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Major city · Angola

Saint Martin of the TigersSão Martinho dos Tigres

Skip unless you have 3–4 days, a 4WD convoy and a boat from Tômbua. This is a ghost town on an island with zero facilities; only for expedition travellers.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Saint Martin of the Tigers is a ghost town in the Namibe desert, cut off from the mainland by the sea in 1962 and abandoned after the civil war. Getting there requires a 4WD convoy and a boat from Tômbua, plus camping gear. It is a remote expedition, not a casual stop.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AOA
Best months
May–Oct (dry season)
avoid Nov–Apr (rain and rough seas)
Airports
SDD · VPE
Nights
2–3

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Saint Martin of the Tigers: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Nine 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.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Saint Martin of the Tigers113 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Saint Martin of the Tigers, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Budget bedCamping (own gear), a night, per personAOA 0
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse in Tômbua, a night, per roomAOA 20,000
  • High-end bedGuesthouse in Tômbua, a night, per roomAOA 40,000

A day, not counting the bed: Budget AOA 30,000 · Mid AOA 80,000 · High AOA 200,000

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ghost town on an islandAbandoned fishing portNamibe desert coast
Airports
SDD Lubango Airport (Fly to Lubango, then drive to Tômbua (about 4 h).) · VPE Ondjiva Pereira Airport (Alternative via Ondjiva, then drive to Tômbua (about 3 h).)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  5. May

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Feb (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jul (12°C (54°F) low), wettest Mar (2 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Saint Martin of the Tigers: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

1 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

19°C (66°F)

1 rd

Mar

31°C (88°F)

19°C (66°F)

2 rd

Apr

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

2 rd

May

28°C (82°F)

15°C (59°F)

1 rd

Jun

26°C (79°F)

13°C (55°F)

1 rd

Jul

25°C (77°F)

12°C (54°F)

0 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

13°C (55°F)

0 rd

Sep

28°C (82°F)

15°C (59°F)

0 rd

Oct

29°C (84°F)

16°C (61°F)

1 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

1 rd

Dec

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

1 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

On foot on the island. The convoy drives the coastal track from Tômbua to the strait.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Tômbua

go

Door to door: 3–4 h

Drive from Lubango (about 4 h) or Ondjiva (about 3 h)

Base town for the island trip.

Namibe city

go

Door to door: 2 h

Drive from Tômbua, about 2 h

Coastal town with beaches and the Arco lagoon.

Iona National Park

go

Door to door: 1 h

Drive from Tômbua, about 1 h to the park entrance

Desert park with Welwitschia plants and dunes.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Tômbua

Last town with accommodation before the island. Basic guesthouses.

Camp on the island

No facilities. Bring all supplies, water and a tent.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Expedition (all-inclusive tour)
AOA 150,000–300,000 (check)
Self-drive (fuel, food, camping)
AOA 30,000–60,000 (check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse in Tômbua1 × 2 nights × AOA 20,000AOA 40,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × AOA 80,000AOA 320,000
4WD hire (per day, with driver)1 × AOA 80,000 · Fuel extra.AOA 80,000
Boat crossing (return)1 × AOA 40,000 · Check with local operators.AOA 40,000
Guide fee (per day)1 × AOA 25,000 · Recommended.AOA 25,000
Buffer 20%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeAOA 101,000
Trip total≈ AOA 151,500 per person per day, bed includedAOA 606,000

Basic, no frills.

2026 estimate in AOA; flights and visas excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Bottle of water (1.5 L)Bring plenty from Tômbua.AOA 200–400
Simple meal in TômbuaAOA 2,000–5,000
4WD fuel (per 100 km)Check.AOA 10,000–15,000

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Remote expedition: the main risks are dehydration, getting stuck in sand, and sea conditions for the boat crossing. Travel with a guide or convoy. Checkpoints are routine but polite.
  • Zero facilities on the island: bring all food, water and camping gear.
  • The crossing requires a boat; check sea conditions before departure.
  • No mobile signal or services on the island.
  • Checkpoints on the road from Lubango to Tômbua; carry documents.

Emergency numbers

Police
113
Ambulance
112
Fire
115

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Saint Martin of the TigersSão Martinho dos Tigres

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police113
  • Ambulance112
  • Fire115

Embassy

The US embassy is in Luanda; most other countries also have embassies in Luanda. No consulate in the south.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Lubango → Tômbua (shared taxi): about AOA 5,000–10,000 per person, about 4 h (check)
  • Tômbua → island (boat, return): about AOA 30,000–60,000 per group (check)

Say or show

  • Olá — Hello (oh-LAH)
  • Obrigado — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo)
  • Quanto custa? — How much? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • Onde está o barco? — Where is the boat? (ON-de es-TAH oo BAR-koo)
  • Preciso de água — I need water (pre-SEE-zoo dee AH-gwah)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Saint Martin of the Tigers. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (dry season) · avoid Nov–Apr (rain and rough seas) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 2 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Angola

Sources

Ask about Saint Martin of the Tigers

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