Expedition to Angola - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrival day.

Fly from Windhoek to Ondangwa and then continue to Ruacana. We have time to explore the local market before heading to our campsite. (BD)

Visit the impressive Ruacana Falls before crossing the border into Angola and reaching our remote bush camp. (BLD)

Our drive today gives us the opportunity to meet and interact with the Himba people. Today many of them still adhere to traditional customs and wear traditional dress. Our drive also introduces us to the interesting and varied Angolan vegetation and passes through an enormous stand of Baobab trees. (BLD)

This is the country’s largest national park, contiguous with Namibia’s famous Skeleton Coast. It contains varied and exciting scenery, from Mopane forest to vast open plains and mobile dunes. On our long drive we experience this variety of terrain and meet more Himba people. We also explore some unusual rock formations. (BLD)

Drive towards the coast through sandy desert – an austere but spectacular landscape that few tourists have travelled through before. The scenery changes from rocky landscape to thick riverine vegetation to sand dunes en route, providing a magnificent journey of contrasts. The sand dunes also provide an ideal location for some adventurous dune driving! (BLD)

One of the highlights of the trip! A 230km drive up the coast, passing shipwrecks and high sand dunes tumbling into the sea, made all the more special as the route can only be done at certain times of the year due to the tide – ocean waves on one side, precipitous dunes on the other! At times the dunes force the ‘road’ onto the beach, often covered in whalebones and basking Cape fur seals. We pass a very recent shipwreck and also a number of green oases en route to our stop at Lake Argo, a hidden treasure located within a canyon. Here we can relax by the waters and watch the birdlife before continuing on to the nearby Flamingo Camp, dramatically situated in the middle of 70km of uninhabited coastline. (BLD)

The region surrounding our camp contains fascinatingly diverse desert landscapes. Today is an ideal opportunity to explore these areas of unique beauty. We take a drive into the nearby canyon to hike, keeping an eye out for Black-backed jackals on the way. The fishing along this coast is renowned as the war prevented any over-fishing here so try your hand out at hooking the next world record catch - or just snorkel and laze on the beach. (BLD)

Out of the desert! Drive across the forested mountains and over the Leba Pass, where the road descends over 1000m via a series of stomach-churning switchbacks from 1845m above sea level. Numerous waterfalls line the route and the view of the semi-tropical lands on the other side, replete with colourful mango trees, is stunning. Arrive at the city of Lubango, set in a lush tropical valley guarded by a dazzling white marble statue of Christ built high on the overhanging cliffs. We will have time to visit bars and restaurants rich with Portuguese heritage. (BLD)

Our camp near Lubango on the volcanic Tunda Vala escarpment gives us the opportunity to hike amidst the beautiful natural surroundings and unusual rock formations and also take a dip in the nearby waterfall. The views from the top of the escarpment, high above the clouds, are simply breathtaking – enjoy a sundowner here in the refreshing mountain air. (BLD)

We turn southwards and drive to Cahama to see the tanks and military vehicles left abandoned after the war, before continuing to our campsite near Otchinjau. (BLD)

Continue south for a last lakeside lunch in Angola. Cross the border into Namibia and head back to Ondangwa, arriving in time for hot showers and dinner. (BLD)

Fly to Windhoek where the rest of the day is free to explore. (B)

Tour ends. (B)