Luanda : In the Heart of an Enchanting African Destination

Would you like to discover Africa, its fabulous attractions, the sweetness of rural life and its panoramic landscapes? So, without further ado, pack your bags and join Luanda, the marvelous capital of Angola that offers its visitors an authentic stay. Come and make an exciting descent in this north-western town, marked by slavery. On the program, there will be for you a range of attractions such as museums, churches, breath-taking beaches. You will be subjugated! Both industrial and commercial city, it is the main economic center of Angola. It is also a university center with a dozen universities to his credit. Let's go!

1. Kisama National Park

Renowned for watching animals in their natural environment as well as for wonderful safaris, Kisama National Park is a trendy destination. It will seduce you with its singular charm that ranges from the diversity of its fauna to the extraordinary beauty of its landscapes. You will discover its majestic baobabs that combine beautifully with other plant species, offering a flora most astonishing! Come and enjoy its fresh air, this fabulous adventure offers a show tasty cocktail of discovery and admiration! Kisama National Park is simply magical!

2. Viewpoint of the Moon

Put your eyes on it, and you will not have the strength to turn them away! That's just what the enchantment of view of the moon point is all about. Located in the heart of the lands of Angola, this destination captivates all the visitors who have chosen to come to discover it, to contemplate it. Its lunar landscape and its breath-taking scenery seem to defy beauty. You will discover the most beautiful panoramas of the region indeed. It will offer you many possibilities of views. You will even see a beach not far from the site: a nice source of refreshment. Do not miss this appointment because you will be amazed!

3. Museum of Anthropology

A trip to a museum is always a good program. In Luanda, the options are not many, but those that exist are mandatory. The Museum of Anthropology is one such space. Visit there and take a trip to the different "Angola's" that coexist in the same space. Discover that "Angolan" is the product of many people who live, think and speak differently. Just by itself, the building of the National Museum of Anthropology, in Cocheiros, is worth a long visit. This house was built at the end of the 18th century by a Portuguese noble family, is visible in its official pink color. It is an example of a type of colonial architecture that unfortunately, is being destroyed at an increasing rate in the old downtown of Luanda.

4. Sao Miguel Fortress

São Miguel Fortress is located on the old São Paulo Mountain, overlooking the island of Luanda. Surrounded by thick fortifications supported by buttresses and inlaid with guns, it has remained virtually intact through the centuries. The interior of the fort is adorned with elaborately worked ceramic objects, depicting the birth of Angola. In the courtyard stand imposing statues of Portuguese notables with, among others, Alfonso I, the first king of the country, and Vasco de Gamma, the explorer having discovered the commercial route of the Indies. Luanda is today the capital and the main port of Angola. The administration and maintenance of Sao Miguel is the responsibility of the Ministry of Défense and Culture.

5. Ilha de Luanda

The Island of the Cape, known as Ilha de Luanda, is a coastal belt composed of a narrow 7 km long tongue that separates the city of Luanda from the Atlantic Ocean and originated the Luanda Bay. It is connected to the city by a small isthmus in the Fortress of São Miguel. It is par excellence the place of leisure of Luanda, for its varied offer of bars, restaurants by the sea, nightclubs, hotels, street markets, beaches, and marina. On the island is located the Church of Our Lady of the Cape, the oldest in Angola, founded in 1575 by the forty Portuguese who lived on the island before the change of the city of Luanda to the mainland, made by Paulo Dias de Novais.

6. National Museum of Slavery

Luanda has a rich historical past. The National Museum of Slavery, where slaves were baptized before being sent to America, is well worth a visit, as well as Fortress of São Pedra da Barra, it was a fortress in the 17th century for protecting Luanda from a potential invasion after the fortress has become a place of detention of slaves. Visitors should not miss the beautiful Church of Our Lady of Pópulo, Angola's first Anglican church, built in 1492 which has become a national treasure of the country.

7. Fort of São Pedro da Barra

The "Fort of São Pedro da Barra," also referred to as "Fort of São Pedro do Morro da Cassandama " and " Fortaleza da Barra," is located on the old hill of Cassandama, commune of Ngola Kiluange, municipality of Sambizanga, city, and province of Luanda, in Angola. According to the inspection report of the strongholds of Luanda and Angola, by the military engineer, then major (later general), Francisco Xavier Lopes in 1846, this fort was erected by Dutch forces. It was then only made up of the lower battery, excavated on the cliff by forces of the Dutch West Indies Company (WIC) between 1641 and 1648, using the labor of prisoners. After the reconquest of Luanda by Portuguese forces from Brazil, the position was abandoned.

◎ Closing

Luanda will offer you the most exciting and wonderful memories. The holidays here will be remembered with many natural and architectural monuments, the warm turquoise ocean and the unusual culture that has been formed for centuries in this beautiful city!