Lighthouses of Angola

Angola is a large nation of southwestern Africa, located south of the Congo and north of Namibia. A former Portuguese colony, Angola dissolved into civil war immediately upon independence in 1975. The long and bitter war was finally ended in 2002, but the country is still in recovery. A problem in constructing this list was that the NGA listings for Angola are seriously out of date. For example, the Moita Seca and Ponta do Tafe lights are now modern fiberglass towers (top images at right), but they are described in NGA as framework towers. Current information and photos for Angolan light stations are badly needed. Lighthouses in Angola are maintained by the Instituto Maritimo y Portuario de Angola (IMPA), an agency of the transport ministry. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113. What's Hot: General Sources

(clockwise from upper left) Moita Seca, Ponta do Tafe, Cabeca da Cobra, and Barra do Dande postage stamp image courtesy of Lighthouse Stamp Society

Cabinda Province Lighthouses
Note: Cabinda is a detached province of Angola, separated from the rest of the country by a strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 50 km (30 mi) wide, along the north bank of the Zaire (Congo) River. The city of Cabinda, the major town of the province, does not have a sheltered harbor; ships anchor in an open roads offshore.
Ponta de Landana (Kakongo) (3)

Date unknown (1950s?) (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); white light, 3 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower, painted white. The sixth photo on a page of Cabinda photos is a view southward toward Ponta de Landana; the tower seems to be just visible on the heights of the point. Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland just south of Kakongo, about 55 km (35 mi) north of Cabinda city. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-025; Admiralty D4326; NGA 25492.

Simulambuco Range Front

Date unknown (since 1967). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red light, 1 s on, 1 s off. Square masonry tower, painted white. No photo available. This is the entrance range for the Cabinda anchorage. Located on the waterfront in Cabinda. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-028; Admiralty D4343; NGA 25508.

Simulambuco Range Rear

Date unknown (since 1967). Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. Square masonry tower, painted white. No photo available. Located 300 m (0.2 mi) east southeast of the front light in Cabinda. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-029; Admiralty D4343.1; NGA 25512.

Ponta do Tafe (Cabinda) (4)

2002 (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); two white flashes, separated by 3.5 s, every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) fiberglass tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A postage stamp image is at upper right above. The third lighthouse, a white square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, can be seen at the lower left in a 1963 photo. Located at the tip of a point of land at the south end of the bay of Cabinda, just southwest of the city. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-013; Admiralty D4340; NGA 25504.

Zaire Province Lighthouses
Moita Seca (Congo River) (3)

2002 (station established 1889). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) fiberglass tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A postage stamp image is at upper left above. This modern light replaced a 1919 hexagonal cast iron skeletal tower, 24 m (79 ft) tall. The lighthouse stands on a sandy spit on the south side of the entrance to the Congo River. Located about 15 km (9 mi) east of the river port of Soyo. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-035; Admiralty D4380; NGA 25528.

Cabeça da Cobra

1930s?. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. A postage stamp image is at lower right above, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 65 km (40 mi) south of Soyo. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-003; Admiralty D5003; NGA 25556.

Ponta do Quinzáu

Date unknown (since 1967). Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); three short white flashes followed by one long (2.6 s) white flash every 12 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower, painted with black and yellow horizontal bands. No photo available. Located on a headland just south of Quinzau. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-020; Admiralty D5006; NGA 25560.

N'Zeto (Ambrizete) (2)

1930s? (station established 1888). Active (?); focal plane 34 m (112 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower, painted white; according to NGA the tower carries a cross-shaped daymark. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. There's no road to the lighthouse, strongly suggesting it has been abandoned. Sailing directions mention a disused lighthouse here. Located on a headland about 5 km (3 mi) south of N'Zeto (Ambrizete). Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-002; Admiralty D5040; NGA 25564.

Bengo Province and Luanda Area Lighthouses
Ambriz

1930s? (station established 1883). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); four white flashes every 12 s. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower, painted white. No photo available. Located on a headland near Ambriz. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-001; Admiralty D5060; NGA 25568.

