The Serra da Leba, long a formidable obstacle for transportation across southern Angola, was conquered in the 1970s by this rather nerve-wracking series of switchbacks on the Namibe-Lubango Road. It ascends around 6,053 feet (1,845 meters meters) in less than 18 miles (30 kilometers), with a gradient as high as 34% in some places! Throughout this route, one travels through several unique climate zones, ranging from the coastal desert to the high mountains and plateau. There are at least twelve near-180 degree hairpin turns, of which six are on the most picturesque top portion of the route.
The road has become renowned as one of the most beautiful in Angola and Africa. At the top is a viewpoint overlooking all of the switchbacks, complete with a hotel and bar. However, the pass has also become predictably notorious for its frequent accidents and lack of guardrails, earning it the nickname “the beautiful precipice.”
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