Serra da Leba Road
Serra da Leba is a mountain range in Angola, located in the province of Huila, near the city of Lubango. This place is surrounded by amazing nature – thickets of mango trees and spectacular waterfalls, in which, by the way, you can swim. But travelers from all over the world are attracted here not only by the picturesque landscape. Serra da Leba is one of Angola’s most recognizable landmarks, as it is here that a serpentine road connects the mountainous area of Lubango with the Atlantic coastal town of Namibe.
.The serpentine was built by the Portuguese in the 70s of the 20th century and immediately became quite popular. At that time its image decorated every 5th postcard issued in Angola, as well as various souvenirs and postage stamps. Now Serra da Leba serpentine can be seen on the 5 kwanz bill – the national currency of Angola.
Tourists
You can admire the serpentine from a special observation deck. It offers a breathtaking view of the winding mountain road and the Serra da Leba mountains themselves. The serpentine looks impressive at any time of day, but it is difficult to photograph it at night because of the black fog that covers everything at an altitude of 1800 meters. Only the very lucky and skillful manage to capture this stunning sight on film, but such a shot becomes a real pride of the photographer!
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It is best to come to Angola in the dry season – from May to September. The trip will make a lasting impression on lovers of history, mountains and unusual recreation.
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History
The Serra da Leba serpentine and lookout played an important strategic role during the country’s war of independence. Because the site offers an ideal view of the road and the surrounding area, it was the site of fierce fighting between the Juar army and MPLA fighters supported by the Soviet and Cuban military during the 1975-1986 war. The Angolans used to throw surviving Juar captives down after the fighting. Locals say that they still find human bones down at the bottom of the cliff below the observation deck. So this place is creepy and bloody. It is good that today this site is visited only by tourists, but it is guarded by the military, just in case.
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