One Week in Angola Itinerary: Luanda, Calandula Falls & Lubango

Angola is one of the least visited countries in the world for tourism purposes, but yet it has a lot to offer. Visit the mighty Calandula Falls, the humongous Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo, a lunar landscape just south of Luanda and Tundavala, Africa’s deepest cliff drop near Lubango.

Angola is slowly gaining popularity ever since the government of Angola made it a lot easier to visit the country in 2023 by introducing visa free entry for citizens of over 90 countries. These countries include EU-member states, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

So if you’re an adventurous traveller looking for a country where you can truly visit the road less travelled, then now is the best time to visit.

My 7-day Angola Itinerary | Day-by-Day

This is the route I followed, and it’s perfect if you want to see the most important sites that Angola has to offer given that you only have one week in the country.

Day-by-Day Angola itinerary overview:

• Day 1: Explore Luanda
• Day 2: Drive to Malanje and visit Calandula Falls
• Day 3: Drive back to Luanda via Pungo Andongo Black Rocks
• Day 4: Flight to Lubango
• Day 5: Discover the sights of Lubango
• Day 6: High Bimbe and flight back to Luanda
• Day 7: Go on safari at Quiçama National Park

Day 1 | Explore Luanda, Angola’s capital city

Your one-week Angola itinerary starts in Luanda, the country’s capital.

Since most international flights arrive early, you’ll likely head straight into your first day of exploring. It’s a full-on start, but it worked well for me, and I’d do it the same way again.

Miradouro da Lua, Slavery Museum and Artisanal Market

Start your tour of Luanda by visiting the Miradouro da Lua, or Moon viewpoint, which is located south of the city. It’s a popular site to visit, but you will still probably be the only person here. Such will be the case everywhere in Angola.

From the viewpoint head north to visit the National Slavery Museum and the artisanal market. On the artisanal market, the Mercado do Artesenato, you can buy colourful fabrics, paintings and best of all wood carvings. Especially the section with African masks from Angola and the Congo’s is impressive.

Next stop is the Luanda Golf Club. I don’t see how you could play golf here, but the site is full of baobab trees, or Imbondeiro trees as they call them here. All over the golf course you see groups of people performing religious acts next to the trees. Very interesting!

Back to the city to visit some Luanda highlights

Now it’s time to head back into the city. Drive by the Assembleia Nacional, Angola’s National Assembly. It’s a beautiful building, but you’re not allowed to stop here and take pictures. So roll the car windows down and accidentally take a few snaps.

Next up drive along the Avenida 4 de Fevereiro and stop at the “Eu ‘heart’ Luanda” sign. Continue to the Iron Palace, a beautiful building that is said to have been created by Gustav Eiffel.

For lunch sit down at Restaurante Cripere. The service is slow, but the fish fresh and simply delicious! The views of the fort aren’t too bad either… And the Fort São Miguel is the final stop in the city centre.

The views from the fort are stunning and understandably the Dutch and Portuguese built it here fort its strategic position. From up here you can see exactly what’s approaching from the Atlantic and the Bay of Luanda.

Apart from the views the socialist star entrance is beautiful. Inside the fort the tiling depicting Angola history is a must see. Also you can find the Museum of Armed Forces here.

Continue to Angola’s Ship Graveyard north of Luanda

Final stop of the day is the Cemitério Dos Navios, or the ship graveyard. All sorts of stories are told about how the ships got here, just ask around for the wildest stories. Needless to say is that whichever way these ships got here it’s quite a sight to behold. It’s best to visit at low tide so you can get close to the ships. Though even during high tide when I visited the views are still very impressive.

All done? Then you’re probably exhausted like I was. But what a satisfying day and good introduction to Angola. Time to check in to your accommodation.

How to see all these sights of Luanda in one day?

It can be quite a challenge to visit all the highlights of Luanda in one day, because it’s quite difficult to get around without a car. I took a full day Luanda tour with Luzaya Turismo and I highly recommend it.

The tour included a pick up from the airport, a visit to all sights mentioned above and has lunch and drinks included as well. They can also get you a sim card so you can stay connected during your week in Angola. And they helped me exchange some cash into Kwanza’s, the local currency, at an excellent rate.

At the end of the day, exhausted but fulfilled they dropped me off at Casas de Luanda GH-Kinaxixe, a centrally located guesthouse. For the best in luxury, stay a few blocks further at the Intercontinental in Miramar.

Day 2 | Visit Calandula Falls in the Malanje province

Since I started researching my trip to Angola, a visit to Calandula Falls was at the top of my list of things to do. So, over the next two days your Angola itinerary will take you to the Malanje province.

Both days include a lot of time on the road, but the sights make it totally worth your time and effort. This is why you came to Angola!

