ANGOLA: JULY 2019 CULTURAL TOUR - mttsafaris Angola Cultural Tour July 2019.pdflunch in Caraculo...

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ANGOLA: JULY 2019 CULTURAL TOUR

BETWEEN JULY 03 – 12, 2019, MTT OFFERS IT FIRST CULTURAL TOUR OF ANGOLA WHICH FOCUSES ENTIRELY ON THE SPARSELY POPULATED SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF THE COUNTRY AND THE TRIBES WHICH LIVE THERE. AMONG THE PEOPLE WE EXPECT TO MEET ARE THE MUILA; THE MUCUBAL; THE MUCUIS; THE CUEPE; THE HIMBA; AND NGUENDELENGO.

MTTZ Director Leslie Nevison accompanies this group which is open to 8 participants. The trip will go ahead with 4 people. We are also accompanied by an English-speaking guide from Luanda. Guides with specialized knowledge in their local areas are hired as we go along.

As this is MTTZ’s first time to Angola, we stress the exploratory nature of the trip. We are there to learn and to fine-tune the itinerary for future MTTZ travelers.

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>> Please Note:

• Level of accommodation on this tour is good, although please be aware that it is not the same standard found on the Southern and Eastern Africa safari circuits.

• There are three days of camping included in South African style bow tents. Participants are asked to bring their own sleeping bag. Tents, mattresses and other camping equipment are provided.

• A reasonable level of fitness is required for walking in the mountains and climbing steep rock faces to see ancient rock art, although one can sit this climbing out if necessary.

• Road conditions are poor in Angola and distances are long. Daily driving distances are given in the itinerary, but we might spend longer in the vehicle than what is noted.

• The order of daily excursions and visits to tribes might have to be modified to suit local conditions.

• In summary: flexibility, patience and a sense of adventure are prerequisites for this tour!

CLIMATE PREPAREDNESSAngola’s dry season is May to early September. June and July are Angola’s colder months. Dry and colder conditions therefore make July an ideal month to travel in Angola. A fleece or jacket will be required, especially in the mountains we visit in the south.

DISEASE PREVENTIONMalaria is prevalent in Angola. Tour participants are encouraged to take precautionary medication.

FLIGHT INFORMATION**Luanda, Angola’s capital, is served by various international airlines, among them Air France; Lufthansa; Ethiopian; Kenya Airways and South African Airlines. Dependent upon which carrier is used, an additional night(s) in Luanda might be necessary and are not included in the current cost of the tour. We can arrange this accommodation for you.

>> Ethiopian Airlines: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun/Thurs: ET 851/850 departs Addis 09:50 arrives 12:35. Departs Luanda 13:40 arrives Addis 20:20. 4.5 hrs. direct flights

>> South African Airways: Wed/Fri: SAA 54/55 departs JNB 09:45 arrives 12:35. Departs Luanda 13:25 arrives JNB 17:45. 4 hrs. direct flights

>> Kenya Airways: Tues/Thurs/Sat: KQ 722: Departs NBO 11:20 arrives 14:40. Departs Luanda 15:20 arrives 21:25. 4 hrs. direct flights

>> Air France: Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat/Mon: AF928: Departs Paris CDG 22:05 arrives 06:20. Departs Luanda 21:35 arrives 06:05. 8 hrs. 30 mins direct flights


SOUTHERN ANGOLA TRIBESA BRIEF OVERVIEW

The Muila people are a cluster of semi-nomadic ethnic groups living on the Huila Plateau. Women coat their hair with a red paste composed of crushed red stone. They also use a mixture of oil, crushed tree bark, dried cow dung and herbs on their hair. On top of these pastes, they decorate their hair with beads, cowrie shells and even dried food. A shaved forehead is considered a sign of feminine beauty. Muila women are famous for their mud necklaces, which reflect their age-sets. Little girls wear red necklaces made with beads heavily coated with soil and latex. Adolescent girls wear yellow necklaces made of earth-coated wicker which are worn until their marriage. After marriage Muila women wear multiple stacks of bead necklaces which are never removed, even for sleep.

