Getting to know an entire province isn't always easy, but this week we're going to show you some highlights of Soyo! 

We suggest an unmissable stop for anyone who wants to get to know Angola. Soyo is a municipality that will take you on a journey through history.

Immerse yourself in the culture, appreciate the rare animals and be surprised by the strength of Nature.

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Soyo or Soio, is an Angolan city and municipality in the province of Zaire, located in the north of the country, on the border with Congo-Quinxassa, it is a quiet city with deserted beaches and a enviable climate.
Originally spelled "Dream" and pronounced Sonyo) was a province of the kingdom of Congo, which extended south of the mouth of the Congo (or Zaire) River.
The headquarters is an industrial and port city, known for the important port of Soyo, and the oil terminals of Barra do Cuanda.
In the colonial period, the location was known as “Santo António do Zaire”. When the first Portuguese arrived, in 1482, Soio was already an administrative entity, whose administrator had the title of "Senhor do Soyo" (Muene Soyo).
The "Lord of Soyo" (Muene Soyo), ruler of the region, was the first to be baptized when Catholic missionaries arrived in the kingdom of Congo in 1491.
The municipality's major geographic reference is the Congo estuary (also called the Zaire estuary or Diogo Cão bay), which receives waters from the Congo basin and small rivers, forming an immense complex of channels, islands, islets, mangroves and sediment banks. The area is very rich in hydrocarbons.
Soyo acquired its current municipal status on April 5, 1974. The date is celebrated every year with official events, entertainment and sporting and social activities. The parties take place in the city center, outdoors.

Curiosities

It is the only Angolan municipality that is more populous than the capital municipality of its province, surpassing Mabanza Congo.

The municipality:

Area:  5 572km²
Elevation:
Communes:  Soio, Sumba, Spell Stone, Quelo and Mangue Grande
Population:  258 599 hab. (2018)
Average temperature: 25ºC

How many days?

2 to 5 days recommended so you can make the most of your stay.

How to get there?

It is possible to reach the city with the same name in several ways.

• Landway with the company, Macon making several connections to the city
• Air using TAAG - Companhia Aérea de Angola from Luanda
• You can also take a Catamaran from Luanda
• The most convenient way and without being subject to schedules is your own vehicle
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Where to stay??

There are several hotel units in the province, from guesthouses, residential or hotels, all units will provide you with a different experience, but we highlight:

What to do, tours and attractions.

Soyo has several tourist attractions where your adventurous spirit can take you.
A motorized canoe trip is recommended to enjoy the landscape:

Some places you can't miss are:

• Pedra do Feitiço
• Ponta do Padrão< /a>
• Praia dos Poor
• Estuary of Zaire River

What to eat?

Typical dishes are: corn pirão (this is a local version of the typical Angolan funge, a flour that acquires a paste consistency when cooked), dried meat and game, dried fish...

Crafts?

Crafts from the Angolan province of Zaire focus on wooden statues (pau-preto) representing traditional figures, as well as matebeira baskets.
You can buy examples of traditional crafts from this region at Soyo Airport and in hotels

Angola is, increasingly, a tourist destination not to be missed, whether due to its strong culture, its fauna and flora or its stunning landscapes...

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