In the bottom left-hand corner of Africa, just before the landscape gives way to the arid terrain of Namibia, sits a green and temperate region that could be one of the most beautiful on the continent \u2013 and yet few people beyond this part of the world know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lubango, in southwestern Angola\u2019s Huila province, is the country\u2019s second biggest city by population, is rich in history and culture and is located on a steep-sided plateau that gives rise to spectacular landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Located at 5,774 feet (1,760 meters) above sea level, it\u2019s one of the coolest cities in Angola \u2013 temperatures range between 8-31 Celsius (46-89 Fahrenheit) allowing for the cultivation of crops that are difficult to grow in the rest of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Formerly known as S\u00e1 da Bandeira, Lubango was a major settlement site from 1885 for the colonial Portuguese, who arrived from Madeira islands from Portugal and saw the climate\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, the region is rich in agriculture and livestock \u2013 an abundance that can be seen in the variety of food on offer \u2013 including local cheeses and old Portuguese chorizo sausage recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lubango is considered one of Angola\u2019s most important cities thanks to its status as a travel hub with great connections to other provinces by road and railway, plus an international airport with flights to Luanda, other parts of the country and Namibia\u2019s capital, Windhoek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors will find a wealth of history and colonial art deco architecture. It\u2019s also an unrivaled place to mingle with a great variety of ethnic groups, including members of the local Mumu\u00edla people and many other nomadic communities who call into the city to trade or pass through en route to elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike many places in Africa, this is a region where multiethnic groups cohabit peacefully and are visible within the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of them are nomadic people, loyal and proud of traditional roots and ways of living, differentiated by distinct colorful clothes, unique and symbolic jewelry and hairstyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe parade of diverse ethnic groups in Lubango is a rich experience,\u201d says Florinda Ramos, a businesswoman who is a regular visitor to the region. \u201cThis is a magical place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rosemaire Luis, an environmental engineer from the Angolan capital Luanda who recently spent time in Lubango for work, is also impressed. \u201cLubango is an excellent place for discovery tourism,\u201d she says. \u201cIt is safe and diverse in terms of landscape and places of interest, both built and natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really enjoyed the popular markets inside and outside the city, the mountains and remote locations where the geology is lush and fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the top wonders of Angola, Tundavala is a breathtaking gorge, just over 10 miles northwest of Lubango, over the border into the neighboring province of Namibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, the cool reaches of the higher-altitude Huila plateau tumble over a steep-walled cliff, into the hotter plains below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tundavala is considered by locals as a place where the souls of their ancestors take refuge, and it\u2019s easy to see why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The panoramic views from this volcanic fissure are mindblowing. Visitors are also rewarded with the beautiful flora, including orchids, growing amid the rocky cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, you\u2019re above the clouds. The air is clear, and you might be lucky and see eagles and rock monkeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Locals visit to escape the city, especially at weekends, for picnics or just to have a beer, relax with friends and enjoy the sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also a popular spot for wedding photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A visit to Tundavala may be an opportunity to encounter local Mumu\u00edla people, who also regularly come and contemplate this scenic place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the bottom left-hand corner of Africa, just before the landscape gives way to the arid terrain of Namibia, sits a green and temperate region that could be one of the most beautiful on the continent \u2013 and yet few people beyond this part of the world know about it. Lubango, in southwestern Angola\u2019s Huila […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2,33],"tags":[7,14,34],"class_list":{"0":"post-38471","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"category-featured","9":"category-travel","10":"tag-apie-project","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-travel"},"yoast_head":"\n