Luanda | Bengo | Benguela | Cabinda | Kuanza Sul | Namibe | Huíla | Zaire | Uíge | Huambo | Kuanza Norte | Kuando Kubango | Bíe | Lunda Sul | Lunda Norte | Malange | Moxico | Cunene |
 

THE PROVINCE OF CUNENE

Ondjiva is the capital city of this province situated in the south of Angola, which has a dry tropical climate. The province has six municipalities: Cuanhama, Ombadja, Cuvelai, Curoca, Cahama and Namacunde, the main economic activities being agriculture and cattle rearing. The province of Cunene, was founded on 10th July, 1970. It has a population of 487,687, of Koysan origin, most of the people living in rural communities. Surfafe of the province is 87.342Km2 divided into four tribes: Koysan - A peaceful people, the Koysan are nomads who feed on game and wild fruits. They live in huts made from the bark of trees. They are short and have yellowish skin. Ovambos: This tribe is divided into three ethnic groups: Kwanyamas, Cuamatos and Evales.

They live in communities on farms, rearing cattle and growing the crops they eal.

Almost ali their rites are connected to cattle. They have a circumcision ceremony and live in a matriarchal society, the nephew having more authority than the sono The ovambo are totemists, beiliving that the origin of life is in animals. Nyanekas Humbes - These are great cattle breeders who practise subsistence agriculture. Their schooting is based upon experience of life. Both sexes are circumcised and leam how to hunt, traditional medicine, receive sexual education and are taught how to cook the local traditional dishes. Hereros - The Hereros are composed by two peoples, the Macavores and the Mutuas. The Mutuas are poor nomads, being 100% dependent on the work they do for the Macavores, who are excellent cattle breeders. The mainstay of their diet is beef and milk. They live in caravans and they are also nomads.

Useful Information
Police: Tel.: (065) 50112
Hospital Central do Cunene: Tel.: (065) 50068
Communication: Radio Television and Transport Transports
TAAG: Tel.: (065) 50134
Angola Telecom: Tel.: (065) 50002
 

  

How to get There

By air
The runway at Ondjiva airport is currently undergoing repair works but in the near future, TAAG and Air Gemini will fly here.

 

  

By road
From Luanda /Benguela Lubango /Namibel Cunene.

The province is connected to other municipalities by road, many of these being under repair works.

 

The climate is semi-d1y and the geographical make-up of the province is characterized by forests, savannah and steppes, the coldest month being July (17"C) and the warmest, October (26'C).

 
 
 

 

Nature Reserves
National Mupa Reserve
This reserve is situated in the north of the province. Having an area of 6,600 Km2, it was upgraded to the status of National park on 26th December, 1964, after having been classified as a Hunting Reserve on 16th April, 1938.

It offers great variety of animals: giraffes, hyenas, leopards, gungas, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, zebras, elephants, ostriches, lions, red palancas, cranes, olongos, impalas, deer and cauma.

Ruacana Dam
This dam is very near the Namibian border. The waterfalls at Ruacana and Monte Negro are a must for the visitor. These are situated in the south-west, practically on the border, the Ruacana falls being in the region of Kalueke and the Monte Negro (Epupa) falls being in the region of Koroca, both on the River Kunene.

Main tourist attractions
King Mandume's Memorial Complex
This complex receives around fifty visitors a day. There are ten small huts in the traditional style, a creche, a restaurant, two Jangos, a conference room with capacity for 200 people and an accommodation area for 25 visitors. The King Mandume Complex is in Namacunde, 42 km from Ondjiva and has an area of 216.42 m2, It is surrounded by sticks, symbolic of the heroic feats of the Kwantama people. 

The directors of the complex are trying to expand, due to the high number of visitors who come either to study or for leisure. In the future it is hoped that the complex will accommodate national and international conferences given its comfortable facilities and excellent weather conditions.

King Mandume fought the Portuguese military powers in defence of his territory in the first decade of the 20th Century. He died on 6th February, 1917 in the village of Oihole, in the municipality of Namacunde.