Friday 25th July 2014

We got picked up by our next guide Josh, who is from the same company as Dave. It was a really long drive to our first national park and properly the most famous, Kakadu. I have been the most excited about this part of my trip so was really looking forward to this.

We headed to the Mary river to go and see the crocs first. We jump aboard the small boat and were off down the river to spot some crocs. We saw plenty of fresh water crocs as well as salt water crocs! Some were huge! I wouldn't want to go swimming in here!! Fresh water crocs are much smaller than salt water crocs. Fresh water crocs are safer to swim with as they are shy and run/swim away from humans. Salties are much more dangerous and you have to keep your distance from them and the waters edge. There was plenty of bird life and I got to see a bird I have always wanted to see, a jabiru!! A very tall bird, resembles much like a stork black and white with bright orange long legs!

After our boat ride we had lunch before our drive to Kakadu!

Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of 19,804 km2 (7,646 sq mi), extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres from east to west. It is the size of Slovenia, about one-third the size of Tasmania, or nearly half the size of Switzerland. The Ranger Uranium Mine, one of the most productive uranium mines in the world, is surrounded by the park.

The name Kakadu comes from the mispronunciation of Gaagudju, which is the name of an Aboriginal language formerly spoken in the northern part of the park. Kakadu is ecologically and biologically diverse. The main natural features protected within the National Park include:

• four major river systems:

• the East Alligator River,

• the West Alligator River

• the Wildman River; and

• the entire South Alligator River;

• six major landforms

• estuaries and tidal flats,

• floodplains,

• lowlands,

• the stone country,

• the outliers; and

• the southern hills and basins;

• a remarkable variety and concentration of wildlife;

• over 280 bird species

• roughly 60 mammal species

• over 50 freshwater species

• over 10,000 insects species

over 1,600 plant species.

Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu area continuously for at least 40,000 years. Kakadu National Park is renowned for the richness of its Aboriginal cultural sites. There are more than 5,000 recorded art sites illustrating Aboriginal culture over thousands of years. The archaeological sites demonstrate Aboriginal occupation for at least 20,000 and possibly up to 40,000 years.

We saw a fair few wild buffalo which are really dangerous,as they have been left to their own devices!

We headed to see the aboriginal rock art at Ubirr. Josh was very informative and explained a lot about the possible meanings and how they were made. The Aboriginals here have painted their food sources, barramundi, catfish etc, they also show which parts you could eat which is pretty awesome. They also painted stories, to warn people of dangers and there is also a very defined picture of a 'white' man which we have assumed might be first encounter with European explorers.

We walk to the top of the escarpment to look down on the park which was amazing. One side was forest and jungle and the other side was huge plains. Pretty breath taking.

Our camp for the night was literally in the middle of the park, I was getting worried when Josh was taking us down this dirt track for miles! Our camp site was awesome, it was more like glamping then camping! We had proper beds in a permanent tent.

Dinner was great, they only thing I didn't like about the camp was how much wildlife there was, bug wise! I saw several huge spiders including a huntsman in the bathroom!! Gross! We also got attacked by a praying mantis which was extremely cool as I have never really seen a wild one!

I finally managed to stop itching and fall asleep but got so cold in the night I had to jump in the same bed as Stu!