Angola, a vast country in Southern Africa, remains a hidden gem for international tourists. With its abundance of captivating sights and activities, Angola offers a unique experience for those seeking unexplored destinations. Among its remarkable natural wonders is Calandula Falls, one of Africa’s grandest waterfalls, adding to the allure of this untapped travel destination.
In a report published by thetravel.com, Visiting the Calandula Falls is one of the top things to do in overlooked Angola. Angola is one of the greatest but lesser-known countries around the world worthy of a visit. It is a country with a lot to see, but there are few tourists to explore those attractions.
What To Know About Visiting Angola
As a former Portuguese colony, Angola was one of the last countries to escape colonial rule (in 1974). Angola then fell into a protracted civil war that raged from 1975 to 2002. So for a long time, Angola was not a safe country to visit, and it was closed off to the world of international tourism. But these days, the civil war is long behind, and Angola is one of the great destinations to visit in Africa. It is a country that has turned a corner and is now welcoming tourists from all around the world.
READ: Africa: Ethiopia, Angola economies set to overtake Kenya in IMF projections
Official Language: Portuguese
Size: 1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi)
Angola is a deceptively large country (around twice the size of Texas) and is home to around 35 million people. It borders Namibia, Congo (DRC), and Zambia, while the largest city and the capital is Luanda.
Since 2018 there has been a simplified tourist regime for 61 countries (including the United States). Tourists can now get a tourist visa for 30 days online for a fee of $120.
The Calandula Falls: A Forgotten Gem Of Africa
The Calandula Falls (or Quedas de Calandula in Portuguese) is the largest waterfall in Angola and the second-largest waterfall in Africa (the largest is Victoria Falls which straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe). The Calandula Falls is undeveloped as a tourist destination and offers a rare opportunity to see one of the great natural wonders of the world before it is ‘spoiled’ by tourism.
By contrast, Victoria Falls is a well-developed tourist destination attracting people to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. At Victoria Falls, visitors can enjoy a leisurely boat ride among the hippos and elephants, go on a safari in the national park, or enjoy an epic whitewater rafting adventure along the mighty Zambezi River flanked by crocodiles.
Height: 105 meters or 344 feet
Width: 400 meters or 1,300 feet
The Calandula Falls plummets 105 meters or 344 feet and are spread out in a horseshoe shape 400 meters or 1,300 feet wide. By comparison, Niagara Falls is the largest waterfall in North America but only falls 51 meters or 167 feet. The falls are around 360 kilometers or 200 miles from Luanda. It is set on the Lucala River, which is a tributary of the largest river in Angola – the Cuanza River.
Take A Guided Tour To The Calandula Falls
The easiest way to explore Angola and get to the Calandula Falls is by guided tour (especially for first-time visitors). These tours can really open up the country and grant insight into how Angola is a country of exceptional biodiversity.
One example of a multiday tour to the Calandula Falls is listed on Pure and Authentic Tourism and includes an English-speaking tour guide.
The tour starts from the capital and heads into the interior of the country. The first stop is in Ndalatando, where guests visit the Botanical Garden there and peak at the country’s biodiversity. After lunch, the tour then heads to the Calandula Falls. There the tour sees the falls from two perspectives (depending on the weather) – from the top and the bottom.
