Benguela is a city and municipality, capital of Benguela Province, in western Angola, composed solely of the central commune, which is organized into six zones.
It borders the municipality of Catumbela to the north, the municipalities of Bocoio and Caimbambo to the east, the municipality of Baía Farta to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
The term “Benguela” is believed to be of Umbundu origin, derived from the terms “venga” or “mbenga,” from the verb “okuvenga” or “okuvengela,” which in Portuguese means “to dirty or cloud,” a meaning associated with the waters of the Catumbela River; it may also mean “dark or opaque,” related to the formerly dense forest surrounding Baía das Vacas.