Kissama National Park
Parque Nacional da Quiçama
A savanna park on the south bank of the Kwanza River, where elephants, giraffes and other animals were reintroduced through Operation Noah's Ark.
Kissama National Park lies between the Kwanza River and the Atlantic, about 70-150 km south of Luanda, and covers nearly 10,000 square km. During the civil war, wildlife was almost wiped out by hunting. In the 2000s, through Operation Noah's Ark, elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelopes were flown in from South Africa and Botswana and released. Today you can take a game drive in an open safari vehicle within the reserve, or take a boat at the Kwanza estuary to see mangroves and waterbirds. Animal densities are far lower than in East Africa, so temper your expectations. It is advisable to book a day trip through a local travel agency or a riverside lodge. The one-way journey takes about two hours, and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed to self-drive.
Opening hours
Daytime (with tour group)
Nearby sights
- Cabo Ledo
- Miradouro da Lua
- Benfica Craft Market
- National Museum of Slavery
- Mussulo Peninsula
- Mausoleum of Agostinho Neto
- National Museum of Natural History
- Church of Our Lady of Carmo