Visit the Botanical Gardens of N’dalatando

Start day 2 driving to the Calandula Falls. On the way to the waterfalls make a stop for lunch at the Terminus Hotel in dusty N’dalatando and visit the Botanical Gardens. The Portuguese created these gardens to showcase plants from all over the world.

Admire the majestic Calandula Falls

After lunch it’s time to continue to what is undoubtedly the highlight of this one week in Angola itinerary: the mighty Calandula Falls. The falls drop over 100 metres down into the abyss. Today you will visit the viewpoint at the top of the falls. If time and weather permits don some swimwear and go for a bit of a swim at your own risk a little further up the Lucala river.

On the other side of the valley you can already see the hotel you’ll be staying for the night, the Pousada Calandula. The hotel isn’t cheap at all, but since you’ll likely only be here once in your life, this is the place to stay! Alternatively, perhaps you can stay in Hotel Portugalia in the city of Malanje.

Day 3 | Back to Luanda via the Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo

On day 3 you’ll wake up to the sound and view of the falls. You can literally see the Calandula Falls from your bed (just don’t close the curtains at night) when you stay at Pousada Calandula.

Explore the base of Calandula Falls

Before breakfast walk the path down from your hotel to the base of Calandula Falls for more magnificent views of the falls. What do you think, do the falls look better from up there at yesterday’s viewpoint, or from down here?

All done, it’s time to get back up to the hotel, have breakfast and check out.

Stop at the Black Rock of Pungo Andongo

After breakfast it’s time to drive all the way back to Luanda, but not without a visit to the spectacular Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo. These Black Rocks come with a whole range of facts and myths and you should ask your guide about them.

Best of all though is walking on top of and between the rocks and discover how big they are. On the way back to the main road stop at the viewpoint for an amazing panoramic photo opportunity.

From the Black Rocks head back to Hotel Terminus in N’dalatando for a late lunch. Afterwards, drive back to Luanda and check back in to your hotel where you stayed on day 1.

How to visit Calandula Falls and the Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo?

Just like on day 1 of this Angola itinerary I used the services of Luzaya Turismo. Their 2-day tour to Calandula Falls includes a visit to the Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo, and a stay at Pousada Calandula. Food, snacks and drinks are also included as well as a pick up from your hotel in Luanda.

The tour certainly is not cheap, but then to put the price into perspective the Pousada Calandula is said to already cost €250 for the night. For me the tour ended up being private because there were no other travellers joining me.

Luzaya also offers a more affordable 2-day tour to Calandula Falls with pretty much the same itinerary, but then with a stay in the town of Malanje at the comfortable Portugalia Hotel.

Day 4 | Free day in Luanda and flight to Lubango

Your one week in Angola itinerary is almost half way already. You’ve seen the main highlights in the north of the country, so today it’s time to fly to the south of Angola.

TAAG usually has 1 or 2 flights a day from Luanda (LAD) to Lubango (SSD). Try to get a later afternoon flight so that today you have most of the day to spend in Luanda.

Luanda’s churches and more city highlights

You can revisit some of the sights you visited on day 1 of this Angola itinerary, or discover some new sights that you didn’t get to yet. My suggestion is to visit the following:

• Nossa Senhora da Nazaré
• National Bank of Angola
• Museu da Moeda
• Monumento o Soldado Desconhecido
• Church of Our Lady of Remedies
• National Museum of Anthropology
• Church of Carmo

Please note that the museums are closed on weekends. The Museu da Moeda is still interesting to visit from an architecture point of view if it happens to be closed. Finish with brunch or lunch at Cozy Cafe. Grab one of their divine smoothies!

Board your flight to Lubango

After lunch head back to your hotel to grab your bags and take a taxi to the airport. Make sure to be dropped off at the domestic terminal for your flight to Lubango.

For your time in Lubango I suggest to stay with the lovely family of this Airbnb. They can pick you up from the airport and they can also be your tour guides for the next two days. They operate a tourism agency called Lu.Sona Turismo and I highly recommend their services.

Day 5 | Explore the highlights of Lubango

Today have breakfast from your Airbnb hosts, or walk into town to eat something at Art Doce.

After breakfast start your day of sightseeing with Lu.Sona Turismo. Ask Alex from Lu.Sona Turismo for their brochure to see what tours are on offer and how much they cost. A private tour for the day should cost around €75-€100 for your group, depending on what you want to see and do, and how far it is.

Visit Huila Falls, Cristo Rei statue and the Lubango sign

For this one week in Angola itinerary I suggest to start the day by visiting Huila Falls. Afterwards, drive up the mountain to the Cristo Rei statue. Surely you will think it looks familiar. It’s basically a smaller version of the statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Also on the mountain are the giant letters spelling Lubango. So make a stop there too to check them out up close and personal. And don’t forget to take in the panoramic views of Lubango and its surroundings.

