Rock Art and History

The Tchitundu-Hulu archaeological complex consists of three granite hills, on which several rock art sites are located. The combination of granite and rock art forms a distinctive cultural focus in Namibe Province.

The Museu Provincial do Namibe offers a different focus: its permanent exhibitions are dedicated to marine life, local history, prehistory, nature and historical relics. This takes visitors from natural history to earlier ways of life. The Igreja Paroquial de Santo Adrião de Moçâmedes is part of the area’s architectural history: construction began on 27 July 1849, and the church is described as late Baroque. The province’s name also reflects its history: Namibe Province was formerly known as Moçâmedes.

The cultural themes can be distinguished as follows: Tchitundu-Hulu represents rock art on granite hills, the museum offers a broad range of permanent exhibitions, and the church represents late Baroque architectural history.

Iona Between the Coast and Rivers

Parque Nacional do Iona covers 15,150 km² and lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cunene and Curoca rivers. Its coastline stretches for 150 kilometres and includes gulfs and river mouths. The park is about 200 kilometres from the city of Namibe. These figures answer different questions: its area indicates the scale of the park, the coastline’s length shows the extent of its coastal section, and the distance indicates its location in relation to the city of Namibe.

Lagoa dos Arcos offers a smaller, clearly defined natural contrast to the vast park landscape. It consists of three lagoons; the best known is the middle one, whose arches, naturally formed in the sandstone, gave the place its name. The difference is one of scale: the park is described in terms of its total area and coastline, while Lagoa dos Arcos is defined by its lagoons and the arches that gave it its name.

Surfing and Named Places

Surfing is described along the province’s coastline, with the fishing village of Tômbua singled out in particular. According to the description, the waves are clean and long, and suitable for a range of skill levels—from beginners to advanced surfers. For travellers interested in surfing, this adds a water-based activity to the natural and cultural attractions.

At Km 17 is the grave of Rui Duarte de Carvalho. The site is exactly 17 kilometres from the city of Moçâmedes and is described as a tourist stop on the way to the Município Tômbua or Virei.

Another Cultural Site in Angola

Within the wider destination of Angola, M’banza Kongo offers a different cultural focus from Tchitundu-Hulu. The city was the former capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stands on a plateau at an elevation of 570 metres. Its urban layout and archaeological remains preserve traces of its traditional, colonial and religious past. While rock art on granite hills is the defining archaeological theme in Namibe, M’banza Kongo focuses on the historical layers of a city.

Discover more destinations: Namibe, Benguela Province, Zaire Province, Kwanza-Sul, Lunda Sul Province, Bengo Province, Cuanza Sul Province, Luanda.

Go to the main travel overview: Angola.