Surrounded by coffee plantations and dramatic landscapes, Gabela is located in Kwanza Sul Province, southeast of Luanda. It offers a tropical African environment with picturesque architecture and the town is infused with a long tradition of coffee cultivation. In January, visitors to the region can enjoy white, fragrant coffee blossoms, whereas in drier and cooler June the green shrubs are covered with small, red, ripe coffee cherries. Besides the cultivation of coffee, Gabela is also home to various tropical animals, such as the Indian cobra
Namib Desert , Part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park
One of the driest places on the planet, the Namib Desert has been arid for around 80 million years and is considered the oldest desert in the world. It is also one of the main attractions of the eponymous southern province.
The sand dunes sweeping across the dry desert are of incomparable beauty and are where you can find the ancient Welwitschia-Mirabilis plants, which only grow in the Namib and Mossamedes deserts.
With daytime temperatures exceeding 50 °C and night temperatures dropping to below freezing, along with decades of prolonged drought and sand storms, desert plants and animals are exposed to extreme living conditions. Nevertheless the Namib sand gecko, black rhino, gemsbok and South African fur seals make this dramatic environment their home.
Kalandula Falls, Spectacular waterfalls in Malanje
These magnificent waterfalls, known locally as Quedas de Calandula, are among the most beautiful in Angola. Located some 220 miles from Luanda and around 53 miles south of Malanje City on the Lucala River, Kalandula Falls are one of the must-see tourist attractions of Malanje Province.
The 104-metre-high falls are reported to be the second largest in Africa and offer an amazing spectacle, especially after the rainy season when water levels are at their highest. In the area around the waterfalls, little monkeys, antelopes and even lions are indigenous.
Serra da Leba, A winding mountain road in Huila
Serra de Leba is an impressive mountain pass near the city of Lubango, Huila Province. It is a narrow road that zigzags a course through the Serra da Leba mountains, which are themselves known for their high altitude and beauty. The mountain pass was built in the 1970s and is a unique attraction.
The provincial capital of Lubango is 1,760 metres above sea level and has a cool evening climate allowing Angolans to take a breather from the humid daytime heat. Around 10 miles away is the Tundavala canyon, with dramatic volcanic fragments where visitors can climb up to 2,600 metres to admire a breathtaking sheer drop to sea level.
Caotinha Beach, Benguela’s beautiful small beach coves
The charming little Caotinha Beach (Praia da Caotinha) is located in the province of Benguela, about 10 miles south of Benguela City. The town itself is situated about 270 miles south of Luanda, at the mouth of Caimbambo Bay in Benguela, and has long been an important trading centre in the region, even back in the time of the slave trade to Brazil and Cuba.
Tucked away, Caotinha Beach is in a very quiet spot, with embracing, warm, turquoise-coloured waters and a stunning 150-metre-long beach, making it a perfect hideaway for sun worshipers. An SUV is needed to reach this secluded but unforgettable attraction.
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