Stand at the top of the hill south-east of the city and the whole of Lubango opens below you: a Portuguese-built town on the Huíla Plateau, ringed by mountains, with the giant letters of its own name standing beside a statue of Christ. At 1,760 metres, the air is thin and cool, and by evening you will understand why Angolans call this the coldest city in the country.
Lubango suits travellers who are already in Angola and want a highland base rather than a beach: people who will take a shared taxi across town for a cliff view, who are happy to walk the historic centre, and who pack a jacket for June and July. The city is the capital of Huíla Province and the second-largest city in Angola, and it is reached by daily flights from Luanda and by the Moçâmedes Railway.
This guide covers the sights worth your time, the practical points that come with them, and how to string them together if you have a single day.
Top things to do in Lubango
1. Cristo Rei
A giant statue of Christ, similar to the Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, standing at the top of a hill 13 km south-east of the city centre and overlooking Lubango. Next to the statue are the giant Hollywood-style letters spelling "LUBANGO" and "N'GOLA".
Come for the panorama over the city and the plateau. It is the natural first stop for anyone arriving in Lubango, and it pairs well with the historic centre, which you can see laid out below before you drive back down into it.
2. Fenda da Tundavala
An impressive cliff with a panoramic viewpoint, 20 km north-west of Lubango. At the top, Mumuila women sell traditional handicraft.
Five kilometres before the viewpoint there is another viewpoint of the Tundavala waterfall, next to a dam, so allow time for both. Bring cash for the handicraft stalls and something warm, as the exposed edge is cold even when the city below is mild.
3. Sé Catedral de São José
The cathedral on Praça 1° de Maio, in the historic centre. It is the anchor of the Portuguese-style townscape that Lubango was built around, alongside the commerce hall, industrial hall and secondary school of the colonial period.
Visit as part of a walk through the centre rather than as a standalone trip, and use the square as your starting point for seeing the rest of the old town on foot.
4. Estádio Nossa Senhora do Monte
A multi-use stadium, most often used to host football matches played by the local club C.D. Huíla. If your visit coincides with a fixture, it is an easy way to spend an afternoon with a Lubango crowd.
Check locally whether a match is scheduled during your stay, since the stadium is used for other events as well.
5. The historic centre on foot
Lubango was built in a Portuguese style of architecture, and walking around town is described as a good way to explore it. The centre is where the cathedral, the civic buildings and the everyday commerce of the city sit together.
Walk rather than take a taxi for this part of the day. Shared taxis run in circles around the city if you tire, and personal taxis are marked "PARTICULAR".
6. The Milleneum mall
The main shopping plaza in Lubango is a newly built mall called "Milleneum", where most products of daily use are available, along with cosmetics, shoes and clothes.
Useful as a practical stop rather than a sight: it is where you stock up before heading out to the viewpoints, and it is a sensible place to break up a day of walking the centre.
7. The markets
In the markets, US dollars or kwanza are both acceptable, which makes them straightforward for a visitor to use. They are part of the ordinary commercial life of a city whose economy runs on the surrounding farmland and its produce.
Carry kwanza as well as dollars. ATMs around the city disburse kwanza only, and banks such as BAI or BPC can receive funds from outside Angola by electronic transfer if you need to top up.
8. A ride on the Moçâmedes Railway
The town is served by the Moçâmedes Railway, known as CFM, and is the junction for the branch railway to Chiange. The railway is one of the reasons Lubango grew as a transportation centre, with its own station and major maintenance and repair facilities.
If you are continuing to the coast at Moçâmedes, the railway is a way to make the journey part of the trip rather than just a transfer.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start in the historic centre, beginning at the Sé Catedral de São José on Praça 1° de Maio, and walk the surrounding streets to see the Portuguese-style architecture of the old town. Stop at the markets while they are busy, and keep kwanza on you.
Afternoon. Head south-east to Cristo Rei for the view over the city and the "LUBANGO" and "N'GOLA" letters beside the statue. If you have a car and the time, continue north-west to the Fenda da Tundavala for the cliff viewpoint, allowing for the second viewpoint of the Tundavala waterfall next to the dam about 5 km before it.
Evening. Return to the city and spend the last of the daylight at the Milleneum mall for anything you need, then eat in the centre. Expect a cold night: Lubango is the coldest city in Angola, and June and July can bring frost.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lubango?
Lubango Airport (IATA code: SDD) receives daily flights from Luanda and three flights a week from Windhoek, Namibia, through TAAG, the Angolan airline. The town is also served by the Moçâmedes Railway, known as CFM, and buses run by a firm called "SGO" are available from Lubito.
How do I get around the city?
Taxis, mostly shared, run in circles around the city, and you can hire personal taxis, which are marked "PARTICULAR". Walking around town is also a good way to explore Lubango.
What should I pack for the climate?
Lubango sits at 1,760 metres and has a subtropical highland climate: hot and humid during the day, cool to cold at night. June and July are cold, with frost possible though rare, and the heaviest rains fall between December and March. The warmest months are September and October.
Can I use dollars, and where do I get cash?
In the markets, US dollars or kwanza are both acceptable. ATMs are available around the city but disburse kwanza, the local currency, and Angolan banks such as BAI or BPC offer financial services including receiving funds from outside Angola by electronic fund transfer.
Decide your dates around the cold months or the rains, book a flight into SDD, and the plateau, the cliff and the statue will do the rest.