Cabinda is an exclave and province of Angola, a status that has been disputed by several political organizations in the territory. The capital city is also called Cabinda, known locally as Tchiowa. The province is divided into four municipalities—Belize, Buco-Zau, Cabinda and Cacongo.
Cabinda is separated from the rest of Angola by a narrow strip of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which bounds the province on the south and the east. Cabinda is bounded on the north by the Republic of the Congo, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Adjacent to the coast are some of the largest offshore oil fields in the world. Petroleum exploration began in 1954 with the Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, when the territory was under Portuguese rule.
Cabinda also produces hardwoods, coffee, cacao, rubber, and palm oil products; however, petroleum production accounts for most of Cabinda's domestic product.
In 1885, the Treaty of Simulambuco established Cabinda as a protectorate of the Portuguese Empire, and Cabindan independence movements consider the occupation of the territory by Angola illegal. While the Angolan Civil War largely ended in 2002, an armed struggle persists in the exclave of Cabinda.[citation needed] Some of the factions have proclaimed an independent Republic of Cabinda, with offices in Paris.
The Maiombe Forest is part of the Kakongo Forest Reserve – a large protected area located in the northern border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. This great tropical forest is one of the largest in the African continent, covering an area of 290,000 hectares. Visitors are always impressed by the lush green landscape, the thick woodlands and the diverse and thriving ecosystem.
Abundant quantities of precious woods such as ebony, African sandalwood and African blackwood can be found at Maiombe, where trees are often over 50 meters tall. The fauna is equally impressive: rare bird species, gorillas, chimpanzees and even elephants.
