We’re going to be picked up at hotel early this
morning, at 7 AM, for our two days tour in Kakadu National Park.
We will be able to enjoy a cruise to watch the
crocodiles and having some walks in the park to enjoy its unique
nature.
The spots marked at map, which we may visit, are:
1- Mamukala
2- Ubirr
3- Camping Center
4- Jim Jim Falls
5- Nourlangerie art site
After
Our guide Dale picks us up at 7 AM. We’re the
first ones in the car and start with the goodies available for
breakfast. There is enough for us and for the rest of the group that
are joining us in every stop in Darwin: two Australian girls, an
American one and a French family.
The 4WD car is full when taking the road for a one hour and a
half ride until our first stop, through this peculiar landscape flat
with thin trees. In the way, Dale has been explaining how this
landscape changes in summer, when everything is flooded and the roads,
like the one we’re on, are useless and the park gets isolated. There is
no chance for tours in that period. We’ve seen some of these
train-trucks: trucks with four or five trailers. These “monsters” only
exists in this country, as far as I know, as they only can go by
straight roads. I don’t manage a good picture of any of them.
This first stop is already one of the main highlights of this
tour: the jumping crocodiles cruise. We’re not in Kakadu yet, but
nature is all around. Along the road we could see wild buffalos and
wallabies.
Before the cruise some coffee was waiting for us. A snake was
there too for us to “play” when Dale takes it from the terrarium. When
the call comes we go into the boat with some other groups and it starts
sailing this brown river. Crocodiles appear immediately by both sides.
The show is coming from some bones tied to a stick which are
put in front of the animals. They think it’s easy food and try to get
them, but the guy managing the stick is getting the reward up, slowly,
until managing the crocodile was getting more and more out of the water
when trying to reach the food. It’s not a jump, but a slow emerging up.
They’re doing this repeatedly in both sides of the boat as we’re not
allowed to change sides to keep the boat balanced.
When coming back they throw some food for the
kites, which are coming massively to take it in flight.
Once again on the road we’ll still stop one more time for
petrol and goodies before officially reach the Kakadu National Park
entrance.
It’s now when we stop for lunching. There are always enough
drinks and snacks in the car but, for the first lunch, we’re getting
different ingredients to choose to make our fajitas.
With full stomachs we’re ready for our first visit in the
park. It is in Mamukala, which is a short walk to a hut for bird
watching.
We’re told the explanation to the smokes can be seen here and
there at horizon since we get the park: they’re coming from controlled
fires in the forest. Curiously, there are some trees here have evolved
as protection for the usual fires in this area and now they need the
fire for make the seeds soft enough for they can germinate. We stop in
one of these fires along the road.
Next stop is at Ubirr. This is a longer walk so we’re advised
to
take water and sun protection as it is hot here. We’re amazed at the
first part of the walk by the landscape, with the peculiar vegetation
and rocks of this place.
The second part is about the Aboriginal paintings in the
walls of the rock and the stories behind them.
And, as a reward for our climb to the top of Ubirr rock,
we’re
getting the best views in the park. Unlimited green floodplains can be
seen from here.
Has been almost one hour until reaching the top, but the
going
back is a lot shorter going down and without the explanations for the
paintings. In our way we can see a rock wallaby resting at shadow.
After this visit our guide takes us to an area with barbeque
and
swimming pool, so we can refresh while waiting for the dinner to be
ready.
The last ride today is through a very bad road, at dark,
until
the camp site. There we take a place for our tents that don’t need the
cover due to the heat and the lack of rain, so we can sleep today with
a sky full of stars as ceiling. Before, we spend a good time by the
fire.
