Vitor Oliveira

Surfers, we have a problem. Or maybe more than one, but let's address the fundamental one first. What if it's just getting so crowded at our local beaches, it's just not worth it anymore? Yes, I belong to a group of lucky surfers who live near a coastline blessed with plenty of favorable swells and quality waves. For that, I present my sincere apologies as I speak from a place of privilege. However, every coin has two sides, and despite the number of amazing waves and peaks that I can count within half an hour of driving from my flat, it's also true that most of them - over 85 percent - are crowded all year round. And by crowded, I mean counting over 30 surfers per beach break peak. You could say, "Go surfing at 7 am." I know, I've done that and... it's full of like-minded water people. "Then, do it on weekdays." True and the same apples. It's unbelievably crowded. "Have you tried surfing at dawn?" Sure thing. I did it ev...

Along Angola's Atlantic coast, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Luanda, a long arc of sand curves beneath cliffs and rocky headlands. At the southern end of the bay, a wave wraps around the point and runs for what feels like forever. Welcome to dreamy Cabo Ledo, home to Praia dos Surfistas (or Surfers' Beach), a place that has become the center of Angolan surfing and one of the most remarkable left-hand point breaks in Africa, alongside Namibia's very own Skeleton Bay . For decades, surfers have crossed continents searching for long, uncrowded waves. Many eventually hear the same name: Cabo Ledo. The appeal, you know, is easy to understand. The wave is consistent, forgiving in many conditions, and capable of producing rides that stretch hundreds of yards down the bay. Yet it remains connected to a fishing village, a beach camping culture, and a coastline that still feels far removed from the crowds that dominate many famous surf destinations. How surfing arr...