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 HUAMBO
The capital city of this province, which has an area of 34, 270 km2, has the same name. The municipalities are: Huambo, Londuimbale, Bailundo, Mungo, Tchindjenje, Ucuma, Ekunha, Tchicala- Tcholoanga, Catchiungo, Longonjo and Caála. The main economic activity is agriculture.

Paiva Coteiro was the first specialist to study the region of Huambo and he arrived at the conclusion that it has all the conditions to accommodate urban centres, due to its excellent climate, geographical position favourable for agriculture, a good hydrographic grid, friendly population and network of rivers for fishing and swimming.

General José Mendes Norton de Matos, the Governor, founded the plain city of Huambo on 8th August, 1912.

In 1928, the engineer António Vicente Ferreira, baptized the city of Huambo with the name Nova Lisboa (New Lisbon) and prepared it to be the capital of Angola. However, only the name of the city was changed because of the various schools of opinion opposed to this city becoming the capital of the country, because of Luanda's more favourable position, on the sea.

 

Natural attractions
There are several municipal gardens and flower beds in the city, proof of Huambo's fertile soil. Also beautiful are its forested area and fields of flowers, among which are the unrivalled collection of Dahlias (more than 500 varieties) The Parque Almirante Américo Tomás, right in the city centre, has a children's park, a nature reserve and a greenhouse.

The Kavongue Forest reserve, has an area of 39 km2. It is located at the junction of the meridian lines Kuito-Bié.

Rivers
The rivers Keve, Cunene, Caalai, Cunhangâmua, Capanda, Anhara and Cinquenta are rich in stocks for angling. 20 Km away there is the Albufeira do Cuango, with excellent conditions for the practice of water sports just like a beach - in the middle of the plain. I

Another important place to visit is the Dam do Ngove, there is a river beach with good conditions for swimming, angling and sailing. There are various gardens spread around the city and also municipal flower beds. The waters at Balombo are rich in minerals and are considered to have medicinal properties.

Main tourist attractions
Visit the highest point in Angola - the "Morro do Moco" (Moco HiIl), south of Luimbale, with 2, 619 m high. Other important places to visit are the fishery, in the Centro de Estudos de Sacaála (Study centre) and a centre of floral studies belonging to the Angolan Agronomical Institute, which is well worth a visit, as is the belvedere "Senhora do Monte".


CAPITAL GAINS

Almost the capital of Angola at one point, Huambo is now trying to regenerate its once beautiful cities

Know as “The Granary of Angola”, the province of Huambo has long been at the grandiose city of Nova Lisboa or New Lisbon was built during the heyday of Portuguese colonialism in the early 20th century. The intension was to move the capital from Luanda to Huambo because of its pleasant climate and productive maize plantations, but in fact this never happened.

Architecturally, Nova Lisboa (now known as Huambo) was a landmark. With its stunning colonial style buildings and wide avenues, it used to be Angola’s most beautiful city. But the city was also key in terms of Angola’s political evolution.

The obvious priorities are the regeneration of the city of Huambo itself, as well as the rehabilitation of the province’s maize plantations. The problem is a lack of investment.

However, the mineral reserves on the Angolan side of the border have yet to be exploited.

Uige was the heartland of Angola’s coffee production during the colonial era. The province was divided into vast rocas (plantations) by the Portuguese who found the soil and climate ideal for robusta coffee.
In the years leading up to independence, Angola was exporting 400,000 tons of coffee per year (1972-3 figures), and the country was the world’s main producer of robusta coffee.

But war and mismanagement led to the collapse of coffee production after independence, with exports sinking to about one tenth of their former volume.

Dense rainforest covers much of Uige and the forest is already being exploited haphazardly for tropical hardwoods. Investment opportunities in this area are significant, especially as the local government is actively seeking funding, and incentives are being offered as part of the central government’s new code of foreign investment.

During the height of the civil war, many people were driven off the land. But since the Lusaka Peace accord in 1994, the area has become far more stable. Uige is now hoping to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, and with adequate investment, coffee production could take off once more.
 
 
   

According to Paulo Kassoma, “Huambo previously had the second largest industrial zone in Angola as well as a renowned university, with impressive medical, veterinary and agronomic faculties. We have signed an agreement with the ministries of agriculture and education to rehabilitate and reopen the university this year.”

The planned reopening of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Faculty of Agricultural science could return Huambo to its former pioneering role in the study of food processing techniques and agri-business.

  

One of the governor’s aims is to oversee the planting of one million arabica coffee. Kassoma says:”Arabica is the most popular coffee on the world market. By exporting this product, we would not only generate revenue for the province but also attract more foreign investment”.

Although it still has a long way to go, Huambo could once again become the bread-basket of Angola. “Agriculture is the petroleum of Huambo” is often the slogan used to promote the province.

With peace and investment, there is a real possibility that Huambo could thrive and prosper, returning to its former glory.

Useful Information
Hospital Central do Huambo:
 Tel.: (041) 20425
Red Cross: Tel.: (041) 20166

Transports
 Enana: Tel.: (041) 20191
Railway: Tel.: (041) 20478
Trucks: Tel.: (041) 20373
Angola Telecom: Tel.: (041) 20003

Climate
Tropical climate at high altitude.

 By rail: There is a railway line from Lobito to the border of the Congo (Catanga), Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi. There are four passenger trains every week apart from the goods trains, which carry minerals and other products.

By air : Aircraft of all sizes can use the main runway, which is 2,800 m. long. The second runway is 1,000 m long. International aircraft can use these runways in an emergency.		 How to get there
By road: From Luanda, through Benguela, Huila and Bié Huambo

Cultural Tourism
Museums - There is the Anthropological Museum and the Municipal Museum with ethnographical sections. The visitor can find historical records, pictures, sculptures and photographs. In the gardens there are nine statues in the city's gardens, giving an insight into the province's cultural wealth.

 

20 km from Huambo, are the Embala Grande (Great Embala) Ruins, with their walls and underground constructions which centuries ago sheltered the "soba" (king) Camdumbo. This breathtaking view, with caves formed by small streams, disappears underground and surfaces again further on.