National park · Angola
Cameia National ParkParque Nacional da Cameia
Visit only if you have a 4×4, a full expedition mindset and at least 3 days; the park has no visitor infrastructure, no ranger station and almost no wildlife left after the civil war — the landscape of flooded plains and miombo woodlands is the draw, not game viewing. Most travellers skip it and go to Kissama or Iona instead.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
14,450 km² (5,579 sq mi)5,579 sq mi (14,450 km²)
approximate
Established
1957
Best months
May–Jul
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Angola ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on Angola's official migration service (SME) portal before booking; visa-free and e-visa rules have changed in recent years.
- Angola ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and check the yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement for entry, which is strictly checked for many travellers.
- Angola ↗Do not photograph government buildings, the presidential palace area, military sites, police or the airport.
- Eastern Angola ↗Avoid off‑road travel near Cuito Cuanavale without up‑to‑date de‑mining information.
At a glance
- Country
- Angola
- Area
- 14,450 km² (5,579 sq mi)5,579 sq mi (14,450 km²)
- Second-largest national park in Angola.
- Established
- 1957
- Best months
- May–Jul
- Permits
- Not needed
Cameia is Angola's second-largest national park (14,450 km²), a seasonally flooded part of the Zambezi basin with miombo woodlands and two large lakes just outside its boundaries. It was established as a game reserve in 1938 and upgraded to a national park in 1957, but the 1975–2002 civil war wiped out most of the wildlife through poaching and destroyed all infrastructure. Today the park has a serious lack of staff, resources and support. The landscape — grassy swamps, reedbeds and miombo forest — is unlike any other in Angola, but you will see very few animals. The park is 125 km from Luena, the nearest town, and has no gates, fees or accommodation. This page is for expedition travellers who want to see Angola's remote interior; for a classic safari, go to Kissama National Park (easy from Luanda) or Iona National Park (Namibe desert).
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1957.
Size and age
14,450 km² (5,579 sq mi)5,579 sq mi (14,450 km²) · national park since 1957
Second-largest national park in Angola.
Why go
- The only place in Angola where you can walk through the flooded plains and miombo woodlands of the upper Zambezi basin.
- Lago Dilolo, Angola's largest lake, lies just outside the park boundary — a vast reedbed and waterbird habitat.
- Extreme remoteness: you will have the park entirely to yourself.
- A chance to see the Angola lark, Anchieta barbet and other endemic birds in their natural habitat.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanPeak wet season; roads impassable, plains flooded.
- FebStill very wet; access impossible.
- MarWet season tail; check conditions.
- AprFloodwaters receding; roads may be passable by late April.
- MayDry season starts; plains green, roads open.
- JunCool and dry; best visibility for birds.
- JulDry and mild; good for driving.
- AugDry; hotter.
- SepDry; hot.
- OctHot; rains may begin.
- NovWet season starts; roads become difficult.
- DecHeavy rain; access limited.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbirds (herons, storks, ducks, Angola lark)May–Oct · Best in the dry season when birds concentrate at the lakes. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wildebeest, tsessebe, lechwe, reedbuckMay–Oct · Populations are very low; sightings are rare. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Miombo woodland birds (Anchieta barbet, Angoal barbler, etc.)May–Oct · Best in the dry season. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Luena
Drive 125 km (78 mi) east on the Cameia–Luacano road (EN-250). The road forms the northern boundary. A 4×4 is essential in the wet season and recommended year-round.Drive 78 mi (125 km) east on the Cameia–Luacano road (EN-250). The road forms the northern boundary. A 4×4 is essential in the wet season and recommended year-round.
2–3 h
From Luanda
Fly to Luena (TAAG, 1.5 h) or drive 1,000 km (621 mi) east via Malanje and Luena. Then follow the directions from Luena.Fly to Luena (TAAG, 1.5 h) or drive 621 mi (1,000 km) east via Malanje and Luena. Then follow the directions from Luena.
1.5 h flight + 2–3 h drive
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northern boundary (Cameia–Luacano road) | The only reliable access; the road runs along the park's northern edge. Views over the floodplain. | Open; no gate. |
| Chifumage River area | Southern part of the eastern boundary; riverine forest and swamp. | Remote; no trails. |
| Lumege and Luena rivers | South-western boundary; miombo woodlands. | Remote; no trails. |
| Lago Cameia and Lago Dilolo | Two large lakes just outside the park; extensive reedbeds and waterbirds. | Accessible by road from the park boundary; no facilities. |
Sketch map
- 1Luena · Town≈-11.783, 19.917Nearest town with supplies.Map ↗
- 2Cameia–Luacano road (northern boundary) · Gate≈-11.600, 21.500Approximate midpoint of the northern boundary road.Map ↗
- 3Lago Dilolo · Viewpoint≈-11.467, 22.067Angola's largest lake, just outside the park.Map ↗
- 4Lago Cameia · Viewpoint≈-11.550, 21.800Smaller lake near the park boundary.Map ↗
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates for the park centre are from Wikidata; lake and road points are approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entrance fee — there is no gate or ranger station (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
No permit required no permit
Park rules
- No facilities
- There are no gates, ranger stations, toilets, water or marked trails. You are entirely self-sufficient.
- No camping infrastructure
- Wild camping is possible but there are no designated sites. Carry all water and supplies.
- No fires
- The miombo is dry and flammable. Use a stove.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
Near the park
Luena town
Basic hotels and guesthouses, 125 km (78 mi) from the park. Stock up on fuel, water and food here.Basic hotels and guesthouses, 78 mi (125 km) from the park. Stock up on fuel, water and food here.
Safety
Getting lost high
No communication high
Heat and dehydration medium
Wild animals low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The park has no infrastructure; it is not accessible for limited mobility.
- Access is by 4×4 only; no paved roads inside the park.
Visiting lightly
- The park has no management; your visit has no direct impact on conservation.
- Do not disturb the few remaining animals; drive slowly and quietly.
- Support the local economy by staying in Luena and hiring a local guide if possible.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cameia National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance gate, no ranger station and no fee. You simply drive in.
What are the best hikes in Cameia National Park?
There are no marked trails. The only 'hike' is walking from the northern boundary road into the miombo woodlands or along the lakeshore. Bring a GPS.
When is the best time to visit Cameia National Park?
The dry season from May to September. The wet season (November to March) makes the roads impassable and the plains are flooded.
Can I see wildlife in Cameia National Park?
Very little. The civil war wiped out most large mammals. You may see a few antelope and many waterbirds at the lakes, but do not expect a safari.
Do I need a 4×4 to visit Cameia National Park?
Yes. The access road is unpaved and can be rough. In the dry season a high-clearance 2WD might make it, but a 4×4 is strongly recommended.
Where can I stay near Cameia National Park?
In Luena, 125 km away. There are basic hotels and guesthouses. There is no accommodation inside the park.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Cameia National Park
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