My experience in Luanda’s cruise port was brief, yet fun and inspiring. With only a half day to go out, I shopped near the cruise port. My Luanda Angola shopping immersion was unexpectantly upbeat. Here, I discovered the vibrant culture through the colorful clothing, art and souvenirs. Most of the handmade crafts showcase impeccable quality at low prices. And of course, these are unique souvenirs that are rarely seen at your home country. So, read on and discover why you should go shopping, if your travels bring you to Angola.
As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea, I took the Grand Africa Voyage circumnavigating Africa and stopping in Luanda. Because I heard about safety concerns, I didn’t want to venture too far. However, I started seeing crew and guests returning to the ship with bags of souvenirs. I decided to venture off and see what it was all about. A short shuttle ride took us to a pop-up market filled with colorful clothing, souvenirs and art. I was in heaven and will share my creative adventure.
The cruise port, Luanda, is the capital and largest city in Angola on the southwestern coast of Africa. As a Portuguese colony from the 16th century to 1975, Portuguese is the national language. Even though Angola established independence in 1975, it unfortunately began a civil war the same year. The war ended in 2002 and since then, it established a stable country. Angola’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world.
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Related: The Grand Africa Cruise Itinerary and Highlights
Luanda Angola Shopping
for Clothing, Art & Souvenirs
Clothing and Accessories Shopping
I mostly enjoyed shopping for clothes. So many styles and colors to explore. The eclectic styles are handmade with love. Cotton is the most popular material used.
I bought 2 wrap-around dresses called Pano, Angola’s most popular national dress. My favorite in the photo is a popular blue, batik design. Batik is a fabric-dyeing technique using wax to resist the dye and create intricate patterns. Overall, I bought 4 dresses, 2 shirts, 4 headpieces for a total of U.S. $120 and amazing quality.
It was also fun to look at all the colorful fabrics available for those that sew their own clothes.
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Art and Souvenirs Shopping
The art was also spectacular. I know many people that bought paintings of lions, wildlife or African culture. The art colors were just as vibrant as the clothing. Besides the painting there was numerous handicrafts, such as, jewelry, sculptures, hats and headscarves.
Enjoy Angola Shopping!
I absolutely loved my time shopping at the Luanda port. Also, I must add that the kind merchants sold with love. Many of them handcrafted their merchandise and knew every detail. It was nice to be consulted from the heart with true passion for their art. If your travels bring you to Angola for shopping, feel free to leave tips or suggestions below.
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