Africa Wild

August 11 to 14, 2014 - Kakadu National Park

More of half of the Kakadu is owned by the Aborigines and administrated by them together with the Australian version of SanParks.
It is half a big as Switzerland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural and Natural Site.

There are six seasons in Kakadu (also called the Top End):

Gudjewg - Monsoon Season, from December to March with average temps between 24° and 34°
Heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding occur.

Banggerreng - Kock'em Down Storm Season, in April with average temps between 23° and 34°
The heavy rain eases, skies turn clear and the floodwater starts to recede.

Yegge - Cooler But Still Humid Season, from May to mid June with average temps between 21° and 33°
Low huminity prevails and you often get morning mist over the water expanses.

Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season, from mid June to mid August with average temps between 17° and 31°
Humity is still low and burnings often get extinguished by the dew at night.

Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather, from mid August to mid October with average temps between 23° and 37°

Gunumeleng - Pre-Monsoon Storm Season, from mid October to December with average temps between 24° to 37°
It's still very hot, but the air becomes more and more humid with thunderstorms building up by the afternoon.

As you can see it's never really cold up there and let me tell you, mosquitoes are an issue even in dry season. But from the SO's experience (he has been there before in the Gunumeleng) the insect situation generally was rather good when we went. Apparently little flies tend to eat you up in the humid seasons and you often see people with hats that sport nets around the brim to keep away the annoyance.

You can find 74 species of mammals, 280 species of birds (which is a third of all bird species found in Australia) and 117 species of reptiles in Kakadu - the most famous for the latter being the Salty - saltwater crocodile and the freshwater crocodile.

As for the cultural part - Kakadu is rich with Aboriginal rock art. The sites with the highest concentration are at Urbirr and Nourlangie.

http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu

There must be all kind of weather seasons at the same time in Australia. Being a continent not so strange after all

We had decided to visit Nourlangie as Urbirr was a bit out of the way for our short stay.



This is one of the shelters the ancient Aborigines used:



And here are some examples of the rock art for the Anbangbang gallery (they have been re-drawn 1964). Obviously, people are unable to tell the real story behind a painting if they haven't been around when it was done. But the Aborigines themselves provided the information as retold below.


This expresses the pleasure Aborigines take in dancing. Steps and movements depend on the meaning of the ceremony and
which part the dancer play and what rhythm clapping sticks and didgeridoos make.


This is Nabulwinjbulwinj; he is a dangerous spirit who eats women. ( )


This main figure is Namarrdjolg who had something going on with his sister. Right of it is the lightning man - Namarrgong.
The person right underneath on the left of Namarrdjold is his wife Barrginj. Their offspring are grasshoppers who appear
at the first storm break. ( )
At the bottom you'll find the rest of the family apparently on their way to a ceremony. The fish you can make out on the
right above them is a popular food fish that has been caught in the rivers nearby.

Will continue with loads of birds, although not nearly achieving the 280 possible species.

You certainly have to get a good explanation to understand the drawings Were you told why Nabulwinjbulwinj eats women? I wonder if he is still around

Still in the camp ground at Aurora Kakadu Resort I found:

Forest Kingfisher
(43)

Whistling Kite


Little Corella
(44)

Another one with a funny crest

Lisbeth wrote:YWere you told why Nabulwinjbulwinj eats women?

Sorry, Lis, my guess is as good as yours here.

It must have to do with getting wiser, able to multitask, more intelligent, better looking, mentally stronger, more tolerant, more diplomatic, maybe even having children

In short: being a threat to men.