Miradouro da Lua

The road south from Luanda towards the Kwanza river runs along the top of a belt of soft sedimentary rock that rain has cut into ridges, gullies and pinnacles, banded in cream, ochre and grey, dropping to a flat plain and the sea beyond. The viewpoint over it is called the moon overlook, and it is the most photographed stop within easy reach of the capital. The formations are actively eroding, which is why they stay sharp.

What you'll find

• The eroded cliffs - ridges and pinnacles cut into banded sedimentary rock.
• The colour bands - cream, ochre and grey layers across the whole face.
• The plain below - flat coastal ground running out to the sea.
• The light - the formations changing colour through the day.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the clearest. Late afternoon light is the best for the colours. Midday flattens the whole view.

Things to know

It is a ten-minute stop with nothing else there. The edge is unfenced and the ground crumbles. Sellers and unofficial parking attendants work the pull-in.

Nearby

Barra do Kwanza is further south, and Cabo Ledo is beyond it.

Key facts