January 17 – On the Road Toward Luanda
Good day. January 17th. It’s Saturday, and I’m hoping to make it about halfway to Luanda since I have the time. I set off from BwanaZongo and immediately found absolutely amazing roads. There were occasional rough patches and potholes here and there, but overall the driving conditions were excellent.
The scenery remained stunning. I continue to be very impressed with the Congo and now, of course, Angola.
Heavy Trucks and Big Plans
Along the way, I passed many trucks likely heading toward the DRC, carrying heavy equipment, dirt-moving machinery, and rebar. Clearly, there is a lot of development being planned. How smoothly the execution will go is another question.
I’m still not sure how some of those massive trucks manage to get through Matadi — it’s an incredibly tight spot.
Reaching the Coast – N’zeto
After a fair bit of driving, I made it to the coast and reached N’zeto. I had expected to find a place to stay there and continue on to Luanda the following day.
However, there wasn’t much happening. Road improvements were underway, with some sections being expanded, but towns with hotels or interesting stopping points were scarce. So I kept going.
Pushing Further North of Luanda
It looked like I might make it to Parada do Tôrde, a small town just north of Luanda. I arrived there and found it interesting, with plenty of fishing boats and activity, but again there wasn’t much in terms of accommodation.
At that point, I decided to continue all the way to Luanda and head straight to the hotel I had booked for the following day: Inn Luanda.
Parking Challenges in Luanda
Finding the hotel took some time, but eventually I located it. Then came the next challenge — could I check in a day early?
Fortunately, I could. However, there was another complication. The hotel had off-street parking, but barbed wire hung above the entrance gate at a height that didn’t accommodate my vehicle. That option was out.
We explored alternatives. One place down the street offered parking for 2,000 kwanzas, but that didn’t work out. Finally, a spot across from the hotel agreed — for 7,000 kwanzas for two nights — to lift their barbed wire so I could safely park inside.
Interestingly, the place was surrounded by laundry hanging out to dry, but that didn’t matter. As it turned out, it was also the place to go if I wanted a beer, since the hotel itself had no restaurant or bar.
Dinner and Settling In
There were plenty of food options nearby. When it was time for dinner, one of the hotel staff helped guide me to a restaurant. Language was a bit of a barrier, but everything was easy enough to navigate, and I made it back to the hotel without trouble.
A Fantastic Day of Progress
It turned into a fantastic day. I covered more distance than expected, essentially gaining a full day in my schedule and allowing myself an extra day in Luanda.
Thanks for coming along.
