Luanda and Bengo
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Positives
- Easy, long left pointbreaks
- Consistent swells
- Warmish water
- Undiscovered
Negatives
- Windy, exposed spots
- Costly flights and visas
- Post war rebuilding
- Sharks and crocs
Luanda and Bengo surf travel guide
It's expensive to get around and 4x4 is crucial for exploration, but tourism infrastructure is growing with beach hotels at fishing towns like Cabo Ledo, where long lazy lefts provide quality rides for all surfing abilities.
Surf spots in Luanda and Bengo
Research the 9 surf breaks in Luanda and Bengo and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 9 breaks in Luanda and Bengo.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Luanda and Bengo
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 218,000
- Population
- 32,866,272
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- AOA
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 44 AOA AOA
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +244
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- Portuguese, Bantu
Electricity
- Plug Type
- cf
Visas
Everyone needs a visa organised before arrival as well as a pre-booked itinery. Passports need at least 9 months validity rather than the standard 6 months. A 30 day tourist Visa costs $120. Get the latest visa updates here
Getting There
Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD) has direct flights from Libreville (Air Gabon, good value), Jo-Burg (SAA), Lisboa (TAP, best deals), Paris (Air France, costly), New York or Rio. Nat’l TAAG is expensive. Being mostly business flights, it’s very expensive to get to Luanda. To get from Luanda Airport (LAD) to the spots either hire a 4WD ($100+ per day) or get the bus from downtown Luanda (2.5h, $8-15).
Getting Around
Since 1975, many bridges have been blown up and many roads have been subject to attack by UNITA guerrillas, necessitating military convoys for road transportation. However, the 130 km (80mi) stretch down to Cabo Ledo is ok. Overloaded transport will get stuck in the sand. A 4WD is a must that costs $100+ per day (Wapo).
Accommodation
Costs a fortune. International Hotel chains (Meridien, Continental) range from $250/n. Cheapest hotels would be $80/n. Angola Waves has 8 day, all-inclusive overland packages for $1050. Cabo Ledo is becoming a tourist hub with lots of hotel construction going on and investment in the local infrastructure.
Activities
Quissama National Park flanks the Atlantic for 120km, just south of the Cuanza River. Apart from world-class fishing with huge river tarpon there is a golf course and nightlife in town. Good place to buy diamonds.
Hazards & hassles
Police checks can be hassley and expensive. A 4WD is needed to get anywhere and adds to the extremely high costs of travelling in Angola. There are regular shark sightings but no attacks on surfers. Except for rips, the sandy points are pretty harmless!
Handy Hints
Take everything. The left points are ideal for longboarding. Local currency is not exportable and dollars in cash are a must for the visitor.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.