Far from the fighting, Namibe has been untouched by the civil war, but the province has in the same way suffered from economic neglect

Namibe is the land of the Welwitschia Mirabilis, an astonishing desert plant that resembles a giant octopus. It spans six to nine feet and is unique to the province.

credit: Estanis Martin de Nicolas

The desert environment that allows the Mirabilis to flourish has also meant that the province has been untouched by war, as the terrain is not ideal for guerrilla warfare as practiced by Unita's rebels. It is indeed one of the few provinces where it is possible to see care-free children playing in the streets.

Its development has been affected by the conflict to a certain extent as it is also very far away from the capital. Namibe city lies a distant 767 miles from Luanda. Yet this is not to suggest that Namibe is completely isolated. Located in the very south of Angola with a long Atlantic seaboard, Namibe has actually had centuries of contact with the outside world. The Portuguese arrived in the area in 1485. The famous explorer Diogo Cao baptized the region Mozamedes. He found small settlements of fishermen living along the coast, and six hundred years later, fishing is still the principal activity in the province.

Namibe produces 65 percent of Angola's fish, and has the third largest port in the country. Although the port is in need of rehabilitation, its deep waters mean that 150,000-ton ships can dock there. Much of the province's industry centers around the fishing business, and while canneries and other small-scale fish processing plants exist, there is clear potential for further development.

The Namibe desert also offers excellent hunting and attracts game hunters from Southern Africa and beyond. In addition, the unique flora and spectacular rock formations in the desert's Iona National Park have made it a popular tourist destination.

The province has beautiful beaches, with limited facilities for water sports and other activities. One of the most attractive tourist destinations is Bibala beach, where the water is said to have healing properties, something for which Angola's inhabitants have a dire need.