Barra do Dande (Ponta do Dande)

1968. Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. A postage stamp image is at lower left above, and Google has an excellent satellite view. Located on a prominent headland sheltering the harbor of Barra do Dante. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-017; Admiralty D5080; NGA 25572.

* Ponta das Lagostas (Mórro das Lagostas) (2) Around 1930 (station established 1880). Inactive. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; the drawing (at right) from the NGA Sailing Directions shows a cross daymark on the upper section of the tower. No current photo available; Klaus Huelse has posted a historic postcard view of the original lighthouse, which had a lower focal plane of 64 m (210 ft). Located on a headland about 15 km (9 mi) northeast of Luanda. Site appears open, tower presumably closed. ARLHS ANO-014; Admiralty D5100; NGA 25576. * Ponta das Lagostas (Mórro das Lagostas) (3) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); red light occulting twice every 6 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse is white. Google has a fine satellite view, showing the new tower standing just to the west of the original lighthouse. Site appears open, tower closed.

Farol da Ponta das Lagostas NGA Publication 123

* Ilha do Cabo (Ilha do Luanda) (4)

2002 or later (station established 1930s). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three white flashes every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) fiberglass tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is available. The previous lighthouse was described as a square skeletal tower, painted white, mounted on a building. Luanda, the capital city of Angola, has the best harbor of southwestern Africa, sheltered behind a sandy barrier island known as Ilha do Cabo, Ilha do Luanda, or simply "The Ilha." The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway at its southern end. The lighthouse is located at the northern end, marking the entrance to the harbor; Google has a satellite view. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ANO-033; Admiralty D5101; NGA 25584.

* [Ponta das Palmeirinhas (3)]

Date unknown (station established 1889). Inactive. Originally this was a square steel skeletal tower, roughly 27 m (89 ft) tall, mounted on a square 1-story concrete equipment building. A 1969 photo by Ivo Cardoso is available. The skeletal tower has been destroyed or demolished, but ruins of the equipment building remain. Klaus Huelse has a postcard view of what was probably the original lighthouse, an octagonal cast iron skeletal tower with lantern and gallery roughly 23 m (75 ft) tall. Located on a prominent headland about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Luanda. Site open, tower closed.

* Ponta das Palmeirinhas (4) Date unknown (station established 1889). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 4.5 s. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) square steel skeletal tower with gallery, painted whith red and white horizontal bands. A small concrete equipment building stands next to the tower. Octavio Perez has contributed a photo. This light station marks a great westward bulge in the coastline south of Luanda. Located on a prominent headland about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Luanda. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ANO-015; Admiralty D5150; NGA 25600. Cabo Ledo Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 102 m (335 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal masonry tower with gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; the keeper's house roof is red tile. Thanks to Octavio Perez for the photo at right. The light station was restored in 2004, and the original lantern was removed at that time. Cabo Ledo, in southern Bengo Province 120 km (75 mi) south of Luanda, is famous for beautiful beaches and fine surfing; the government is working to improve security in this area enough to attract more foreign visitors. Located on a headland south of the town of Cabo Ledo. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-007; Admiralty D5180; NGA 25604.

Farol da Cabo Ledo, August 2007 photo copyright Octavio Perez; used by permission

Kwanza Sul (Cuanza Sul) Province Lighthouses
Cabo das Tres Pontas

Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 14 m (46 ft) square masonry tower, painted white. No photo available. Located on a headland about 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Porto Amboim. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-004; Admiralty D5200; NGA 25608.

Porto Amboim

Date unknown (1920s or early 1930s). Active; focal plane 110 m (361 ft); white light occulting twice every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) white square tower attached to a keeper's house. No photo available. Located on a prominent headland about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Porto Amboim. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-024; Admiralty D5224; NGA 25624.

[Novo Redondo (Sumbe) (1)]

1889. Inactive. The station had a 7 m (23 ft) post light mounted on the northeast corner of a fort, according to light list description. The fort is now in ruins. No photo available. Located in Novo Redondo (Sumbe), the capital of Kwanza Sul Province. Site open, tower closed.

