Lilongwe to Luanda by Bus

Travelling from Lilongwe to luanda is not a straightforward journey as one might expect it to be. It takes five buses and transit through Zambia and Namibia. Despite Zambia and Angola being neighbours they isn’t a direct bus service between Lusaka and Luanda

The cheapest bus route from Lusaka to Luanda involves multiple transfers and goes through Katima Mulilo (in Namibia) and Windhoek (Namibia), taking over two days. This clearly demonstrates the absence of a direct route, despite the shared border. Bus routes often follow major trade and economic corridors. Historically, routes linking the region to economic hubs like South Africa (via Namibia or Zimbabwe) have been prioritized over connections between countries with less intensive economic exchange, such as Angola and Zambia.

For this journey I opted to travel with UBZ & Intercape from Lilongwe to Oshikango. The main reason being their coaches have toilet facilities on board, full air conditioning, comfortable spacious seats. The same reason I chose Macon in Angola is that i drink alot of liquids especially when travelling so the toilet is of essence to me.

Please note that prices of food and other travel needs are slightly the same in Malawi, Zambia and Namibia. In Angola the cost of living is on the higher end. That shouldn’t discourage you. The best places to visit in Luanda are: Fortress of São Miguel, National Museum of Angola, Dr. Agostinho Neto Memorial, Mussulo Island, Cape island, etc. I enjoyed it more at the Girafa Complex, there are restaurants that serve delicious menus.

Below is the breakdown of my adventure. My journey started at Grand business park in Lilongwe and ended at Gamek Terminal in Luanda.

Lilongwe to Lusaka

I have written a detailed article about the Lilongwe to Lusaka route. It’s a journey covering an estimated 713 kilometres from Grand business park in Lilongwe to Lusaka inter-city bus terminal..

Lusaka to Livingstone

The bus journey from Lusaka to Livingstone is a common route with several operators. I used UBZ as my preferred operator. The journey duration ranges from about 8 hours to 9 hours, depending on traffic. Fares typically range from about $14 to $26 USD or approximately ZK203.00, though prices may vary and are generally paid in Zambian Kwacha.

Livingstone to Windhoek

The journey is long, covering over 1,000 km. My preferred operator was Intercape coaches. They generally have well-maintained coaches and offer amenities like air conditioning, an onboard toilet, and comfort stops.

The journey involves a border crossing at Katima Mulilo (Zambia/Namibia). Allow for significant time at the border for immigration and customs procedures.

Departure Point in Livingstone was from the Shoprite Bus Stop. Be sure to confirm the exact location when booking your ticket. Arrival Point in Windhoek was at the Intercape Office near Bahnhof Street/TransNamib Station. Buses are available on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Windhoek to Oshikango

The route is a long-distance overnight journey. The main and most reliable bus service for the route from Windhoek to Oshikango (which is on the border with Angola) is Intercape & Marcon. The journey duration is approximately 11 hours to 12 hours. Busfare is between R500 to R700 one way.

In Windhoek the departure point is at the Intercape Office. Arrival Point Oshikango Bus Stop, near the FNB on Main Road/Pick n Pay Shopping Centre.

Oshikango-Santa Clara Border Post.

This is a very straightforward place, as Oshikango (Namibia) and Santa Clara (Angola) are essentially twin border towns. The two towns are separated only by the Border Post.
Exit Namibia: Get stamped out at the Namibian immigration office in Oshikango. Walk across the physical border area (it’s a short distance) or take a very short local taxi ride. Enter Angola: Get stamped in at the Angolan immigration office in Santa Clara. The border operates 24 hours.

Santa Clara to Luanda

That is another long journey across Angola covering about 1315 kilometres . The direct bus service for the Santa Clara-Luanda i used by Marcon bus company; it passes through Lubango, Benguela and other smaller towns. It’s a breathtaking coastal route especially from Benguela to Luanda. I really enjoyed the view of the Atlantic ocean.

The journey duration is 24 hours. Marcon coaches do provide state of the art coaches with comfortable reclining seats, air conditioning, toilet on board and entertainment. Unfortunately it’s mostly in Portuguese which I didn’t understand at all. The fare is 35,000.00 kz (R648) for standard service and 40,500.00 kz (R750) for executive service.

Accommodation and Taxi

My accommodation was at Protea Hotel Luanda. The hotel is located a bit outside the city centre. The area surrounding the hotel seems quiet. The condition of the building was good and well maintained. It looks like it is newly built. It is clean and tidy everywhere. Luanda has a range of other budget-friendly options, like Brisotel – Beira Mar, Hotel Ritz Capital, OASI Residencial, Residence DB, and Inn Luanda. These hotels offer comfortable rooms, convenient locations, and affordable rates that won’t break the bank.

For local taxi/cab services you need to download the Uber and Yango applications. Both hail riding services are readily available in Luanda; you can always compare prices before you book your ride.

Visa and immigration

As a Malawian citizen i enjoy a visa free travel through out the journey. A minimum of one year passport validity is safe. The passport is stamped six times across this journey at the following border crossings:

• Mwami one stop border post (Malawi & Zambia)
• Sesheke border post (Zambia)
• Wenela border post (Namibia)
• Oshikango border post (Namibia)
• Santa Clara border post (Angola)

What You Need To Know

• Download the Intercape and UBZ bus applications and book your seats in advance as some of the routes are not daily and fill up fast.
• Be prepared to book a guesthouse in Livingstone, Zambia or Windhoek Namibia. The journey is just to long kindly ensure you get some proper rest on a comfortable bed.
• The South African Rand (ZAR) is the most valuable currency throughout the journey. In Namibia the the local currency is pegged 1:1 with rand so no need to change just use the Rands to purchases goods in any shop.
• For Malawians kindly ensure you have activated atleast three visas from different banks. You can only understand the point better if you based in Malawi.
• Make sure you have downloaded the Google translator application or your preferred translator and download Portuguese to enable it to work offline. It will be of essence especially in Angola.
• Timezone: the journey is covered by two different timezones Malawi, Zambia and Namibia use GMT +2, Angola uses GMT +1