Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo, Rock formation in Malanje Province, Angola

Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo is a rock formation made up of large monolithic blocks that rise from the savanna landscape of Malanje Province. The rocks spread across a vast area and create a striking change in the terrain where they emerge from the surrounding grassland.

Pungo-Andongo served as the capital of the Kingdom of Ndongo in its final years. In 1671 Portuguese forces besieged and captured the town, enslaved many inhabitants and destroyed the kingdom. The Fortress of Pungo-Andongo was built after the battle, and its ruins stand in the modern town.

Tradition attributes the footprints carved into the rock to Ana de Sousa Ginga of Ndongo and Matamba, the monarch of the kingdom of Ndongo. The western subsystem, the most visited, lies in the municipality of Cacuso, Malanje Province, and the commune of Pungo-Andongo sits at its centre.

The western subsystem lies in Cacuso municipality, Malanje Province, with the Pungo-Andongo commune at its centre; the ruins of the 1671 fortress stand in the modern town. A red dirt track passes between the two main columns, so wear sturdy shoes for the uneven ground and carry water, as shade is limited on the savanna.

The rock formation is not a single unit but divides into four distinct sections that differ in direction and structure. The western section attracts most visitors and offers the easiest access to the largest and most striking rock blocks.