Tourism milestone as first safari camp opens in remote Cuando Province

The opening of Luiana Plains Safaris gives travellers access to one of Africa's least explored wilderness areas, marking a major step in Angola's ambition to become one of the continent's leading ecotourism destinations.

Angola has reached another milestone in its tourism development with the official opening of Luiana Plains Safaris, the first safari camp in the province of Cuando, South-East Angola. Situated deep within Luengue-Luiana National Park in the Angolan headwaters of the Okavango Basin, the expedition-style camp opens the door to one of Africa's largest and least explored protected landscapes, marking the beginning of a new chapter for safari tourism in Angola.

Officially inaugurated by Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, the opening represents the first step in Angola's long-term vision to develop the Cuando region as the country's leading destination for ecotourism, combining conservation, responsible private investment and meaningful benefits for local communities.

Located in the heart of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the world's largest transboundary conservation area, Luengue-Luiana National Park covers more than 22,600 square kilometres of floodplains, woodlands, savannah and wetlands. Following years of conservation work, wildlife populations are steadily recovering, with elephant, lion, leopard, African wild dog, buffalo and numerous antelope species once again thriving across this vast wilderness, alongside hundreds of bird species. Despite its scale and ecological significance, it remains one of Southern Africa's least explored safari destinations.

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"The opening of Luiana Plains Safaris is much more than the launch of a new tourism product. It demonstrates how Angola can protect its extraordinary natural heritage while creating opportunities for local communities through responsible tourism. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for safari tourism in our country." Said Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola

Designed as a low-impact expedition camp, Luiana Plains Safaris offers just 10 guest rooms accommodating 20 guests, together with a restaurant, bar and shared guest areas. Visitors can experience guided 4×4 game drives, boat excursions on the Cuando River, birdwatching, wildlife viewing and tailor-made safari experiences in an environment where nature remains largely untouched. 

The camp has been developed by Luiana Plains Safaris, an Angolan-registered company recognised by AIPEX, whose founders bring decades of experience operating safari lodges in neighbouring Namibia and Zimbabwe. Their vision is to demonstrate how carefully managed tourism can help conserve Angola's wilderness while supporting long-term regional development. 

Luiana Plains Safaris also creates new opportunities for multi-country safari itineraries across the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). Situated approximately 250 kilometres from Kasane in Botswana and accessible via Namibia's Caprivi Strip, the camp can be combined with destinations such as Chobe National Park, the Caprivi and Victoria Falls. For experienced safari travellers, it offers the opportunity to extend a traditional Southern African itinerary into one of the region's last truly untouched wilderness areas, adding a new dimension to the classic KAZA safari circuit.

The launch also forms part of Angola's wider strategy to position tourism as a key pillar of economic diversification. Through programmes such as Simplifica Turismo, the government is streamlining investment processes while investing in roads, telecommunications, water and energy infrastructure to support tourism development across the Okavango Basin. A new tourism investment guide has also been introduced to encourage responsible private investment in priority destinations. 

For travellers who thought they had experienced every great safari destination in Africa, Angola offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to explore a vast wilderness that remains largely untouched by international tourism. With the opening of Luiana Plains Safaris, that experience has become more accessible than ever before, reinforcing Angola's growing reputation as one of Africa's most exciting emerging destinations.

For further information visit https://luianaplains.com

About Angola

Angola is Africa's magnificent secret, a country of jaw-dropping contrasts and untamed beauty in the heart of Southern Africa. As the continent's sixth-largest nation, Angola dazzles with landscapes that shift from lush rainforests to dramatic desert expanses, from thundering waterfalls to 1,600 kilometres of pristine Atlantic coastline. This is a land shaped by powerful kingdoms and complex history, where the ancient Kingdom of Kongo once held sway and Portuguese colonial influence left an indelible mark.

The capital, Luanda, is a dynamic Atlantic gateway where African vitality, Portuguese heritage and indigenous traditions create an intoxicating urban energy. With its tourism brand, "Visit Angola – The Rhythm of Life", the destination calls to explorers, nature enthusiasts and culture seekers who refuse to follow the crowd.

For more information visit www.angolatourism.com

Link to images of Luiana Plain Safaris here

Link to images of Angola here

Press Contacts

Adele Cutler, PR ManagerE-mail: adele.cutler@klebergroup.comTel: +44 7976 578988

Tim Henshall, UK DirectorE-mail: tim.henshall@klebergroup.comTel: +44 7810 508791