In April 1963, the Kangandala Nature Reserve was established and transformed into a National Park on 25 June 1970. The original purpose of the reserve was conservation measures aimed at protecting black antelopes and preserving vast areas of brachystegia, which is of great biological and ecological importance to these areas.
Kangandala is located in Malanje Province, about 50 kilometres from the road from Malanje town. It is the smallest of all Angola's national parks, covering 630 square kilometres. Its natural boundaries are the Kuidje River in the north, two tributaries of the Kwanza River in the west and in the south. The northern section of the area intersects with an old road connecting Malanje with Cambundi-Catembo and near where the former headquarters of the park was located.
The vegetation of the park is typical of the "miombo" forest (such thickets are also called "panda forest") - it is sparse, dominated by Brachystegia wangermeeana ("Mussamba") and Brachystegia boehmii ("quenge"). Other plant species such as Huapaca benguelensis ("mumbula"), Erythrina abyssinia ("mulungo") and dyospiros, among others, are also present. Narrow strips of gallery forests occur along some of the largest rivers. None of the rivers have natural or artificial bays, only a few meadows (mulolas) and tributaries in the floodplain.
Apart from the large black antelopes, Kangandala Park is home to 15 other mammal species, including predators such as lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and wild dogs; reptiles are represented by three species, amphibians by one.
The restoration of scientific work and systematic observation of flora and fauna was started in 2006, after the end of the war. In 2014, new animal tracking equipment was brought to Kangandala Park.
