Cangandala National Park

Origin - Established as a Integral Nature Reserve on 25-05-1963
Classification - National Park, II, since 25-06-1970.
Area - Occupies 630 km².
Geographical Limits - 09 09' to 10 02' South Latitude and 16 34' to 16 52' East Longitude.
Natural Limits - To the North and Northeast, the Park is bordered by the Camifundi, Cuije, and Caculo rivers. To the South by the Maubi, Candua, and Camifundi rivers. To the East and Southeast by the Caculo and Cuije rivers, Dumba Kicala, Picada Calamungia, Dumba Kicala, Maubi Calongo up to the Cuque and Lussa rivers.

Description: The average annual rainfall is 1350 mm and the temperature is 21.5°C. There are no major watercourses, and life revolves around ponds and lagoons that form during the rainy season.
The vegetation consists of open forest and dry savannah.
The protection of the giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) was the main reason for the creation of the Park in 1963. The Giant Sable Antelope was discovered in 1909 by Frank Varian, a Belgian engineer of the Benguela Railway, and has been on the list of species "under absolute protection" of the Convention on the Conservation of African Fauna and Flora since 1933.
It was considered extinct for over 20 years as a result of armed conflict, but was rediscovered in 2005. In 2009, nine females and one male were located, captured, and marked. They are currently under protection in the sanctuary of Cangandala National Park.
The male Giant Sable Antelope is black with white spots on the belly and between the horns. It weighs between 200 to 270 kg and stands 1.9 to 2.50 meters tall. The females are brownish and have less developed horns. The gestation period is nine months, with one offspring per birth.
For a flora enthusiast, the vegetation corresponds to a "Miombo" forest also known as "Mata de Panda," open with dominance of Brachystegia Wangermeena ("Mussamba"), "Boehmi" ("quenge"). Other species include Uapaca Benguelensis ("Mumbula"), Erythrina abyssinica ("Mulungo"), and Dyospiros.
For a fauna lover, besides the Giant Sable Antelope, various species can be found such as Ungulates, the common Bambi, Gulungo, Sitatunga, Nunce, Brown Antelope, Pacaça, and Seixa. Predators include the Lion, Leopard, Hyenas, and Wild Dog. The official language is Portuguese; however, the most spoken national language is Kimbundu.