Angola has reached a major milestone in its tourism development with the official opening of the Luiana Plains Expedition Camp, the country's first authentic safari camp and the first tourist accommodation established inside Luengue-Luiana National Park.
Officially inaugurated on 19 July, the camp marks the beginning of a new era for eco-tourism in Angola, providing travellers with access to one of Africa's most pristine and least explored wilderness areas.
Located within the Angolan section of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) – the world's largest terrestrial transfrontier conservation area – the camp is expected to strengthen both conservation efforts and sustainable tourism in the region.
The project is led by Luiana Plains Safaris, a partnership bringing together some of Southern Africa's most experienced tourism operators.
The company was founded by Simone and Alessandro Micheletti, directors of Namibia's Wild Waters Group, alongside Bruno De Leo and Brent Dacomb, the directors behind Pioneers and Batonka Lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
By combining decades of operational expertise in the Zambezi Region with established international marketing networks, the partners aim to introduce Angola's vast wilderness areas to the global tourism market while ensuring tourism directly supports conservation and local communities.
According to the company, for decades, Angola remained largely absent from Africa's safari map despite its extraordinary biodiversity. Following years of conservation investment and the recovery of its protected areas, the country is now positioning itself as one of the continent's newest frontier safari destinations.
It said that the Luiana Plains Expedition Camp has been designed to deliver an authentic expedition-style safari experience that balances adventure with comfort.
The camp features 10 spacious Meru-style tented suites, complemented by two guide tents, all equipped with private en-suite bathrooms. Each tent includes warm water, electrical charging points and fans, allowing guests to enjoy modern comforts while remaining immersed in the surrounding wilderness.
At the centre of the camp is a communal lounge, dining area and bar, creating a relaxed gathering space where guests can unwind after a day exploring the park.
Luiana Plains Safaris said that the development has been built according to strict sustainability principles. Its low-impact infrastructure has been carefully designed to minimise disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem while preserving the natural character of Luengue-Luiana National Park. The camp began welcoming guests through a soft opening in July 2026, with full operations expected to commence in 2027.
According to the company, the location also offers excellent regional connectivity, particularly through neighbouring Namibia. Visitors reach the camp via an informal border crossing near Kongola in Namibia's Zambezi Region, approximately 140 kilometres from Katima Mulilo, 250 kilometres from Kasane in Botswana and 340 kilometres from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
From the border, guests are transported by scheduled 4x4 transfers on a two-hour drive to the camp. Self-drive access is not permitted, helping to reduce environmental impacts while ensuring visitor safety. Charter flight options are also available to the Kongola area through Mpacha Airport near Katima Mulilo, making the camp an attractive addition to multi-country itineraries across the KAZA landscape.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of guided wilderness experiences, including game drives, night drives, guided nature walks and boat cruises. These activities provide exclusive access to one of Africa's newest safari destinations while showcasing the remarkable biodiversity and expansive landscapes of Luengue-Luiana National Park.
The camp also supports the broader objectives of the KAZA TFCA by promoting cross-border wildlife conservation, habitat restoration and sustainable tourism across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
According to Luiana Plains Safaris, the opening represents far more than the launch of a luxury tourism product.
"The opening of the Luiana Plains Expedition Camp is not just a triumph for Luiana Plains Safaris, but a proud moment for Angola. We are opening our doors to the world, showcasing the raw, untouched beauty of Luengue-Luiana National Park while championing the conservation efforts of the KAZA initiative,” it said
