Sumbe is a coastal city of 314,000 people (2018) in Central Angola. It was called Novo Redondo intil 1975.
Understand
[edit]The name "Sumbe" derives from the Kimbundu word "cussumba", which in Portuguese means "to buy". The place where the city of Sumbe is located has always been a place of commercial exchange between the peoples of the interior and the coast: salt and fish, as well as the fabrics brought by the Europeans, served for a long time to feed this commercial circuit, which also involved the sale of black slaves.
The economy of the area is essentially based on fishing , maritime and river activities (mainly in the Quicombo district), and small-scale farming, especially corn, potatoes and horticulture, as well as cattle and goat farming.
Quicombo Bay and the beaches that border it are a source of tourist income.
Climate
[edit]The city has a dry tropical climate. The hottest temperatures are from January to April, and the coldest months are July and August.
Get in
[edit]
By bus
[edit]- 1 Huambo Expresso bus terminal, EN100 (south-east of city center). Huambo Expresso: 7 buses to Luanda daily (7500 Kz, 5-6 hr as of June 2024), Benguela via Lobito (5000 Kz, 4-5 hr).
- 2 Macon bus terminal, EN100 (2 km south-east of city center.). Macon: 7 buses to Luanda daily (7500 Kz, 5-6 hr as of June 2024), Benguela via Lobito (11:30, 13:00, 16:30, 17:00, 20:00, 5000 Kz, 4-5 hr).
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Catedral (corner Avenida Marginal 4 de Fevereiro).
- 2 Sassa Caves (11 km south-east of Sumbe. Take the EN100 south of Sumbe then, after 4 km, turn on the left at the junction and continue for 7 km. The footpath is on the left of the road but unmarked. Walk downhill for 2 km; when you reach the river, the cave entrance is on the left, hidden behind rocks). Sassa Caves is supposedly one of the 7 wonders of Angola. Ask locals for directions. They will be happy to guide you (for a tip). Bring a light inside! They are many bats on the ceiling. Once you have walked through the second room, you will find the other side of the river.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- 1 Mercado Municipal do Sumbe, Rua Comandante Kassage (corner with Avenida 1° de Maio).
Eat
[edit]- 1 Café Restaurant A Esteirinha, Avenida 1° de Maio (between Avenida Joaquim Kapango and Rua do Quicombo).
- 2 Restaurant Mar e Sol, Avenida Marginal 4 de Fevereiro. Terrace on the waterfront with view of the ocean.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Kalunda. Central. Single en-suite w/ breakfast: 37 000 Kz.
- 2 Hotel Ritz Sumbe, Marginal do Sumbe, 4 de Fevereiro. A bit run down but nice view of the sunset on the Atlantic Ocean. Wi-Fi at the reception only. Single en-suite w/ breakfast: 27 000 Kz.