The Mucubal people are a sub-group of the Herero tribe, with a lifestyle based on both cattle-rearing and agriculture. Young girls sharpen their upper teeth and remove their lower ones. The Mucubal believe in a god called Huku, and worship ancestral spirits called Oyo. Divination is very important: They use amulets and talismans as personal protection. Although they raise cattle, they eat meat only on special occasions such as funerals. Nor do they eat fish: one of their legends recounts the story of a Mucubal chieftain who was taken to the sea by the Portuguese and who never returned. Mucubal women wear a distinctive head dress made of wicker and decorated with buttons, shells, zippers, and beads. Mucubal women are also famous for a single string they wear around their breasts which functions as a bra.

The first settlements of the Himba people can be traced back to the early 16th century when they crossed the Angolan border and settled there. At time the word Himba did not exist because of the fact that they had not yet separated themselves from the Herero tribe. Himba came into being in the


19th century when a group separated from the larger population during a bovine epidemic. Today’s Himba are well known for the red ochre paste applied heavily to their women’s hair on top of which is a crown made of goat or cow leather. Women also apply paste to their bodies. One of the most remarkable Himba customs is that the women are not allowed to use water for washing. Instead they take a daily smoke bath. They perspire over smouldering charcoal. For a full body wash they cover themselves with a blanket so that the smoke gets trapped underneath.

The Mudimba people are a small group living in the border area with Namibia. They are best known for the beaded head dresses worn by unmarried women.

The Mucuis are the last hunter-gatherers of Southern Angola deserts. Only a few numbers of them remain. They are nomads who build simple camps near protective rock formations.

The Cuepe are the original peoples of Southern Angola, a combination of Khoisan and Bantu ancestries. Like the Mucuis, it is thought that only a few hundred of them remain. The elders speak a click language. They live around the Curoca oasis.

The Nguendelengo are goat-keepers and hunters who live in the Garganta Mountains. They are similar to the Mucubal for whom they labour as subservient workers.

ITINERARYDAY 01 // WEDNESDAY: 03 JULY // LUANDAArrive Luanda. You are met and transferred to our Luanda accommodation, Hotel Diamante or similar.

Meals: lunch, dinner

DAY 02 // THURSDAY: 04 JULY // LUANDASpend the day exploring the key sights of Luanda in an air-conditioned vehicle, which includes the colonial quarter; the art museum; the Portuguese fortress called Sao Miguel from which there is a 360- degree view of the capital. With a population of at least 5 million, Luanda is one of Africa’s most populous cities. Its traffic gridlock is infamous. This tour will take into account the issues of getting around Luanda. At 16:30 we transfer to the airport for the hour-long domestic flight to Lubango departing at 19:00. (We can expect some delays with departure times.) Overnight Hotel Vanjul or similar.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 03 // FRIDAY: 05 JULY // LUANDA – LUBANGOKPLubango is a more relaxed city than chaotic Luanda with a back drop of the imposing Chela Hills. Colonial-era buildings dominate its city centre. We travel to Chibia town today, a Portuguese colonial town and location of the Muila tribal market. The Muila are one of Angola’s most colourful tribal groups with their decorative layered beaded necklaces and elaborate mud-sculpted hair. We undertake a 2-hour walk on foot to a Muila village. The Muila are settled in permanent villages and although they are influenced by Catholicism, they maintain their animistic beliefs. They are subsistence farmers who also raise cattle. We return to Lubango mid-afternoon. Overnight Vanjul Lodge or similar. Driving distance: 3+ hours.


DAY 04 // SATURDAY: 06 JULY // LUBANGO – ONCOCUAA full day’s drive south to Oncocua, a former Portuguese settlement in the middle of a cultural ‘island’ of different ethnic groups. Overnight camping at “Maria’s Place.” Driving distance: 6/7 hours.



DAY 05 // SUNDAY: 07 JULY // ONCOCUAWe spend today visiting the different tribal groups which live in this area. This is one of the most traditional areas of Angola and visitors are rare, but the local people are friendly and welcoming. Overnight camping.


