Bibala is a small inland town in Namibe province, sitting between the desert coast and the highlands around Lubango. It is not a polished destination, but it matters as a hinge in southern Angola: the railway came through here, the old road climbs towards the escarpment, and the landscape begins to shift from dry lowland to cooler upland country.
The town was known as Vila Arriaga until independence, and its history is tied to the Mocamedes railway and the Portuguese push inland from the coast. Around the old Vila Arriaga centre, the practical life of the town still clusters near the Bibala Railway Station.
Most travellers will not linger long, but Bibala makes sense as a stop between Namibe and Lubango, especially if you are tracing the dramatic Serra da Leba approach. Carry what you need, keep expectations simple, and treat the town as part of the journey rather than a standalone resort.