Cabinda

Cabinda is an exclave region of Angola separated from the rest of the country by a strip of land belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is not a tourist's paradise. There isn't much to see, but more importantly it is hard to get in or go anywhere because of visa and other permit restrictions. Most visitors are on business in the petro sector.

WARNING: Although the regional civil war in Cabinda was declared over in 2009, and a ceasefire between Angola and the Front for the Liberation of the Exclave of Cabinda (FLEC) was signed 2006, there are factions of the organization that have refused to agree to a ceasefire and remain hostile. The group kidnapped a Chinese worker in 2009 and killed members of the Togolese team on their way to the African Cup of Nations in 2010. Tourists are strongly urged to avoid the Cabinda region. Travelers on business should take extreme caution and, if available, consult the security plans/precautions of your employer.
(Information last updated Jul 2012)

Cities

  • 🌍 Cabinda — one of Angola's wealthiest cities (oil), Cabinda is fairly pleasant, with a good number of colonial style buildings, and better facilities than in most parts of the country.
  • 🌍 Belize
  • 🌍 Lândana (Cacongo)
  • 🌍 Malembo
  • 🌍 Malongo
  • 🌍 Tanda Matiaba

Other destinations
  • Floresta do Maiombe — this beautiful rainforest preserve should by rights be the number one attraction in the province, but it can be difficult and expensive to obtain a permit.

Understand

Cabinda used to be known as Portuguese Congo. The Portuguese did at times attempt to control the territory between Cabinda and the rest of their holdings in southwest Africa, which would have made things a lot more convenient for the Angolans today. But the territorial discontinuity of what would become Angola was set by the 1884 Berlin Conference, which established that Leopold of Belgium's personal property of the "Congo Free State" would extend along the Congo River to the Atlantic.

The Front for the Liberation of the Exclave of Cabinda (FLEC) has waged a secessionist struggle against the Angolan government since independence. The province's vast oil reserves, first explored by the Portuguese in the 1950s, guarantee that the Angolan government will use its powerful army to maintain tight control. Expect to see a very large military and police presence here.

Get in

Get around

See

Do

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

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