Angola holidays
| country: | Angola |
| departures: | 2010: 19 Apr, 9 May, 29 Aug, 6 Sep 2011: 18 Apr, 8 May, 28 Aug, 5 Sep |
| price: | From £1300 - £3600 (8-15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Group tours have group size of 6-12 people. tailormade departures run with a minimum of 2 people |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Angola holidays
Pioneer is a term often over used in the travel industry, however, when we describe our Angola trips as pioneering we mean it. Almost certainly you will be amongst an elite group of intrepid travellers to be the first to explore a country, few have discovered.
These are unique journeys that add a whole new meaning to getting off the beaten track; from the beautiful desert landscapes, empty golden beaches & lagoons populated by dolphins, turtles and birdlife to old colonial style architecture & tribal people in remote areas where we are amoungst only a handful of foreigners that they have encountered. Optional activities include quadbike tours to sandstone canyons, superb fishing, river cruises and parasailing.
If like us you are driven by a desire to discover a truly hidden corner of the world, then you may like to join us and explore Angola, a spectacular land, now recovering from nearly 30 years of civil war. Of course, reaching such remote areas of the world can come with its challenges; several nights camping, long journeys by 4WD and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for when carefully laid plans change. Whatever the local conditions most importantly you will be more than rewarded with an opportunity to explore an untouched country and meet friendly local people who have no idea of the concept of tourism. We believe the country should be pioneering not the fact you may need to forego some of your normal comforts.
Trips with group departures can also be taken as a private tour. It should be noted that the process for obtaining an Angolan entry visa can be very time consuming. We recommend that you make your application at least two months before travel.
Angola beach adventure - private departures only
From £1300 (8 days) ex flights, on private tour based on min 2 people
Discover the northern extreme of the Namib Desert while you’re based at the breathtaking Flamingo Lodge. Nestled into low cliffs on the Atlantic coast, near the mouth of the dry Rio dos Flamingo, the lodge can only be reached by a 40km drive along a deserted beach. Explore the Namib with a two night Desert Adventure excursion.
Discover the mix of rich Portuguese heritage and bars & restaurants of Lubango, take a scenic drive through the mountains to the Atlantic coast and the Namib Desert, practically devoid of other tourist activity. Choice of two camping destinations: the deserts, hot springs & huge natural freshwater lake, or south past dunes to lagoons populated by dolphins, turtles and birdlife. Optional activities include quad-bike tours to nearby sandstone canyons, superb fishing, and parasailing.
These are unique journeys that add a whole new meaning to getting off the beaten track; from the beautiful desert landscapes, empty golden beaches & lagoons populated by dolphins, turtles and birdlife to old colonial style architecture & tribal people in remote areas where we are amoungst only a handful of foreigners that they have encountered. Optional activities include quadbike tours to sandstone canyons, superb fishing, river cruises and parasailing.
If like us you are driven by a desire to discover a truly hidden corner of the world, then you may like to join us and explore Angola, a spectacular land, now recovering from nearly 30 years of civil war. Of course, reaching such remote areas of the world can come with its challenges; several nights camping, long journeys by 4WD and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for when carefully laid plans change. Whatever the local conditions most importantly you will be more than rewarded with an opportunity to explore an untouched country and meet friendly local people who have no idea of the concept of tourism. We believe the country should be pioneering not the fact you may need to forego some of your normal comforts.
Trips with group departures can also be taken as a private tour. It should be noted that the process for obtaining an Angolan entry visa can be very time consuming. We recommend that you make your application at least two months before travel.
our Angola tours
Northern Angola group tour
From £3200 (10 days) ex flights. Groups depart Apr & Sep
This trip samples the very best of Angola; from the vibrant capital Luanda to remote waterfalls, stunning landscapes scattered with coffee plantations, a fabulous coastal drive as well as a stop at Kissama Game Park. Perhaps a striking ray of hope in a new dawn for Angola, the efforts to establish Kissama as an important wildlife conservation project should be applauded. Visitors will be encouraged to know that wildlife can now be spotted in ever greater numbers.
The tour complements our exciting choice of itineraries in the south and for the first time gives travellers the opportunity to explore the wonders of Northern Angola. Although still pioneering and including a lot of travel, this tour will appeal to those looking for a slightly softer Angola adventure. Being a hotel based trip with no camping, this is the perfect way to discover a hidden and most remarkable corner of Angola.
