Excursion The changing faces of luanda tour at Luanda

Located on the west coast of Southern Africa, Angola was under colonial rule until November 11, 1975, the date when it became an independent nation. The Angolan Civil War began after the end of the war for independence from Portugal in 1975. The war featured conflict between two primary Angolan factions, the communist MPLA and the anti-communist UNITA. By the time the 27-year war was formally brought to an end in 2002, an estimated 500,000 people had been killed. Today Luanda is undergoing a renaissance of epic proportions, driven by the vast natural resources that the country has in abundance - oil and diamonds. Its people are determined and committed to turn around its fortunes and rebuild a strong and united Angola.   

"Palacio de Ferro

After departing the quayside, drive along Marginal Bay, with the commercial part of the city on the one side, and views across the bay on the other. Drive past the Igreja de Senhora de Nazare - a small church and a National Monument. Continue and visit the old Iron Palace "Palacio de Ferro" which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed to have been built and designed by the famous architect Gustav Eiffel, or by someone associated with Gustav Eiffel, builder of the world famous icon, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York City. The history of the structure is shrouded in mystery since no official record of it exists. It is believed to have been pre-built in the 1890's in France and was destined to be placed in Madagascar via boat. Instead, the building ended up in Angola's Skeleton Coast after the ship carrying it drifted with the notorious Benguela currents. Portuguese rulers of the colony then claimed the ship along with its contents, including the palace. Currently the building is undergoing a renovation funded by profits from Angola's oil boom.

Angolan National Museum of Anthropology

Visit the Angolan National Museum of Anthropology, featuring an array of art, sculptures, tools, and weaponry, jewelry, clothing and musical instruments. Founded in November of 1976 it is a cultural and scientific institution, dedicated to the collection, research, conservation, presentation and dissemination of the Angolan cultural heritage. The museum consists of 14 rooms spread over two floors which house over 6,000 traditional pieces. These include farm implements, hunting and fishing memorabilia and photographs of the Khoisan people. Other features of the museum are its rustic furnace for melting iron and its room of the masks, featuring the symbols of rituals of the Bantu people.

San Miguel Fort

Drive to and visit the San Miguel Fort original built in 1576 by Paulo dias de Novias.  It was a Portuguese fortress and was the administrative center of the colony in 1627 and was a major outlet for slave traffic to Brazil. The fort was, for many years a self-contained town protected by thick walls encrusted with cannons. Inside the fort, elaborate ceramic tiles tell the story of Angola from early years, and in the courtyard are large, imposing statues of Portugal's first King.  Its purpose was to defend the port and the city from attack by the marauding French, Spanish and Dutch armies. It was successful until 1641 when the Dutch seized Luanda. During Dutch rule in Angola between 1641 and 1648, the fort was known as Fort Aardenburgh. Until 1975, the fortress served as the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Armed Forces.  Today it holds the Museum of the Armed Forces.

Agostinho Neto Mausoleum

Driving along the New Marginal and visit the unique Agostinho Neto Mausoleum, a huge stylized obelisk. Rumor has it that this is the grave of Angola's first president, President Agostinho Neto. Having very strong communist affiliations, Neto died in 1979, and it is said that this was erected as a gift from the Russian government.

"Cidade Alta", (Uptown)

Thereafter, drive through "Cidade Alta", or uptown, a pleasant, airy and calm suburb above the rest of the city, with several pink colonial buildings. Here you will have the opportunity to see the Presidential Palace, together with the Prime Minister's office and the Ministries of Defense, Immigration, Justice, Health and the British Embassy. Drive past the beautiful Catholic Church "Igreja de Jesus", where many important people of Angolan high society get married. However, taking photos in the area is forbidden due to the proximity of the presidential residence and heavy military security.

'Baixa' (Downtown)

Depart to 'Baixa' or downtown to view the houses of parliament - both new and old. After driving past many areas in the city which are due for total upgrades, and whole communities being moved, the group will realize that this is truly a city that has a rapidly changing face - well on its way to regaining its mantle of yesteryear - the 'Paris of Africa'.

After this unique touring, make your way back to the quayside along the Marginal and pass the National Bank of Angola - a great example of colonial architecture, where you still find the Portuguese insignia on the main entrance.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Palacio de Ferro, Marginal Bay, Angola National Bank, Museum of Anthropology, San Miguel Fort, Agostinho Neto Mausoleum, Presidential Monument

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking with some cobblestones at San Miguel Fort and is suitable for guests with limited mobility with assistance. This tour is not wheelchair accessible. We suggest guests dress in comfortable clothing and wear flat, walking shoes, sun protection and bring water from the ship. Tours in Luanda are conducted in various sized vehicles. Although the vehicles in Luanda are of a basic design, they are well maintained and have air-conditioning. They do not have microphones or toilet facilities. Whilst the roads are tarred in Luanda, there are many with potholes. There are also a number of bumpy dirt roads, which will be navigated carefully. Please note that traffic conditions can seriously impact the suggested tour timings and can cause heavy delays. There is no formal guiding qualification required for Angola, and in order to support the local community we use local escorts/guides. Please remember that English is a third language! Some of the international embassies and government buildings may fall under 'military or state defense objects'. You are not allowed to take pictures and may run into serious problems ignoring these rules. Please therefore ask your tour guides advice first. The order of sites visited and actual tour content is subject to change based on current local conditions. The cost of providing a tour program in Luanda is proportionately more expensive than in neighbouring nations. Unfortunately this is reflected in the proices of the tours and we thank you for your understanding.