Trip to northern Angola ► Tribes, Masquerades and Kingdoms

Trip to Angola from 17 to 29 August 2026 / From 4,250€

Northern Angola is one of the least visited regions in Africa despite having spectacular natural landscapes such as the Congo River delta and the plains of Cameia National Park. Besides the natural wonders, this virgin region of Angola has preserved unique cultures such as the Tchokwe, the Lunda, the Luvale and the Bakongo with fabulous masquerades and art. In this trip to northern Angola we will combine nature with ethnographic experiences and history by travelling to the heart of the Kongo Empire in Mbanza Kongo and navigating the mythic Congo River, like Portuguese explorers such as Diogo Cao in 1482.

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Discover the highlights of this trip to northern Angola

Dundo and the Tchokwe Universe: Art, Memory and Sand Writing Our trip to northern Angola will begin with a flight from Luanda to Dundo, the historic diamond capital. There we will be welcomed by a Tchokwe guide who will introduce us to the city, its colonial legacy and the traditional villages surrounding it. We will explore the ethnographic museum, where we will meet a master of sona, the ancient Tchokwe sand-drawing tradition. During this stage of our trip to northern Angola, we will discover how sona combines art, geometry, narrative and symbolism. Moreover, its designs traced in the sand express knowledge passed down for centuries and form one of the most sophisticated visual systems in Bantu Africa. We will continue our trip to northern Angola by visiting two Tchokwe villages. We will meet local chiefs and elders and learn how the culture has changed since the arrival of the Portuguese and the rise of diamond exploitation. Later on, we will attend a traditional masked dance, one of the deepest expressions of Tchokwe identity.

Heading East: The Lunda and Luvale Kingdoms Our trip to northern Angola will continue towards Luau, an elegant colonial town near the border. On the way, we will visit a Lunda village and meet its king, guardian of an artistic and spiritual tradition rooted in centuries of history. Afterwards, we will reach Luau to walk through its old quarters and appreciate the preserved Portuguese-era architecture. The following day we will travel to Cazombo, seat of the Luvale Kingdom. There we will greet Her Royal Highness, Queen Nhakatolo Ngambo, an essential figure for Luvale communities in Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We will explore the town and prepare for an exceptional cultural journey. For a full day, we will experience Luvale spirituality in its most profound form. We will approach the universe of Mukanda, an ancient male initiation rite. We will see Makishi masks —some of the largest in Africa— and attend animist ceremonies held in honour of the ancestors. Consequently, we will understand how the Makishi represent spirits guiding young initiates into adulthood. It will be one of the most meaningful moments of our trip to northern Angola.

Saurimo and Return to Luanda After leaving Luvale territory, we will head to Saurimo, a city where the colonial heritage remains visible. We will walk through its historic neighbourhoods before taking a domestic flight back to Luanda, where we will enjoy a free afternoon to explore the Angolan capital.

The Atlantic Coast and the Route to Soyo The second part of our trip to northern Angola will take us by road to Soyo, an oil city located in the Congo River delta. From there, we will begin a navigation to the Padrão São Jorge, the spot where the navigator Diogo Cão landed in 1482. Access is only possible by boat, which will make this visit a unique experience of history, borderland and Atlantic landscape. We will then continue upriver to Noqui, an old colonial town set in a spectacular natural environment. Later on, we will drive along African tracks towards Mbanza Kongo, the historic capital of the great Kongo Empire, founded in the 14th century.

Mbanza Kongo: Heart of a Bantu Empire In this phase of our trip to northern Angola, we will explore the city that once served as the political, spiritual and cultural centre of one of the most influential pre-colonial kingdoms in Africa. We will start with a walk to the Cathedral of São Salvador, the oldest church in sub-Saharan Africa and now a World Heritage Site. We will visit the former royal palace, now a museum, as well as several ritual spaces nearby: Yala Knuwu, Sungilu and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Also, we will walk through historic neighbourhoods whose urban layout has remained surprisingly consistent since the days of the old kingdom. If schedules allow, we will attend community ceremonies or local gatherings that reveal the vitality of Kongo culture. We will meet a traditional healer and listen to Bakongo music that still conveys the spirit of the royal court.

Rock Art, Kongo Villages and Return to Luanda To conclude our trip to northern Angola, we will visit the Nzau Evua cave. Inside, we will see 16th-century rock paintings depicting the arrival of the Portuguese in the Kongo Kingdom. Also, we will meet the Kongo village that protects this historical treasure. Afterwards, we will return to Luanda, where we will end this cultural immersion into one of Africa’s most fascinating and lesser-known regions.