Luanda Travel Guide
Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola. It is located in central-southern Angola a long the coast with the Atlantic Ocean. Originally one of the major slaving ports and under Portuguese rule, it is now the country’s chief seaport and administrative hub with a population of at least 5 million residents. Administratively, the city is divided into two parts, the Baixa de Luanda (lower Luanda, the old city) and the Cidade Alta (upper city or the new part). Lower Luanda has more to offer the explorers with its old style buildings in a colonial fashion and narrow streets which just adds to the photographic appeal. 9 other sub towns, the municípios also make up Luanda. Portuguese is the main language spoken in Luanda.
The City has an admirable natural harbour; the main exports are coffee, cotton, diamonds, and iron. The city also has a flourishing building industry. Economic growth is largely sustained by oil mining activities, although massive diversification is a great threat in the city. This Angolan cosmopolitan city is at present undergoing massive reconstruction preceding the 30 years long civil war that plundered the whole country.
One of the things, alongside the great photo opportunities and breathtaking scenery of course, which has caused many visitors to flock to Luanda, is the climate. Beautiful tropical temperatures combined with white sandy beaches are the perfect places to sit and watch the sunset and rise and the wonderful locals really make this town a place that you will certainly want to call home.
Because, its one of the world’s most overcrowded cities among the third-world nations, Luanda faces a lot of problems such as slums, insecurity, poor sanitation and limited access to running water.
Getting Around in Luanda
Exploring Luanda is an amazing experience particularly for those who want to see the country from its ground view level. However, driving is challenging since some sections of many city roads are not in good condition. We also recommend new visitors in the city to avoid driving outside the city limits after dark.
Taxis are rare in Luanda and charge a fortune. The local people use minibus service (Kangongeiro) to get around. Buses are blue, seat 12 and travel everywhere (but you need to know your destination to get on the right one). Rental cars are also available.
One thing that you may notice about Luanda is the architecture of many of the city buildings. Most of the constructions in the capital follow a colonial style with bursts of colours but nestled alongside these you will find a number of modern buildings which create quite the contrast.
CITY ATTRACTIONS
Luanda City is one of the hot spots for tourists in Angola. It has several interesting sights given its rich history and location on the coast. Some of the major places of interest are;
Mussulo Island
Mussulo Island is a gorgeous Island situated south of the city with stretches of sandy beaches. This busy small island offers a perfect destination for Angola holidays in Luanda. Visitors just relax getting a sun tan, sit below the shadows of coconut and palm trees.
Kissama National Park
Kissama Game Park is a huge game reserve located to the south Luanda. It spans over an area of about 9,960 sq km. In1938, it was first gazetted as a Game reserve but officially designated as a National Park later in 1957. The Park is extremely renowned for its exotic bird life. Wildlife to spot in the park includes palanca antelopes, ostriches, gazelles, giraffes and many more. The best period to visit Kissama Park is the dry season from May to October. Visiting Kissama during Luanda tours is a spectacle to experience.
The National Monument
It is a big tower situated to the south west of Luanda. A wealth of the museums surround the national monument, all free to the public. Each of these museums takes days to fully explore. From art to science, these museums offer something for every interest and age group and are an essential stop on any trip to the national monument.
Weather in Luanda
Luanda features a hot semi-arid climate. It is hot and humid although dry, resultant of the cool Benguela Current. The prevalent fog prevents temperatures from falling at night even during the completely dry months from June to October. Luanda has an annual rainfall of 323 millimetres. There is also a short rainy season from March to late April.
