Natural landmark · Malanje
Kalandula Falls
One of the largest waterfalls in Africa by width, and the country’s signature natural landmark.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Getting there
- About 85 km north-west of Malanje by road
National park · Bengo and Luanda
Kissama National Park
The closest park to the capital and the most realistic place to see mammals in Angola.
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight
- Getting there
- Roughly 2 hours south of Luanda
National park · Namibe
Iona National Park
The northern Namib: dunes, oryx, welwitschia and reintroduced giraffe. Expedition territory.
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 days
- Getting there
- Well-equipped 4x4 from Namibe, guide strongly advised
National park · Malanje
Cangandala National Park
The last stronghold of the palanca negra, the giant sable that lives nowhere else on earth.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
- Getting there
- By road from Malanje, permission required in advance
Natural landmark · Huila
Tundavala Gap
A 1,000 metre drop off the edge of the Huila plateau, with no fence and no crowds.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Getting there
- About 30 minutes from Lubango
Natural landmark · Huila
Serra da Leba
The hairpin mountain pass that appears on every Angolan postcard, between Lubango and the coast.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Getting there
- On the road from Lubango towards Namibe
Natural landmark · Luanda
Miradouro da Lua
Eroded cliffs that look lunar, an easy stop south of the capital. Check it is open before you drive out.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Getting there
- About 40 km south of Luanda
Coast · Luanda
Mussulo
The sheltered lagoon peninsula where Luanda goes at the weekend. Reached by boat.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Getting there
- Short boat crossing from Luanda
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Map outline derived from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL). Place coordinates checked against OpenStreetMap. The outline is simplified for legibility and is not a navigational map.