Next to the Atlantic Ocean is the beachside city of Luanda in Angola. Dubbed the most expensive city in Africa, Luanda is a beautiful place to visit and a city to explore on your bucket list.
If you are leaving Nairobi by road you will take 3 days to cover about 4,000 km but three to four hours of flight.
Once you land in Luanda, the capital of Angola and port city on the west coast of Southern Africa, a seafront promenade known as the Marginal runs alongside Luanda Bay and welcomes you in style.
Ilha Luanda, a nearby popular bay, is a beehive of activity – both commercial and beach tourism.
Luanda and its metropolitan area is the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city in the world and the most populous Lusophone city outside Brazil, with over 8.3 million people.
At the City Centre, it plays a commercial and financial role with the museum on one side and the harbor on the other. The high economic level is fueled by oil exploration in most parts of Angola making it the fourth largest oil exporter after Libya, Algeria, and Nigeria.
Agostinho Neto Memorial in Angola
This national hero, António Agostinho da Silva Neto, was the 1st president of Angola (1975-1979).
He led the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in the war for independence (1961–1974). He is regarded as one the most prominent pre-independence leaders in Angola who pushed out the Portuguese in guerrilla warfare.
Agostinho Neto is also known for his literary activities, he is considered Angola’s preeminent poet. His birthday is celebrated as National Heroes Day, a public holiday in Angola. A true National Hero.
Saô Miguel Fortress
Nearby is the well-preserved 16th-century Fortress of São Miguel, which now contains the Museum of the Armed Forces. Set on higher ground the fort has views of the harbor and the Ilha do Cabo beach.
The Miguel fort is rich in history. The city served as the center of the slave trade to Brazil before its prohibition. At the start of the Angolan Civil War in 1975, most of the white Portuguese left as refugees.
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Ilha de Luanda beach, Angola
Ilha de Luanda beach peninsula is a place to be for a weekend hang out and a party vibe.
This is a public beach with people streaming in as early as 6 am and closing at 6 pm. It is an organized Public Beach with jogging/running track, Football, and Volleyball pitches. Busy all day as members of the public engage in the game and play.
Families hang out for a swim or catch the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Budget cost-cutting
If you stay within the city be sure you will spend a high dollar figure. Find staycations or Airbnb in the suburbs of the city. Here you will come across many nationals trying to cut down on their cost and save a penny for their next destination.
Don’t be shocked to find your fellow campers as far as the UK and other parts of Africa living on the outskirts of the city.
Enjoy your stay and if you’re planning for an out-of-country holiday put Luanda on your bucket list!
