Angola celebrates
Independence Day on November 11th which
means also a long weekend!
It was a stressful week of phone calls trying to book cabins and safari tours and of course to get the important permit allowing us to cross the "boarder" outside of Luanda.
At last on Sunday together with other three families we traveled east from Luanda through Catete all the way to the village of Muxima. This was a picturesque place located on the banks of the river Kwanza.
There is a Portuguese fort built up on the hill with a cute little church beneath it. This place is one of the important Angolan pilgrimage places.
We did a bit of sightseeing enjoying the beautiful views and relaxed atmosphere so different from Luanda.
From Muxima we continued west towards the coast as we booked a cabin for the night in the Kissama National Park.
Upon our arrival the lodge was very busy, as usually during the long weekends. We booked also a safari trip for 4 p.m. but they let another group go instead of us. But seemingly they booked several groups for the same trip. There were many frustrated visitors at the reception and some were very emotional.
That was only the start. They offered a boat trip instead but when we arrived at the river the captain requested certain receipt we didn't have...
...We ordered dinner for 7 o'clock but at 8 it was still not there and the kids were very hungry and adults too actually!
I was looking forward to spend a quiet night surrounded by nature while listening only to the soothing sounds of the night bush. But the generator located just behind the cabins was so loud it literally vibrated the floor where Maarten was sleeping on. Luckily he didn't mind.
Our safari trip was postponed to 6 a.m. I was O.K. with getting up early but in the morning all visitors showed up at 6 and it was obvious that this trip was offered as a compensation to the yesterdays afternoon one to everyone staying in the lodge!
We were lucky to get on the first truck but still it was a bit stressy again.
While living in Angola you already know what to expect and that the patience is the key. That's how it was this time again.
All and all it was quite an experience and I know that in the end we will only remember the nice moments and definitely the stunning nature!
Yes, it was kind of worth all the effort even though I might use a little break.
It was a stressful week of phone calls trying to book cabins and safari tours and of course to get the important permit allowing us to cross the "boarder" outside of Luanda.
At last on Sunday together with other three families we traveled east from Luanda through Catete all the way to the village of Muxima. This was a picturesque place located on the banks of the river Kwanza.
There is a Portuguese fort built up on the hill with a cute little church beneath it. This place is one of the important Angolan pilgrimage places.
We did a bit of sightseeing enjoying the beautiful views and relaxed atmosphere so different from Luanda.
From Muxima we continued west towards the coast as we booked a cabin for the night in the Kissama National Park.
Upon our arrival the lodge was very busy, as usually during the long weekends. We booked also a safari trip for 4 p.m. but they let another group go instead of us. But seemingly they booked several groups for the same trip. There were many frustrated visitors at the reception and some were very emotional.
That was only the start. They offered a boat trip instead but when we arrived at the river the captain requested certain receipt we didn't have...
...We ordered dinner for 7 o'clock but at 8 it was still not there and the kids were very hungry and adults too actually!
I was looking forward to spend a quiet night surrounded by nature while listening only to the soothing sounds of the night bush. But the generator located just behind the cabins was so loud it literally vibrated the floor where Maarten was sleeping on. Luckily he didn't mind.
Our safari trip was postponed to 6 a.m. I was O.K. with getting up early but in the morning all visitors showed up at 6 and it was obvious that this trip was offered as a compensation to the yesterdays afternoon one to everyone staying in the lodge!
We were lucky to get on the first truck but still it was a bit stressy again.
While living in Angola you already know what to expect and that the patience is the key. That's how it was this time again.
All and all it was quite an experience and I know that in the end we will only remember the nice moments and definitely the stunning nature!
Yes, it was kind of worth all the effort even though I might use a little break.
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| Descending down into Muxima Village |
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| Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima. |
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| To the fortress. |
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| Almost there! |
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| View from the fortress down to the village and the Kwanza river. |
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| Many came for the holy mission on Sunday and pitched their tents pitched their tents in the direct surroundings
of the church. |
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| Entering the Kissama NP. |
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| Descending down to the river for the river safari in the late afternoon. |
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| Seems we miss an important receit! |
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| Aboard at last! |
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| Happy! |
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| Fishermen. |
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| Village at the riverbank. |
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| Crockie! |
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| Watermonitor. |
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| Beautiful scenery. |
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| Some of us decided to walk back to the camp. |
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| A little bit of adventure. |
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| The views were stunning... |
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| with every step uphill... |
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| but it was getting dark. |
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| Food finally!! |
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| Monkeys in the camp. |
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| All excited! |
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| After the sleepless night. |
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| This bull obviously didn't like the safari truck! |
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| He was really angry. |
 |
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| Wildbeasts grazing in the valley close to the Kwanza river. |
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| View from the camp restaurant. |
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| Our cabins and many monkeys! |