DAY 06 // MONDAY: 08 JULY // ONCOCUA – OTCHICHAU – CAHAMA – LUBANGOAfter breakfast, we drive to the Mudimba tribal area. This unique ethnic group is famous for the Afro hairstyles of their women and for their lovely fenced villages. We drive to Cahama, a decisive site in Angola’s civil war when Cuban-Angolan forces stopped the advance of South African tanks. We visit a small monument to the Cuban assistance before returning to Lubango. Overnight Vanjul Lodge or similar. Driving distance: 6/7 hours.


DAY 07 // TUESDAY: 09 JULY // LUBANGO – CARACULO – NAMIBEWe leave Lubango, driving west in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean, descending the Huila plateau on the famous feat of engineering called the Serra da Leba Road. This road descends the plateau in a series of hairpin turns. We stop at the top of the escarpment for the panoramic view. We have a picnic lunch in Caraculo town. En route to Namibe town, where we overnight, we stop at Nguendelengo settlements. The Nguendelengo are culturally isolated due to their remote mountain homeland. We undertake an afternoon walking tour of Namibe, a quiet fishing town founded by the Portuguese in 1840 and still full of old colonial relics. Overnight Hotel Infotour or similar. Driving distance: 4/5 hours.


DAY 08 // WEDNESDAY: 10 JULY // LNAMIBE – TCHITUNDU HULO – NAMIBEWe have an early wake-up call for the drive through the unique desert landscape. The strange looking weltwitschia plant grows in this desert. This plant can survive without water and is known to live for very long periods of time, some up to 1000 years. In Virei town, after a picnic lunch, we visit the local market and the Mucubal people who congregate here. The Mucubal are Bantu nomadic shepherds and the dominant tribe of southern Angola. They speak Herero and have the proud history of being the last tribe conquered by the Portuguese. Afterwards, continue to Tchitundo Hulo, about 2 hours driving distance from Virei, known for its collections of prehistoric rock paintings. These are spread out along a steeply inclined granite rock face. They are sacred to the Mucuis people and are thought to date back 20,000 years. The plan is to arrive at Tchitundo Hulo around 16:00/16:30 when the afternoon


light on the paintings is best. The hike to the summit of the rock face takes 30 minutes. There are stunning views from the top. Overnight is a fly-camp. Driving distance: 6 hours.

Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 09 // THURSDAY: 11 JULY // TCHITUNDO HULO – NAMIBE – GARGANTA – LUBANGO – TUNDA VALA – LUANDA

We drive to Namibe where we have lunch in the Hotel Infotour. We then continue our drive to Lubango via the Serra da Leba Road of many hairpin turns. We stop for the Tunda Vala and Cristo Rey panormamic views at the top of the escarpment. We take an evening one-hour flight to Luanda departing 21:00. This is a a long day. Overnight in Luanda at the Hotel Ilha Mar or similar. Driving distance: 6 hours.


DAY 10 // FRIDAY: 12 JULY // LUANDA – INTERNATIONAL DEPARTUREMorning excursion to Miradouro da Lua, a series of lunar-landscape type cliffs. Time permitting, we also visit the Slave Museum; the artisan market, and Santiago Beach ship cemetery. Activities will depend on departure flights. Drop off to the airport for international departure. Three hours is a recommended check-in time before flights.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

— E N D O F S A F A R I S E R V I C E S —

COST PER PERSON (BASED ON TWO PEOPLE SHARING)

8 paxs: 3,730 Euros / $4,300 USD (est.)



>> SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: estimated 450 Euros

>> NOTE: This trip will proceed with a minimum of 4 guests.


SERVICES INCLUDE• Airport transfers in Luanda and Lubanga

• Accommodation per the itinerary

• Meals per the itinerary

• English speaking guide throughout

• Local guides where necessary

• Minibus transport in Luanda

• Transport in 4x4 vehicle(s) outside of Luanda

• Entrance fees to various sites per the itinerary

• Camping equipment with the exception of sleeping bag

• Invitation letter for Angola visa submission

SAFARI EXCLUDES• International flights

• Travel insurance

• Domestic airport taxes

• Drinks

• Gratuities

• Sleeping bag

• Visas

ANGOLA: JULY 2019 CULTURAL TOUR - mttsafaris Angola Cultural Tour July 2019.pdflunch in Caraculo...

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