Visitors don't go to Angola to shop, and there are very few souvenirs to purchase at present. Traditionally, the Bakongo people of the north and the Balunda and Ovimbunda of the north and west have produced African masks and sculpture, which can be found in Luanda.
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-12:30 pm and 2:30 pm-5:30 pm.
If peace permits, we suggest the following itinerary for first-time visitors:
Day 1—Arrive Luanda.
Day 2—Luanda.
Day 3—Fly to Cabinda.
Day 4—See the area around Cabinda.
Day 5—Fly to Malange.
Day 6—Malange.
Day 7—Return to Luanda and depart Angola.
BenguelaThe terminus of one of Africa's major railways, Benguela was founded in 1617 and contains several historic buildings. If you find yourself there, see the palace and Portuguese fortress—there's not much else. If you have time, it's about a two-hour drive to Mount Moco, the highest point in the country (it rises 8,500 ft/2,600 m). 260 mi/420 km south of Luanda.
CabindaThis province, separated from the rest of Angola by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a major source of the nation's wealth. Most of Angola's developed oil fields are off the Cabinda coast. The province, covered by a tropical rain forest, is interesting mainly because it's different from the rest of the country. Cabinda's main city, also called Cabinda, features some good beaches and a lively port, but there's very little to see. 240 mi/385 km north of Luanda.
LuandaThis coastal capital city on the Bay of Bengo has some nice parks and a few hotels, but very little in the way of restaurants or nightlife. What we found to be most interesting were its colorful mosaic sidewalks. Visit the military museum (in a fort) and the National Museum of Anthropology. But Luanda's liveliest attraction is the Roque Santeiro, a sprawling outdoor market that houses some 60,000 vendors. Unfortunately, the market is also famous for its armed thieves. If Angola ever achieves peace—and gets the crime under control—shopping there should be a wonderful experience.
Just outside of town is a museum that documents the slave trade. There are beaches in town, north of town (Santiago) and south of town (Palmeirinhas). The town of Dondo, southeast of Luanda, has a nice ethnographic museum.
The country's best wildlife park is Kissama (Quicama) National Park, about 45 mi/70 km south of Luanda. Look especially for elephants and antelope. Accommodations are available within the park.
MalangeA visit to this interior city offers a welcome relief for visitors arriving from the hot desert area: Malange, at an elevation of 4,000 ft/1,220 m, is much cooler. But there isn't much to do there, aside from leaving the city to see the nearby Kalandula Waterfall. 220 mi/350 km southeast of Luanda.
