South Kwanza

Kwanza-Sul is a province of Angola located on the central-west coast, in a mountainous area of varied altitude, with an area of 55,660 km².

The province borders the North and Northeast by the Longa and Kwanza rivers with the provinces of Bengo, North Kwanza and Malange, with Benguela to the south, with bié and Huambo to the southeast, and with the Atlantic Ocean to the West.

The foundation of this province took place at the mouth of the Ngunza River, in 1769, by the governor-general of Angola, D. Francisco Inocêncio de Sousa Coutinho. The Ngunza River was named after the then-head Ngunza Kabolo.

The 12 Municipalities that make up this province are: Amboim, Cassongue, Conda, Ebo, Kibala, Kilenda, Libolo, Mussende, Porto Amboim, Sumbe, Uko-Seles, Wako-Kungo.

Climate

It has a dry tropical climate on the coast and a humid interior. The average annual temperature is 26ºC.

Population

It has an estimated population of 1,793,787 inhabitants (2014), mostly rural.

The most widely spoken national language in the province is the Kimbundu. The ethnic groups in this province are the Kibalas, N'Goias, Mussels, Massumbas and Bailundos.

The Capital, Sumbe

This city is 495 km from Luanda and 208 km from Benguela.

SUMBE”, word of Kimbundu origin, “kusumba”, has a commercial meaning, a practice that became common among the natives and Portuguese and English merchants on the coast of Kwanza Sul, when the latter arrived. Equivalent to buy/sell. It was this designation that gave rise to the name of the place known for a long time as Sumbe, today the coastal city capital of the province of Kwanza Sul.

Nature

Its vegetation consists predominantly of savannas with trees, shrubs and dry tropical forests.

Its flora is rich and serves as the mainstay of the country with its wide variety of wood.

The fauna is varied, with wild animals such as the deer, deer, pacaça, among others.

The beaches of Kicombo, Carimba, Chiculcua and the Tapado river in Sumbe and Praia da Marginal in Porto Amboim are ideal for bathing.

The waterfalls of Cachoeiras do Binga on the Keve River are located in the municipality of Conda, where the thermal and medicinal waters of Tokota also exist and the highest waterfalls in the province (over 150 meters) are located in the municipality. of Kilenda.

Other natural attractions to visit are:

• Keve river mouth
• Sassa Forest
• Sassa Caves
• Kikombo Caves
• Waco's medicinal waters
• Medicinal waters from Catanda, in the municipality of Seles.

Culture   

There are some entities that promote shows and public entertainment with several centers of public entertainment, such as recreational and cultural centers, discos, cinemas. There are also several libraries.

The number of plastic artists has been increasing, as well as musicians, musical groups, theater and choirs, traditional and modern dance.

The main festivities in the province are the Festas do Mar in the cities of Sumbe and Porto Amboim. The Kwanza Sul parties are held on 15 September.

How to get

There are two aerodromes for small and medium-sized aircraft at Sumbe and Porto Amboim. and an airport in Waku-kungo. All other municipalities have airstrips.

The main road connecting Luanda to Sumbe is in good condition, as are the roads connecting the different municipalities in the province. There are several private operators that guarantee the normal inter-municipal and inter-provincial connection.

Where to stay

The province of Kwanza Sul is one of the cities in Angola that has attracted tourists, due to its proximity to the capital city, as it is a province with sustainable economic growth. province.

• Hotel Ritz Sumbe;
• IU Hotel Sumbe;
• Maritime Hotel – Porto Amboim;
• Hotel Fazenda Cabuta – Calulu;
• Emirais Hotel Spa – Waku Kungo.

Transport

Urban collective transport in the cities of Sumbe and Porto Amboim is provided by a company in the first, and by the Municipal Administration in the second, respectively. Municipalities also have private transport, which are called personalized taxis. Additionally, it has motorcycle taxi services, spread over several corners of the province.

Typical dishes & where to eat

The typical dishes of this province do not differ much compared to the other 17 provinces, the sniffs, accompanied with various types of sauces, fresh fish, dried fish, game meat, among others.

 

NOTE: There are informal market stalls that are much sought after by tourists looking for the typical Angolan dish, the mufete.

To taste the local cuisine is undoubtedly one of the ways to get to know the concept of cultural diversity better, the restaurant's tips are as follows:

• Seas of Amboim;
• Restaurant Mar Sol;
• Amboim Bar Restaurant.

What to do

The main rivers in the province are the Longa, Cubal, Queve and Cambongo. They offer excellent conditions for water sports, sailing, sport fishing and even duck hunting.

Monuments and Places to Visit     

• Rupestrian Engravings of Ndalambiri, which are in the municipality of Kibala 170 km from Sumbe.
• Quingunba Rock Engravings
• Fortaleza do Libolo, where there is the Pedra Escrita that refers to the Libolo revolt in 1917, between the population and the colonial forces.
• Kariango's wall
• Amboim fortress
• Ruins of Fortim do Kicombo
• Ruins of the Kibala Fortress
• Ruins of the old Fortaleza do Novo Redondo, the old cemetery of Novo Redondo and the old Military Barracks of Novo Redondo
• Seles fortress
• Sumbe and Porto Amboim Quarries
• Ruins of Fortim do Kicombo, in the municipality of Sumbe

What to bring in the suitcase

Kwanza sul is a province with beautiful beaches, to have a complete trip you should bring the following items in your suitcase:

• Summer clothes
• Sunglasses
• Moisturizing skin cream
• Swimsuits
• Repellent
• Photographic camera
• Cash in cash, some informal markets do not work with credit card services
• Turaya telephone

Tips for managing your expectations

• Some airlines in the province do not have mobile network coverage.
• You will be able to find several companies and houses working with alternative energy generators.
• To bathe in a river, you should ask the residents for tips on whether it is allowed or not, and do the diving without the authorization of traditional entities.
• Some services, such as restaurants, transport, hotels and others, may not satisfy the customer's needs in the way they wanted or expected to be.

What to take home

As souvenirs, you can take handicrafts from the region made of sisal, clay and wood. Such as the following pieces: Moringues, baskets and other sculptures. They can be purchased in Sumbe, Kibala and Porto Amboim. Or you can bring a head which is a traditional container used for storing drinks.

With this tourist guide you can enjoy a complete visit to the province of Kwanza Sul, please, if this article was helpful to you in the comments below.

Enjoy it!