Mangais Golf Resort

Mangais Golf Resort sits on the banks of the River Kwanza, a place where nature and tradition combine in beautiful harmony. The sun is always shining on this burnt-orange landscape, where fauna and flora coexist in freedom and constant synch. An idyllic setting, for anyone who can see a reason to appreciate the simplicity of life in the gentle breeze of the wind. Baobab trees, palm trees and coconut palms sway gently back and forth. Mischievous monkeys are trying to take control of them, perched on top, looking for amusement. Below, the calm lakes shimmer, rippling softly, thanks to the alligators swimming by or the athletic leaps of the many fish. Mother Nature was left to paint everything else in a lush green, drawing all the attention around her. In fact, architect Jorge Santana da Silva made this possible, planting a resort that blends into the bucolic portrait that is, today, Mangais Golf Resort. Without major extravagances, although brimming with laid-back luxury, the tourist complex comprises a hotel and a striking golf course. Some consider that the true test for Africa happens there, in Barra do Kwanza, 80 km from the capital, and perhaps it’s no coincidence that the country’s only golf course is located exactly in that district. Far away from the big city, Mangais is surrounded by a small and warm population, who take pride in displaying their habits and customs, in the name of a unique and powerful culture.

27 additional holes are planned

We can dare to say that the resort’s main attraction is golf, raking in 15 000 rounds a year, at least that’s what Francisco Faísca, owner of the Mangais Golf Resort, tells us. Many Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Portuguese pass through the resort and decide to stay the night, exhausted from the competitive nature of the course. Known for its challenging character, the course boasts wide and generous fairways, with a series of very demanding undulating greens. Not forgetting the diversity of the tees on offer, which allow for different layouts to be created each week. Stretching over 7000 metres, the Championship Course has 18 holes, accompanied by 20 lakes and an abundance of biodiversity. We would say that the Mangais Golf Resort is the result of a rigorous process, which at first experienced difficulties, but which even today, in its more solid form, is looking for strategies to remain up-to-date, unique and renewed. «All courses undergo changes over time, in the case of Mangais Golf Resort the changes are mostly related to new management and maintenance techniques, as we continue to receive good comments regarding the layout of the course. The adjustments have been almost surgical, as can be seen by the work we have done on one of the course’s standout holes, the 17th hole,» explains the owner. Focusing on management and conservation, the Mangais team aims to improve the quality of its service from year to year, something that has paid off. Francisco Faísca tells us that there has been a greater demand for golf services from external entities that join the tournaments and for events held directly by the tourist complex. So far, the agenda is vast, and the owner assumes that the maximum number of tournaments has been reached for 2023. But that does not stop him from making a positive assessment of the last few years, in which he witnessed the editions of the Senior Sunshine Tour Mangais Classic 2022, as well as the African Region V Championship, and many others.

Asked about the near future, the owner keeps us guessing, promising that future golfers may have the opportunity to debut the new changes to the course, with the creation of 27 more holes, as well as another hotel, clubhouse, pitch and putt and golf academy, «to mention just a few of the most relevant future goals». We are left with the expectation of a challenge up to the last stroke, spurred on by a high level of competitiveness and a surprising number of participants registered. And, as you already know, if you intend to give your all on the course, you should stay in one of the 16 bungalows available, or in one of the different types of rooms, with a typically Angolan feel. You can enjoy the full experience, with a pool nearby and an à la carte restaurant, with delicious and varied options. As Francisco Faísca would say, «Mangais Golf Resort is proof that dreams come true,» so, why wait any longer?