Kakadu National Park covers a vast area of almost 20,000 km2 of Northern Territory land in Australia. The largest national park is located on the Arnhem Land Peninsula, 171 kilometres from the city of Darwin. Contrary to first impressions, the name has nothing to do with parrots. It is a Europeanised variation of the Gagadju language spoken by the indigenous inhabitants of the area.
History
The area of what is now Kakadu Park was inhabited as far back as 40,000 years ago. Local tribes lived by gathering and hunting, as can be seen in the surviving rock paintings.
In the second half of the 19th century, missionaries arrived on the Arnhem Land peninsula in Australia. Early in the next century, a railway was laid and a telegraph was established. The discovery of gold and uranium mines in the region attracted many European lovers of quick fortification. Before the arrival of the former Europeans, about two thousand aborigines lived in the territory. Contact with the invaders reduced their numbers by an order of magnitude. They died of unfamiliar diseases or were displaced to other regions.
In the mid-20th century, the remaining Aboriginal people were threatened with extinction. Fortunately, the creation of the park in 1979 reversed this pernicious trend. Half of its land became Aboriginal property.
The reserve employs about 500 Aboriginal people who are also involved in the management of the park. All excursions are conducted by them. Naturally, no one better than the aborigines can present the peculiarities of the area, accompanied by ancient legends and legends. Aborigines also serve visitors in hotels, shops and cafes.
In 1999, Kakadu Park received the status of National Park, and in 1992 became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in two categories - natural and cultural.
General Information
Kakadu National Park is located on a hilly plateau with an altitude of 180-400 metres. The natural boundaries of the park are steep cliffs up to half a kilometre high. It is 200 kilometres from north to south and 100 kilometres from west to east. All this space is a biological reservation with unique flora and fauna.
Inside the park travellers are greeted by a variety of landscapes - tropical forests, swamps, waterfalls, plains, savannah, rivers. The main waterway is the Alligator River with numerous tributaries. Cruises are organised along the river with a visit to a large swamp where alligators live. They feed on fish and, unlike crocodiles, they do not attack humans.
Flora and fauna
The biodiversity of the park is amazing. There are over 1700 species of plants and 120 species of reptiles, 60 species of mammals, a thousand species of insects, 280 species of birds, and 77 species of fish.
Kakadu National Park contains several geographical zones with specific flora. In the Stonewall area, rocky vegetation predominates. In the southern part, one can see quite a few endemics, among them the Koolpinesis eucalyptus. In the monsoon forest zone, there are thickets of banyan and kapok trees. The swampy areas are covered with mangrove forests: 39 species of the 47 existing evergreen mangrove trees grow here.
The diversity of natural zones determines the diversity of fauna. Endemics include the dingo wild dog, eight species of kangaroo, the great bandicoot, wallaby, marten and flying fox. The latter animal, which feeds on pollen from eucalyptus trees, can travel 50 kilometres overnight.
There are 10,000 crocodiles in the Noarlunga Creek and Majela Creek rivers within the reserve. Among them there are both "good" and "bad" crocodiles. Johnson's freshwater fish-eating crocodiles are not to be feared. But crested crocodiles, reaching 6 metres in length, will not refuse careless travellers. Careful tourists watch them from special strong constructions. The best period for this is August-November.
Kakadu Park is a kind of frog oasis with 22 species. These include the marbled, tree, bullfrog and frog toad. Another rarity is the two-metre-long barramundi amphibian fish.
There are also 280 species of birds, including black-necked storks, pygmy geese, Australian pelicans, and white-browed robins.
In Kakadu Park, you can walk out to entire glades of termite mounds. Termite "houses" up to 8 metres high are as strong as bricks. Their building material is sand, clay, pieces of wood, bound by the saliva of insects. In addition to termites, Leichhardt's multicoloured grasshoppers stand out.
Jim Jim Falls
The park's most popular waterfall is Jim Jim. Powerful torrents of water tumble down from 200 metres high. The waterfall is especially impressive during the rainy season from December to March, but you have to watch this spectacle from a helicopter. During the rainy season, much of the park, including the waterfall, is inaccessible from the ground. During the rest of the year, there is a short 70 kilometre trek to the waterfall on a dirt track that ends with an off-road path. Travellers who have overcome it believe that the view compensates for the hardships of the journey.
Photo: Nigel Malone. Source: Wikipedia
Cave paintings
The main attraction of Australia's Kakadu Park is the Aboriginal rock art in Ubirr, Nourlangie and Nanguluwur caves. This collection is one of the finest in the world. Images of turtles and fish predominate. There are drawings depicting the first European ships. The peculiarity of drawings - the image of both the visible appearance of people and animals, and their internal organs (a kind of "X-ray").
The main subjects of cave paintings:
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hunting;
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religious ceremonies;
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history in Aboriginal representations;
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witchcraft.
Features Visit
The rainy season in Kakadu Park runs from December to March, while the dry season runs from April to September. November and December are the peak of local heat with temperatures above 35 degrees with high humidity. In addition, thunderstorms with lightning are frequent in these months, the frequency of which is a record for the whole world.
Of the 250,000 tourists who visit Kakadu Park each year, some stay in the town of Jabiru on the reserve's territory. Accommodation options include hotels and campsites. There is a park administration office in the vicinity of Jabiru, where you can find out details of excursions and self-guided visits.
The huge territory of the park practically excludes its circumambulation on foot. Alternatives include car, horseback or water tours. A helicopter tour is the most informative.
Swimming in the park is not allowed because of crocodiles. But fishing is allowed, but at your own risk for the same reason. Even the peace-loving crocodiles may not like competitors fishing in their native waters.
Most travellers arrive from Darwin in a rented SUV, which is very suitable for getting around the park. The journey from Darwin is via National Highway 1, then Arnhem Hwy/State Route 36, the journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes.
The park is open year-round and daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ticket prices in US dollars:
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adult - 25;
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child 5-15 years old - 12.5 (toddlers are free);
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family for two adults and two children 5-15 years old - 65.
