Kakadu National Park
Jabiru, Australia
10.05.2014
Located in the Northern Territory of Australia, Nationalpark Kakadu is a vast and diverse wilderness area that encompasses over 19,000 square kilometers of stunning natural beauty. This World Heritage-listed national park is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, as well as significant cultural and historical sites.
The park is named after the local Aboriginal people, the Bininj/Mungguy, who have lived in the area for over 50,000 years and have a deep connection to the land. It's no wonder that Kakadu is not only a haven for nature lovers but also a place of great cultural significance.
One of the most striking features of Kakadu is its unique landscape, which is shaped by dramatic escarpments, lush rainforests, and expansive wetlands. These diverse environments support an incredible diversity of wildlife, including crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, and over 280 species of birds.
Visitors to Kakadu have the opportunity to explore the park in a variety of ways, from scenic drives to hiking trails and boat cruises. One of the most popular activities is a cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, where you can spot an abundance of wildlife and learn about the traditional uses of the land by the Bininj/Mungguy people.
In addition to its natural wonders, Kakadu also boasts a rich cultural heritage. The park is home to over 5,000 rock art sites, some of which date back thousands of years. These ancient rock paintings offer a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural beliefs of the Bininj/Mungguy people and are a testament to their enduring connection to the land.
For those interested in learning more about the Aboriginal culture, Kakadu offers various cultural experiences, including guided walks, traditional dance performances, and workshops on bush tucker and traditional art.
Whether you're seeking a unique outdoor adventure or a deeper understanding of Australia's Indigenous culture, Nationalpark Kakadu has something for everyone. With its stunning landscapes, rich wildlife, and ancient cultural heritage, this national park is a must-visit destination for any traveler to Australia.
This unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory, has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years. The cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites record the skills and way of life of the region’s inhabitants, from the hunter-gatherers of prehistoric times to the Aboriginal people still living there. It is a unique example of a complex of ecosystems, including tidal flats, floodplains, lowlands and plateaux, and provides a habitat for a wide range of rare or endemic species of plants and animals.
Kakadu National Park is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km (106 mi) southeast of Darwin. It is a World Heritage Site. Kakadu is also gazetted as a locality, covering the same area as the national park, with 313 people recorded living there in the 2016 Australian census.
Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory, covering an area of 19,804 km2 (7,646 sq mi), extending nearly 200 kilometres (124 mi) from north to south and over 100 kilometres (62 mi) from east to west. It is roughly the size of Wales or one-third the size of Tasmania, and is the second-largest national park in Australia, after the Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park. Most of the region is owned by the Aboriginal traditional owners, who have occupied the land for around 60,000 years and, today, manage the park jointly with Parks Australia. It is highly ecologically and biologically diverse, hosting a wide range of habitats and flora and fauna. It also includes a rich heritage of Aboriginal rock art, including highly significant sites, such as Ubirr. Kakadu is fully protected by the EPBC Act.
The Ranger Uranium Mine site, one of the most productive uranium mines in the world until it ceased operations in January 2021, is surrounded by the park.
Domestic Asian water buffalo, which are now an established feral population and invasive environmental pests, were released into the area in the late 19th century. Feral pigs, cats, red foxes and rabbits are further examples of invasive species, all of which compete with and wreak havoc upon the sensitive, unique ecosystems of the Northern Territory, and of the whole of Australia. These species were intentionally brought to the continent by the early settlers, pastoralists, and missionaries. The European presence, albeit less than in more populated regions (on the east and west coasts), was still felt. In Kakadu, missionaries established a mission at Oenpelli (present-day Gunbalanya) in 1925. A few pastoralists, crocodile-hunters and wood cutters also made a living in the area at various times up until the early 20th century. The area was progressively given protected status from the 1970s onward.