Southern Angola group tour
From £3600 (15 days) ex flights. Groups depart May & AugThis trip builds on the success of previous tours in the south of the country. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to meet remote tribal people, totally untouched by the outside world, whose way of life has remained unchanged for centuries. Previous clients have described the trip as being amongst their greatest travel experiences anywhere.
We drive through mountains, desert & Iona National Park, spotting wildlife along the way. We camp near hot springs & waterfalls and stay on empty golden beaches. We travel from the capital, off road to meet the Himba tribe people & to remote areas where we are amoungst only a handful of foreigners that the locals have encountered. Optional activities include quadbike tours to nearby sandstone canyons, superb fishing and parasailing. Please note that there will be some days of long and bumpy road journeys, which will not be for everyone but offer ample rewards in the sense you gain of really breaking new ground.
From £3200 (10 days) ex flights. Groups depart Apr & Sep
This trip samples the very best of Angola; from the vibrant capital Luanda to remote waterfalls, stunning landscapes scattered with coffee plantations, a fabulous coastal drive as well as a stop at Kissama Game Park. Perhaps a striking ray of hope in a new dawn for Angola, the efforts to establish Kissama as an important wildlife conservation project should be applauded. Visitors will be encouraged to know that wildlife can now be spotted in ever greater numbers.
The tour complements our exciting choice of itineraries in the south and for the first time gives travellers the opportunity to explore the wonders of Northern Angola. Although still pioneering and including a lot of travel, this tour will appeal to those looking for a slightly softer Angola adventure. Being a hotel based trip with no camping, this is the perfect way to discover a hidden and most remarkable corner of Angola.
Southern Angola group tour
From £3600 (15 days) ex flights. Groups depart May & AugThis trip builds on the success of previous tours in the south of the country. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to meet remote tribal people, totally untouched by the outside world, whose way of life has remained unchanged for centuries. Previous clients have described the trip as being amongst their greatest travel experiences anywhere.
We drive through mountains, desert & Iona National Park, spotting wildlife along the way. We camp near hot springs & waterfalls and stay on empty golden beaches. We travel from the capital, off road to meet the Himba tribe people & to remote areas where we are amoungst only a handful of foreigners that the locals have encountered. Optional activities include quadbike tours to nearby sandstone canyons, superb fishing and parasailing. Please note that there will be some days of long and bumpy road journeys, which will not be for everyone but offer ample rewards in the sense you gain of really breaking new ground.
private departures
Both of the above tours have small group departures but can also be run as private departures, on any day. We also run the following private departure tour: Angola beach adventure - private departures only
From £1300 (8 days) ex flights, on private tour based on min 2 people
Discover the northern extreme of the Namib Desert while you’re based at the breathtaking Flamingo Lodge. Nestled into low cliffs on the Atlantic coast, near the mouth of the dry Rio dos Flamingo, the lodge can only be reached by a 40km drive along a deserted beach. Explore the Namib with a two night Desert Adventure excursion.
Discover the mix of rich Portuguese heritage and bars & restaurants of Lubango, take a scenic drive through the mountains to the Atlantic coast and the Namib Desert, practically devoid of other tourist activity. Choice of two camping destinations: the deserts, hot springs & huge natural freshwater lake, or south past dunes to lagoons populated by dolphins, turtles and birdlife. Optional activities include quad-bike tours to nearby sandstone canyons, superb fishing, and parasailing.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We are proud of our involvement in Angola, Southern Africa’s last frontier. Being the pioneers in the development of the country’s tourism we take our responsibilities seriously and are determined to set the standards for responsible tourism.
Our activities are based at a remote eco-lodge located on the Atlantic coast, north of the border with Namibia. The sheer remoteness of the location means that the lodge is almost entirely self-sufficient with water being drawn from a well, the use of electricity kept to a minimum and food that is locally sourced. Your money is being spent in local markets and with local fishermen, directly benefiting the communities nearby. Although our travels are confined to a part of Angola which was unaffected by the civil war, we are of course aware of the problems that exist despite the end of conflict. For this reason we are avid supporters of the mines clearance charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG). We have made an annual donation to them every year since our business was established. The work that MAG is doing to protect the young and the innocent affected by the evil of landmines is so important that we actively encourage anyone travelling to Angola to donate. At the end of the journey travellers may donate any unwanted clothing, medicine and books, which are distributed to appropriate local charities. We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.  We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit. Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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