Novo Redondo (Sumbe) (2)

Date unknown (recent) (station established 1889). Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white flash every 3 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) fiberglass tower with lantern, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is available. A Google satellite view shows the outline of the fort, but the tower is not visible. Located at the northern end of Novo Redondo (Sumbe), the capital of Kwanza Sul Province. Site status unknown. Admiralty D5240; NGA 25628.

Quicombo (Ponta Vermelha)

Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 137 m (449 ft); four white flashes every 12 s. 14 m (46 ft) "white square tower," according to NGA. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff near the fishing village of Quicombo, about 20 km (13 mi) south of Sumbe. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-026; Admiralty D5250; NGA 25632.

Benguela Province Lighthouses
Ponta do Egito

Date unknown (since 1967). Active; focal plane 137 m (449 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available. Located on a headland about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Egito Praia, a small town about 40 km (25 mi) north northeast of Lobito. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-018; Admiralty D5270; NGA 25636.

Lobito

1915. Active; focal plane 106 m (348 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) cylindrical masonry tower with gallery and a small lantern, attached to a small keeper's cottage. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. A good closeup photo and a more distant view are available. In an older photo, the lighthouse was painted all white. Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view and a second postcard view showing the tower with a series of horizontal red or black and white bands. The port of Lobito is the terminus of the famous Benguela Railway, which serves the mines of Zambia and the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lighthouse was nicely restored sometime between 2004 and 2007. Located atop the bluffs on the east (mainland) side of the harbor entrance, north of the city; Google has a good satellite view. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-008; Admiralty D5280; NGA 25640.

Ponta da Restinga (Ponta do Lobito) (2)

Date unknown (1930s?) (station established about 1910). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white light occulting twice every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery but no lantern, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The lower third of the tower is enclosed by what appear to be metal panels. Frederico Sá Pinto has posted an August 2004 photo (2/3 of the way down the page). Klaus Huelse has posted a postcard view of the original lighthouse, a taller square skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and enclosed watch room. The harbor of Lobito is sheltered by a narrow sandy spit that forms a natural breakwater. Located at the end of the spit, marking the west side of the harbor entrance; Google has a satellite view. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-037; Admiralty D5288; NGA 25644.

* Benguela Range Rear

Date unknown (1930s?). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red, or green depending on direction. Light mounted on a 12 m (39 ft) square church tower. A photo of the historic (1748) church of Nossa Senhora do Populo is available; the light is probably in the left tower. The deepwater port of Benguela is at Lobito; at the city itself there is no sheltered harbor. The range guides smaller vessels to an area where it is safe to anchor. The front light is on a 7 m (23 ft) tower standing in front of an old fort 490 m (0.3 mi) northwest. Located in Benguela; exact location unknown. Site presumably open, tower status unknown. Admiralty D5300.1; NGA 25656.

Ponta do Sombreiro (3)

Date unknown (1950s?) (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 129 m (423 ft); white light occulting three times every 9 s. 7 m (23 ft) tower, described by NGA as a "red column on white dwelling." No photo available, and the tower is not conspicuous in a Google satellite view. Located atop a very prominent headland (supposedly shaped like a sombrero) on the west side of the Baia de Benguela about 10 km (6 mi) west of the city. Site status unknown. Admiralty D5312; NGA 25648.

Ponta das Salinas

Date unknown (late 1930s?) (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 4 s. 38 m (125 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Regrettably, no photo of this large light has been found, but its shadow is conspicuous in a Google satellite view. Located on a prominent point of land about 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Benguela. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-016; Admiralty D5324; NGA 25664.

Ponta dos Frades Date unknown (after 1967). Active; focal plane 141 m (363 ft); white light occulting twice every 7.5 s. 9 m (30 ft) tower attached to a duplex keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Santa Maria. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-021; Admiralty D5328; NGA 25668. Cabo de Santa Maria Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active (?); focal plane 102 m (335 ft); three white flashes every 13 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a small 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; the drawing (at right) from the NGA Sailing Directions shows a cross daymark on the upper section of the tower. No photo available, and light station appears abandoned in a Google satellite view. Located on a headland at Santa Maria. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-005; Admiralty D5336; NGA 25672.