Continue to the Tundavala Gap

Next up, it’s time to continue to the Tundavala Gap. The Huila plateau sits at around 2,200 metres above sea level and dramatically drops here to about 1,000 metres. It’s quite a sight to behold!

It’s not just the gap here that you should see, but also make a stop at all the different viewpoints. And you can leave the set path and jump from rock to rock for some more spectacular views of the Namibe province.

At the end of day head down to Keep’s Bar above the Keep Tennis Store for some drinks and a delicious meal.

Day 6 | Visit Serra da Leba and Fenda do Bimbe

Tonight you’re flying back to Luanda, so that means you still have a full day to explore some of the highlights around Lubango. I reallt enjoyed my visit to the Serra da Leba pass and the expedition to see the Fenda do Bimbe, or the Bimbe Slit.

Marvel at the Serra da Leba pass and visit the waterfalls

Yesterday you saw the Tundavala Gap and the views of the Namibe province down there. To get to Namibe you can take the Serra da Leba pass, which is perhaps the best piece of civil engineering in Angola. We’re not going to take the road, but instead we’re headed to a viewpoint, the Miradouro Serra da Leba. From there you can marvel at this amazing construction.

Close to the Serra da Leba viewpoint you can go on a short hike to some waterfalls, the Cascata da Serra da Leba. You can visit the basin, but you can also hike to the top to see how the water cascades down and turns into falls.

Discover the Fenda do Alto Bimbe (or High Bimbe Slit)

Living on the edge is certainly the overall theme of a visit to Lubango. Yesterday the Tundavala Gap, this morning the Serra da Leba pass and right now the High Bimbe Slit. But despite the recurring theme all very worthy of a visit. The escarpment here at Fenda do Alto Bimbe is probably the most beautiful. So save the best for last.

The Bimbe Slit is also de most difficult to reach, but you will be rewarded with amazing views of some unbelievable mountains in the distance. We met some kids here, with only one that spoke Portuguese. We could tell they never really see any visitors there.

After the initial viewpoint we followed a tree line to find some other viewpoints, and we did. Getting to Bimbe is really the road less travelled and it felt like going on an expedition. Who knows what else you can discover here and in Angola in general on a longer itinerary.

Finish the day with a Boerewors burger at Café do Monte and fly back to Luanda

All that sightseeing surely must have made you hungry so time to grab a delicious burger at Café do Monte. They have quite the list of burgers, but we chose the Boerewors burger, which was an excellent choice.

After that late lunch or early dinner if you will, it’s time to say goodbye to your Airbnb hosts and fly back to Luanda for the final day of this Angola itinerary.

Day 7 | Finish your week in Angola with safari in Quiçama National Park

Is there a better way to finish your week-long Angola itinerary than with a safari? I mean you’re in Africa after all. Just outside the capital you can go on safari in Kissama (or Quiçama) National Park. It takes about two hours to reach the park from Luanda.

During the civil war that finished already two decades ago, most of the Angolan wildlife in this region was killed. The government is now introducing new animals in order to hopefully restore what was once here. So far it’s just herbivores like wildebeests, zebras and giraffes. But who knows maybe lions or leopards will also be introduced in the future.

Because Kissama National Park is south of the city you have another chance to pass by the Moon viewpoint and the artisanal market. Pick up some items there if you weren’t sure yet on day 1 of this itinerary.

Just like the tour in Luanda and the tour to Calandula Falls, you can book a day trip safari to Kissama National Park through Luzaya Turismo.

One week in Angola | Where to stay

It’s easy to arrange accommodation for this itinerary. You only need to book 4 nights in Luanda and 2 nights in Lubango. The night in Calandula Falls is part of the two-day tour to see Calandula Falls and the Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo.

Where to stay in Luanda

Luanda has a lot of options, but since I’ve done the research for you already, check out my recommendations:

• Casas de Luanda GH-Kinaxixe (mid-range) | A lovely guesthouse with clean and comfortable rooms. Other guests are mostly there for business, but nice to chat with because they mostly work for NGOs or projects to help develop Angola.
• Intercontinental Hotel (luxury) | The epitome in luxury when in Angola, because this hotel has it all. It’s also quite pricy, but if you want to chill in the most comfortable way after a long day or week of Angola sightseeing, then this is the place to be. Great views from many of the rooms, the hotel bar and the rooftop pool.

Where to stay at Calandula Falls

There are two great options to stay the night on your trip to Calandula Falls.

