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Voykit pocket guide · Angola
Saint Martin of the Tigers
São 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.
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.
- Country
- Angola
- Local name
- São Martinho dos Tigres
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rain and rough seas)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AOA
- Money
- Currency is the Angolan kwanza (AOA). Foreign cards work at some larger hotels; many ATMs do not accept foreign cards, so bring US dollars or euros as backup.
- Daily spend
- Expedition (all-inclusive tour) AOA 150,000–300,000 (check) · Self-drive (fuel, food, camping) AOA 30,000–60,000 (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel is the largest network, followed by Africell and Movicel; buy at an official shop with your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 115
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs; generators common in hotels.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% if no service charge.; Driver for a day: US$10–20.; Hotel porter: 500–1,000 kz.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Flush toilets in hotels and restaurants; few public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | AOA 200–400 |
| Simple meal in Tômbua | AOA 2,000–5,000 |
| 4WD fuel (per 100 km (62 mi))4WD fuel (per 62 mi (100 km)) | AOA 10,000–15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- 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).
Typical fares
- 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)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot on the island. The convoy drives the coastal track from Tômbua to the strait.
See and do
Known for
- Ghost town on an island
- Abandoned fishing port
- Namibe desert coast
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tômbua | Drive from Lubango (about 4 h) or Ondjiva (about 3 h) | 3–4 h |
| Namibe city | Drive from Tômbua, about 2 h | 2 h |
| Iona National Park | Drive from Tômbua, about 1 h to the park entrance | 1 h |
Sleep
- Tômbua
- Last town with accommodation before the island. Basic guesthouses.
- Camp on the island
- No facilities. Bring all supplies, water and a tent.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the boat? | Onde está o barco?ON-de es-TAH oo BAR-koo |
| I need water | Preciso de águapre-SEE-zoo dee AH-gwah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'bom dia', titles for elders ('senhor', 'dona'); avoid: Skipping greetings
- Dress: Neat clothes in the city; avoid: Beachwear in town
- Checkpoints: Calm, polite, documents ready; avoid: Arguing
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Official buildings and uniforms
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
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.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Saint Martin of the Tigers yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ghost town on an island
- Abandoned fishing port
- Namibe desert coast
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Saint Martin of the Tigers, revision 4923108 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4923108
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Saint Martin of the TigersSão Martinho dos Tigres
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US embassy is in Luanda; most other countries also have embassies in Luanda. No consulate in the south.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/saint-martin-of-the-tigers). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.