Moxico province is located in eastern Angola and is the largest province with an area of 223,023 km². It presents as a flat region relatively uniform, covered with a mantle of Kalahari sand that drops down gently to the east and south, with altitudes ranging between 1,000 and 1,500 meters forming ‘anharas’ or ‘chanas’, flat areas covered with herbaceous, flooding during the rainy season.

It consists of the following municipalities:

• Upper Zambezi
• Butt
• Camanongue
• Leua
• Luacano
• Luau
• Luchazes
• Lumeje
• Moxico

Its capital is Luena, once known by Vila Luso. Is located 1.314 km away from Luanda and 265 Km  from Saurimo.


Luena city

Climate

The climate is tropical, hot and humid with an average temperature of 22 º C and features two seasons: rainy and dry.

Access

Luena airport receives large airplanes. For small planes, there are airports in Cazombo and Lumbala Nguimbo.


Luena airport

The road access can be done by both Lunda, Malanje, Kwanza-Norte and Luanda.

Population

The local culture is composed by Tchokwes, Luchazes, Luvales, Umdundus, Lunda-Dembos, Bundas and other smaller ethnic language groups.

The most spoken language is Tchokwe.

These populations have reasonable knowledge of the environment where they live and try to take advantage of it. They are usually people who are dedicated to one type of farming almost exclusively subsistence, to the extent that natural resources provide them with significant income with hunting, river fishing, honey and wax.

Diet is mainly xima made from cassava flour, which can be supplemented with herbs, cassava leaves, bean or game meat or fish.

Economy

Historically agriculture forms the basis of the socio-economic development of Moxico, with the key crops: rice, cassava, vegetables, maize, sorghum, millet.

Moxico produces millet, sweet potatoes, citrus, sunflower, vielo, rice, cassava, corn, timber.

In livestock is a producer of beef.

In this Angolan province is the mineral extraction of coal, copper, manganese, iron, diamonds, gold, tungsten, tin and milibdénio, uranium, lignite. The industry is mainly of onstruction materials.

There is great fishing in the region, since Moxico has many rivers, lakes and ponds. In rainy seasons this capability is extended, as many regions of the province flood up.

There is also forestry in the municipalities of Moxico (Chicala, Cangumbe, Lungue-Bungo), Camanongue, Leua (Chafinda) Luau (Ngoana) and Upper Zambezi (Cavungo and Macondo). The wood is exported for consumption on the coast, outside the country and a portion is also used locally.

The population also occupies with handcrafts such as pottery clay, fiber and sculpture, which is mainly sold in markets.

Nature

This region has a rich flora, with a wide variety of trees.

In some trees in the province, such as mussixi, mumanga, muvuca, mussamba, mucuwe, among others, the bees love to make honey. This honey is known for its medicinal properties.

There are still many animals, such as jaguars, nusse, pacaça, elephant, sable, among others.


Several animals are coming back to Moxico.

In the Upper Zambezi arises a line of elevations (Calunda)over 1.500 meters, the most remarkable in the whole province, where there are rapids and waterfalls, highlighting the beautiful landscape provided by Luizabo Falls.

Rivers

In the West Southwest (SW-W) side are Kanavale and Kuito rivers, which drain into the Kuando.

In the north, a ridge line that runs from west to east, marks the watershed of two major river networks: the Zaire, with its tributary Kassai, the Zambezi, with its tributaries Luena, LunguéBungo, Chifumaje , and Lumeje Lumbala.


Zambezi River, Moxico, Photo Portal de Angola

To Visit

• Lakes and Ponds Calundo, Dilolo, and Lalundo Chivumangue
• Lunega Pinto, Luena and Sacassanga rivers, whre there are turistic areas

Sakassange Lake

• Kasai and Luizavo rivers Falls
• Katupe Forest Reserve, with an area of 150 km ², this reserve is limited to the north by the river Luce and Lue, east with Condoge river, with Londoge river to the south and to the west with the river Lué
• Lucusse Forest Reserve, which is limited to the north by the river Luchibe, in the west to the river Cuele, east to the river Mundoia and south with the river Lungue-Bungo. It has an area of 2,450 Km2
• Cassai Forest Reserve, which is limited to the north by the river Kasai, in the west to the river Lue, south and east with orio Munhango. It has an area of 190Km ²
• Cameia National Park, established as a national park in 1957, is home for various species of fish such as caqueia, mussata, and among other animals like jaguars, nusses, pacaças and antelopes. It has an area of 14.450Km ². In the north is limited by Benguela railway, south by the river Luena, west with river Lumege and east with rivers Luangunge, Chifumagi, Zambezi and Lulua.
• Luena Forest Reserve has an area of 1,800 km ². It is bordered by rivers Luena and Canage
• Macondo Forest Reserve with an area of 750 km ²
• Forest Reserve Luisavo with 400 Km ²
• Ruins of Old Moxico
• Archaeological Traces of river Kasai-Cawéwé - where we find engraved stones with footprints of people, animals, signs, among others
• Fort Dilolo

Events
The festivals of the city happen in September. A major regional celebration is Mukanda (Circumcision).

Gastronomy
Some of the dishes are fresh and dried mushrooms, funge de bobó and dishes with dried and fresh meat.