Farol da Cabo de Santa Maria NGA Publication 123

Namibe Province Lighthouses
Cabo de Santa Marta

Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) hexagonal masonry tower. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available. Located on a headland about 15 km (9 mi) west of Lucira. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-006; Admiralty D5346; NGA 25676.

Ponta Grossa

Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); four white flashes every 12 s. 14 m (46 ft) square masonry tower, rising from the north end of a keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located on a headland about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Bentiaba. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-022; Admiralty D5356; NGA 25680.

Ponta Piambo

Date unknown (since 1967). Active (?); focal plane 54 m (177 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square masonry tower, rising from the center of a keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with black and white vertical stripes. No photo available, but Google has an excellent satellite view, in which the lighthouse appears to be abandoned. Located on an isolated headland about 80 km (50 mi) north of Namibe. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-023; Admiralty D5370; NGA 25684.

* Ponta do Giraul (Namibe, Moçamedes) Date unknown (late 1930s?) (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s. 24 m (79 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. A second 1-story keeper's house is nearby. In closeup photos the lighthouse appears to be in very poor condition. A distant photo of the light and its spectacular location is available, as well as a photo taken from across the bay. Namibe is the provincial capital; both the province and the city were called Moçamedes during colonial rule. Located atop a vertical cliff at the northern entrance to the Baia de Namibe, about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Namibe; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ANO-019; Admiralty D5400; NGA 25688. * Fortaleza de São Fernando Date unknown (late 1930s?). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); red light occulting twice every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) white tower mounted on the historic fort. A photo is available. Located on the waterfront in Namibe; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS ANO-032; Admiralty D5418; NGA 25700. Ponta do Noronha Date unknown (1950s?). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); flash every 3 s, white or green depending on direction. Post light mounted atop a 1-story keeper's cottage. Building painted white with a narrow black horizontal band. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located atop a spectacular cliff on the south side of the entrance to the Baia de Namibe, about 5 km (3 mi) west of the waterfront. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-039; Admiralty D5414; NGA 25708. Rio dos Flamingos Date unknown (since 1967). Active; focal plane 110 m (361 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m tower attached to a duplex keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with vertical yellow and white stripes. A photo is available (right photo, second row). Located about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of the river mouth and about 40 km (25 mi) south of Namibe. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-027; Admiralty D5430; NGA 25712. Tombua (Tombwa, Porto Alexandre) Date unknown (1920s or early 1930s). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white or green light, depending on direction, occulting three times every 9 s. 8 m (26 ft) tripod skeletal tower mounted atop a 1-story building. No photo available. Located at the end of a sand spit protecting the harbor of Tombua (called Porto Alexandre under colonial rule), marking the west side of the harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty D5436; NGA 25716. Ponta Albina (2) (?) Date unknown (late 1930s?) (station established 1920s). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 38 m (124 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a square 1-story keeper's cottage. The survival of this lighthouse is very questionable, because a Google satellite view shows only ruins of the station. From the drawing at right we see that this lighthouse is or was a sibling of the second Ponta dos Palmeirinhas lighthouse. Lighthouse painted white. Located on a prominent point of land about 25 km (15 mi) southwest of Tombua. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-011; Admiralty D5442; NGA 25720. Ponta da Marca (?) Date unknown (1950s?) (station established 1920s or early 1930s). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); three white flashes every 11 s. 13 m (43 ft) white tower mounted on piles. No photo available, and the survival of this very remote lighthouse should be considered questionable. Located at the end of a sand spit enclosing the Baia dos Tigres. This location is the westernmost point of Angola, in the extreme southwestern corner of the country. Site status unknown. ARLHS ANO-012; Admiralty D5460; NGA 25724.

Farol da Ponta do Giraul Farol da Ponta do Noronha Farol da Ponta Albina All images from NGA Pub. 123

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Luanda Reef (1882-1911): Klaus Huelse has a postcard view of this pile lighthouse, which was destroyed by a storm.

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted September 30, 2005. Checked and revised October 25, 2007. Lighthouses: 37. Site copyright 2007 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.