Luena, Gateway to the East

Luena is the capital of Moxico province, in eastern Angola. Until 1975 it was called Vila Luso. It began as a military post and grew up alongside the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (Benguela Railway), which still runs through the city today and links it to Lobito, on the coast.

It is a city of wide avenues, squares and gardens, calmer than the coastal capitals. Its name is tied to the end of the civil war: the Luena Memorandum of Understanding of 2002, which sealed peace between the Government and UNITA, was negotiated here, which is why the city is often called Cidade da Paz (City of Peace).

There is still little on offer for tourists. Luena works mainly as a base if you want to get to know the east: the rivers, the chanas (open grassland plains) and the culture of the people of the region. For routes outside the city you need time, a well-prepared vehicle and local contacts.