• Pousada Calandula | This is the only place you would want to stay when visiting the gorgeous Calandula Falls. The falls are the highlight of any trip to Angola, so you would want to spend the night right next to them. Waking up and seeing the falls from your bed is just priceless. Book this 2-day tour to Calandula Falls and the stay at Pousada Calandula is included.
• Hotel Portugalia | Another great option if you’re more on a budget. The hotel is clean and comfortable and situated in the town of Malanje, about an hours drive from the falls. The hotel is included in this 2-day Calandula Falls tour from Luanda.
• Hotel Numina | In the town of Calandula, just a few kilometres away from the falls you’ll find this budget hotel. It gets mixed reviews about cleanliness, but a solid option if you want to stay close to the action.

Where to stay in Lubango

For a local experience I would totally recommend just one place in Lubango.

• Lueji and Alex’ Airbnb | Staying with Lueji and Alex and their two daughters made my trip to Angola even better than it already was. It was a unique experience to live with an Angolan family for a few days. learned about their lives, Angolan society, food and history. On top of that they have a tourism agency, so they can show you around Lubango on day trips, or even longer trips to Namibe and Huambo.

One week in Angola | How to get there and around

How to get to Angola

Getting to Angola you will most likely arrive at Luanda’s brand new airport Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ). It only opened in 2025 and most international airlines, as well as Angolan Airlines (TAAG) have now moved operations.

Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and TAP have direct flights from Europe. From the Middle East Qatar Airlines and Emirates have direct connections. And within Africa Royal Air Maroc and Ethiopian connect to Luanda.

The large distance away from the city is a big disadvantage of the new airport. However, the old Quatro de Fevereiro airport is a complete disaster, so hopefully the new airport will make arriving in and departing from Angola a much smoother experience.

How to get around Angola

When you follow the Angola itinerary above, you hardly have to organise any transportation yourself. Perhaps just getting from the airport to your hotel on the day you get from Lubango. Other rides you can get organised through your hotel or guesthouse, or you will be picked up and dropped off as part of that days tour.

That said, with these resources you should be able to plan your complete trip.

Ride share apps

Uber and Grab do not exist in Angola, but instead you can download Yango and Heetch. The first one you can use in Luanda, while the second one is used in Lubango. You need a Portuguese number to register in these apps.

The catch with these apps is that it’s common that after booking a ride, the driver will call you where you are to confirm. It’s annoying if you don’t speak Portuguese. Also the app is giving away your location too, making the call unnecessary.

But this is how they do things. So best be prepared with a few sentences in Portuguese to confirm that you are where the app indicates that you are. And that “Eu não falo português”, unless of course you do speak Portuguese.

When the ride is finished you pay in cash. A ride within Luanda with Yango is very cheap. From the old airport to the central Luanda neighbourhoods of Miramar or Kinaxixi for example, a ride should cost around 1,200 – 1,500 Kz.

Long distance buses by Macon

The only bus schedules that you can sometimes find online are from Macon. However, you cannot book the tickets anywhere online. This means you have to show up at the bus station and hope that there is still a ticket available for the route and bus you want to travel. You can check for schedules on the Macon website here.

If you follow the week-long Angola itinerary in this article then there’s no need to take the bus though. A fellow adventure traveller did say the buses are reasonably comfortable. So, if you’re not joining any tour, then find a connection from Luanda to Malanje and from Luanda to Lubango. Macon also runs night buses.

Luanda local buses (candongueiros)

You cannot miss these blue and white minivans while walking the streets of Luanda. For locals candongueiros are a reliable service to get from A to B, but for foreigners visiting for a few days its a confusing system.

You don’t know the routes, where the stops are to get on or off and on top of that these minivans are involved in a lot of accidents.

Needless to say I wouldn’t recommend trying it out, unless you’re looking for an extra adventure on this already adventurous trip through Angola.

One week in Angola | Staying Connected

When you’re travelling around Angola for one week, of course you want to stay connected. Normally I would recommend to install an eSIM before you go, however right now this is not available for Angola. Instead get a sim card from Unitel or Africell.

• Unitel | The largest data provider in Angola, where you can get a SIM card in one of their own shops or through an agent. You might need a little help setting it up because instructions are in Portuguese only. Unitel is currently rolling out eSim in these stores, so head there to try and set that up.
• Africell | Alternatively, you can get a sim card from Africell. It’s a new player on the Angolan market so they offer excellent deals. They also actively promote eSIM, although you would have to check out if this is also supported for foreigners. You can locate the nearest Africell store here.

Final thoughts on this week-long Angola itinerary

My visit to Angola really left a mark on me. I met some wonderful people, saw some great sights and there were no other tourists in sight. The country is full of amazing sights and I will certainly come back to visit some more of the country’s amazing landscapes.

Have you been to Angola, or have any questions? Then let me know in the comments or contact me on Instagram. Also sign-up to my newsletter to receive updated on future travel guides and itineraries.

Planning a trip to Angola and Africa? Then visit my Africa Travel Guide to read all the latest articles about this diverse continent.