Demining machine, Aardvark. NPA photo.

 

The Angola Field Group has been invited by Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) to get a firsthand look at demining out in the field. Slowly but surely no-go areas are being cleared in the countryside but demining and clearing explosive remnants of war, still remains a big challenge facing Angola. You can download two background info PDFs at the end of this post.

We will ‘suit up’ and join an NPA demining team in Malange, the province where this NGO is based. They will show us how mines are cleared manually and mechanically and teach us all about mine action. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we thank NPA for making this possible.

 

Disarming of anti personnel (ap) mine by team leader. NPA photo.

 

Itinerary:

October 31, Sunday –  Depart Luanda at 6:30 AM. Lunch at Angola’s biggest waterfall, Calandula. Check in at the refurbished historic Hotel Palacio Regina in the city of Malange

Nov. 01 – Spend the day in the field with the NPA demining team. Time permitting we will visit workshop where the traditional marimba instrument is crafted. Overnight in hotel.

Nov. 02, Tuesday (public holiday) – Depart Malange early and head for Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo, a colossal geological formation and get a rundown from experienced geologist Tako Koning. Then continue back to Luanda via dirt track to Dondo and then Luanda. Sorry, cannot confirm what time we will be back in Luanda.

A certain number of rooms have been pre-booked at Hotel Palacio Regina in downtown Malange. The cost is $100 per night per person sharing, including breakfast. This means two people per room each in a single bed, each pays $100.00 If you want a room by yourself or there is nobody to share your room with, you pay $200.00 per night. We will be spending two nights at the hotel. All dinners will be taken in restaurants. Pack your own lunches.

 

Most common mines in Angola / AP Mine – MAI 75 from Romania, AP Mine PPM from Germany, AP Mine T-72 from China, POMZ and POMZ 2 AP fragmentation mines from Russia and Anti Tank (AT) Mine TM-57 from Russia. NPA photo.

 

To Sign Up:

There is a limit to the number of participants so it is necessary to sign up as soon as possible. Send an email to angolafieldgroup@gmail.com A four wheel drive is necessary for this journey. Since I have to pay the hotel in advance to hold the reservations, I will need payment for the hotel next week. You can pay me at the Angola Field Group presentation on Thursday evening, October 14, at the Viking Club. You are not confirmed for this trip unless you pay me by this date. This is a good time to ask questions also. Further details of times and meeting places, etc. will be sent to confirmed participants.

All Angola Field Group trips are at your own risk.

FOR MORE INFO – download NPA backgrounder (pdf) and 2nd Quarterly NPAl 2010 (pdf)

 

Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo at sunset.