Nzenzo Caves

The Grutas do Nzenzo (Nzenzo Caves) are in the municipality of Ambuila, in Uíge province, next to the Pedras do Bombo (Bombo Rocks) and the village of the same name, the closest to the caves. From Luanda it is about 300 km, leaving the national road to Uíge at the town of Quitexe.

In the local language they are called Ntadi dya Nzenzo, the stone of the tap. The name comes from a detail that surprises anyone who goes in: fresh water runs from a crack in the ceiling all year round, with no visible source. Around them are rock shelters covered in dense forest and, in the distance, you can hear a waterfall.

During the war, the people of the area hid in the galleries, where they had shelter and a guaranteed supply of water. The caves were chosen as one of the seven natural wonders of Angola and remain little studied: their size and the full extent of the interior are still not well known.

You cannot visit freely. First you notify the municipal administration, which asks permission from the traditional authorities of the village of Bombo. At the entrance, the elders perform a ritual before letting visitors through, and you should follow their instructions respectfully.