07/04/2025
Ilha Dos Tigres Angola Ghost Island ...
Hauntingly atmospheric, Ilha dos Tigres is the largest island in Angola and covers an area of 98 km². It is so named as the succession of black stripes against high sand dune resembles the striped skin of a tiger. Established as a fishing village by the Portuguese and named São Martinho dos Tigres, it comprised of 400 houses, inhabited by just over a 1000 people, complete with a school, hospital, airstrip, and chapel. Tidal currents intermittently shaped the island, oftentimes linking it to the mainland of Angola nature permanently intervened in 1962 when storm tore through the area, severing the island from the mainland and destroying a pipe supplying vital water to the area. Coupled with the Angolan civil war, the island became completely abandoned and frozen in time with only the skeletal ruins jutting out, the desert sand reclaiming the land once more.
This paradoxically beautiful but remote island is accessible by aircraft as the landing strip was built in 1957. A pilot recalls his experience flying into Ilha Dos Tigres: “Flying to Ilha Dos Tigres was an experience etched in my memory. As we approached, the island unfolded like a surreal mirage—a stark desert landscape surrounded by a shimmering expanse of ocean. The isolation of the abandoned settlement added an eerie charm; it felt as though time had stopped. From the cockpit, I could see remnants of the past scattered across the barren terrain, which added to its mystique.
Landing was a unique challenge as well. The main street of the small town, now repurposed as an airstrip, served as the landing zone. Touching down in the middle of the town felt surreal—the deserted buildings lining the strip reminded me of a time long gone. However, standing on the deserted shores afterward, the view was breathtaking—pristine yet haunting. As a pilot, navigating to such unique destinations not only challenges technical skills but stirs an appreciation for the profound history embedded in these forgotten places.”
