Lunda Sul

Saurimo is the capital of Lunda Sul province in northeastern Angola, a highland city of about 220,000 people set at roughly 1,080 metres above sea level. Formerly known as Henrique de Carvalho, it serves as the administrative, commercial and transport centre of Angola's diamond-rich east.

The city was founded in 1927 and named after the Portuguese explorer Henrique de Carvalho before being renamed Saurimo after independence. The surrounding region is home to the Lunda and Cokwe peoples, whose crafts, music and traditions remain visible alongside Portuguese-speaking urban life in markets and neighbourhoods.

Key landmarks include the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, built around 1960 with support from the Diamang diamond company, the Mercado Municipal, Parque da Independência, the Museu Municipal and the Our Lady of Lourdes religious monument. Outside the city, the Catoca kimberlite mine about 30 kilometres away ranks among the world's largest diamond operations.

Diamond mining anchors the local economy and attracts business travel, while agriculture, livestock, fishing, charcoal production and small-scale trade support many households. Recent investment in roads, health and education, together with a planned Saurimo–Luena railway link to the Benguela corridor, is gradually improving connections across eastern Angola.

For travellers, Saurimo offers a quieter, less-visited side of Angola: a clear dry season, provincial markets, colonial-era and religious landmarks, and a gateway to the diamond-mining landscapes of Lunda Sul. It suits business visitors tied to mining and infrastructure projects as well as independent travellers exploring the east.