Kakadu, the first Australian area inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Properties, is a natural wonder of the world. The area was so called in honor of the early aboriginal settlers of this region who spoke ‘Gagudju‘, as recorded by Baldwin Spencer, a great anthropologist in 1911. These Gagudju- speaking people were almost gone by the time Kakadu was declared a national park and were replaced by the stronger ‘Kunwinjku‘ speaking people from further east.
Being of great scenic beauty, it contains a rich cultural and natural heritage unequalled elsewhere and provides refuge for many tropical species. It comprises of spectacular wildlife habitat, which ranges from the high plateau to forest woodlands, monsoon rainforests to open savannah-flood plains dotted with ‘billabongs’ to mangrove-fringed estuaries to the coastal beaches of Arafura Sea. At the heart of Kakadu is the South Alligator River, upon which all life depends on water.
A home for wildlife, Kakadu boasts sixty species of mammals, including kangaroos, dingos, possums, bats and dusky rats. The park is famous for its reptiles, the most dangerous of which is the Australian Saltwater crocodile often found patrolling waterways throughout the area. Frill-necked lizards and water pythons are common. It is a paradise for water birds- magpie, geese, and egrets that flock together in the wetlands. Lorokeets, finches and parrots are also found in large numbers in the woodlands.
Due to the vast disparity in local seasons, the aboriginal inhabitants of Kakadu divide the year into six distinct seasons! The ‘Gunumeleng‘ (October, – December), which is the pre-monsoon season of hot, humid weather characterized by an explosive growth of plant and animal life. It also happens to be an egg gathering time. The ‘Gudjewg‘ (January-February) is a time of violent thunderstorms heavy rains and flooding. The third season is ‘Banggereng‘ (March) when most plants are fruiting and animals are carrying their young. Expenses of water recede and streams run clear. Aggressive storms flatten high spear grass. Next comes the season of April and May called ‘Yegge‘, bringing early morning mists. This shallow wetlands and billabongs are carpeted with waterlilies. Drying winds signal it is time for burning bush to ‘clean’ the country and encourage new growth for grazing animals. ‘Wurreng‘. is the cold weather with low humidity. Creeks cease to flow and floodplains quickly dry out. Burning continues, dampened by dew at night. The months of August and September mark ‘Gurrung‘, a windless and hot season during which the land lies dormant. It is time for hunting file snakes and long necked turtles.
Kakadu is not only home to a spectacular natural topography and wildlife but also boasts the longest continuous surviving culture in the world. Local aborigines have. been living in this region for at least forty, thousand years! Their descendants are still to be found here. Kakadu and Arnhem Land contain one the longest continuous records of rock art in the world. The Gagudju speaking tribe left a legacy of art treasures on the shelter rock surfaces throughout this world renowned region. Because of these features it has become a tourist attraction. Frequent visitor areas include the Ubirr Art Site, the East Alligator River, the Bowali Visitor Centre and the Nourlangie Rock with its fascinating human occupation site, well preserved art galleries and scenic points. The Yellow Water boat cruises are a sheer delight for those who enjoy wildlife. Mornings and evenings are the best times for walking, climbing and sightseeing. The park has a great feeling of continuity with the elements and offers the entire spectrum of tropical diversity condensed into one national park, while each reaction still boats its own uniqueness. Fishing, camping canoeing, photography, wildlife, or even traditional art – you have it all here in Australia’s emerald cap.
Life Is Like That! 