Kakadu nationaal park

Kakadu is best known for the wetlands, although tree savannas cover about eighty percent of the park's surface. The wetlands are located around the three Alligator Rivers. In the rainy season, the rivers are increasing in size and the surrounding areas are flooded, making large parts of the park inaccessible during this period.

In season, Kakadu is best visited because the animals retreat to the permanent water areas such as the Yellow Waters Billabong and the Mamukala Wetlands and are so more visible. In addition to the wetlands and tree savannas, in the south and east of Kakadu there are still rock areas that are part of the Arnhemland plateau.

Kakadu is an archaeologically and ethnologically important area that has been inhabited for over 40,000 years. The cave paintings, rock inscriptions and archaeological sites show the skills and lifestyle of the former inhabitants, from the hunter from the prehistoric times to the Aboriginals who still live here. Famous places where rock paintings of Aborigines can be found are Ubirr and Nourlangie.

The Kakadu National Park was established in 1981 and is 19,804 km² in size. The national park is jointly controlled by the Australian government and the original Aboriginal population. Two-thirds of the rangers are also Aboriginal. Kakadu is listed twice on the World Heritage List, both because of the cultural value with, among other things, a large number of rock paintings of Aboriginals and because of the rich nature. 

In Kakadu there are various animal species that only occur in the Kakadu-Arnhemland region, such as the black wallaroo. Kakadu is also known for the sea crocodiles and the many water birds, including the ekstergans, the great egret, the black stork and the white-bellied sea eagle. In total about 276 bird species, 60 species of mammals and 120 type reptiles live in the park. Water buffaloes were very common in Kakadu for a long time after these animals were introduced into the Top End in the 1930s.

The number of water buffaloes has fallen sharply due to large-scale shootings due to the major damage the animals made to the vegetation and to combat the spread of bovine tuberculosis. The best and most advantageous is to visit the Kakadu National Park with your own 4WD or by an organized trip (among others from Darwin).

You can make an hour or 1.5 hour boat trip on the Adelaide River (between Darwin and Kakadu NP). The salt river crocodiles will be lured by a piece of meat which is attached to a long pole so that they come out of the water completely to get the piece.

This is, of course, natural behavior of these prehistoric beasts though it is now a very commercial event. Trips are held every 2 hours; costs vary between 22 AUS $ to 33 AUS $.

The rocks of Ubirr (and Nourlangie) are since 40.000 BC. constantly painted and overpainted. Most visible drawings have therefore been made over the last 2,000 years. Three main galleries are open to visitors, where park rangers (Aborigines) keep an eye on things, but also provide explanations of the rock drawings.

The paintings often made in caves depict the creation of the ancestors but also animals from the area are painted such as the barramundi fish, catfish and wallabies. In addition, a painting of the Tasmanian wolf that died in North Australia 2,000 years ago can be seen, from which the age of these rock paintings can be deduced.

The most important of these three galleries contains a large number of examples of the so-called X-ray art (X-ray art), in which animal motifs are depicted as if they were X-rays, the skeleton and the organs of the animals are drawn visibly. There are also white men to be seen, one with his hands in his pockets, while another with his hands on his hips 'tries to control the Aborigines'. 

According to the tradition of the Aborigines, the Dreamtime myths, so-called Mimi spirits were the first ancestors to paint on the rocks. They transferred their knowledge to the living. Sometimes the spirits of the ancestors themselves entered the rocks as paintings, so that the rock changed into a holy place. The most sacred place is a painting of the so-called Rainbow Serpent, which is more than 23,000 years old, known to the Aborigines as Garranga'rrelito. For the local tribe this is still a holy place, because this snake is the creator of the rocks, plants, animals and people. This place is not accessible to Aboriginal) women.

DAY 1:

• 07:00 picked up
• Crocodiles cruise on the Adelaide river
• 13:00 lunch (Aurora) in Kakadu NP
• To the wetlands of Mamukala
• To the rock formations of first Ubirr and then Nourlangie
• Before the sunset to Yellow Waters
• Sleeping on the campsite grounds of Cooinda.

DAY 2:

• Jim Jim waterfalls
• To Warradjan Aboriginal cultural center
• A refreshing dive at Gunlom waterfall and natural pool
• Drinks in at Mary River roadhouse
• Sleep at Mary River roadhouse or camping spot of Maguk