Luanda at a Glance
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Port
Luanda, Angola
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$280
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
After departing the ship, drive along Marginal Bay, with the commercial part of the city on the one side, and views across the bay on the other. Drive past the Igreje de Senhora de Nazare – a small, beautiful church and a National Monument. Quick photo stop along the new Marginal.
Continue to the San Miguel Fort original built on 1576 for an outside visit and quick photo stop. Its purpose was to defend the port and the city from attack by the marauding French, Spanish and Dutch armies. It was successful until 1641 when the Dutch seized Luanda.
Depart the Fort, and drive through Ilha de Luanda. With an Atlantic coastline stretching for over 1 650 kms, mighty rivers flow into wide estuaries depositing sediments they have brought with them from the high plateaus to form numerous small islands, bays and sandbanks and where excellent beaches can be found. The average mean temperature is normally around 23º, and so while the climate is such that the beaches can be visited all year round, it is in fact during the hot season that they are most frequented.
Continue and drive towards the unique Agostinho Neto Mausoleum, a huge, stylized obelisk for an outside visit. Rumor has it that this is the grave of Angola's first president, President Agostino Neto. Having very strong communist affiliations, Neto died in 1979, and it is said that this was erected as a gift from the Russian government. (Photo stop)
Thereafter make your way back to the ship along the Marginal passing the National Bank of Angola – a great example of colonial architecture, where you still find the Portuguese insignia on the main entrance.
Please note:
Visiting Luanda is a rewarding experience, but it requires some acceptance and understanding that it is markedly different from some other ports. The trade-off for any inconveniences is that you are witnessing the current character of this developing nation, which will be lost to future visitors. Although basic, the coaches are maintained, but the quality can vary considerably. PA systems for commentary are virtually non-existent; however, some vehicles are equipped with a GPS-triggered narration system. There is no formal guiding qualification required for Angola and, in order to support the local community, the tour operator uses local guides. Some guides have had prior experience in guiding for visiting cruise ships, but some have not. Your guide will do his/her best, but please keep in mind that the limited tourism infrastructure here is part of your experience, and bear with any language or other difficulties he/she may encounter. English is the third language of Angolans. Government authorities reserve the right to limit access to museums and other points of interest. Road conditions are weather dependent. Many roads are paved, but potholes are ever-present. There are also a number of bumpy dirt roads, which will be navigated carefully. All timings are approximate, as the local traffic will have a direct influence on the overall schedule. Delays are to be expected. Some of the monuments and attractions you will see fall under the rules pertaining to military or state defense objects; you are not allowed to photograph such sites and ignoring these rules can lead to serious problems with the local authorities. Please ask your tour guide's advice before using your camera at all. There are no restroom facilities available during the tour or on the transportation unless specifically stated otherwise. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel the tour due to changes in weather, road or access conditions. Because Angola is a developing country and things change rapidly, the tour operator also reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary.