It is the only functioning national park in all of Angola, with the others being in disrepair due to the Angolan Civil War.
The Park is limited in the north by Kwanza river; south, by Longa river; west, by the coast line between Kwanza and Longa rivers; and east, by the road.
Kissama National Park was established as a hunting reserve in 1938 and became a national park in 1957.
The park once was home to an abundance of large game animals such as elephants and Giant Sable, but after wide-scale poaching during 25 years of civil war, the animal population was virtually eliminated.
In 2001, the Kissama Foundation, a group of Angolans and South Africans, initiated 'Operation Noah's Ark' to transport animals, especially elephants, from neighbouring Botswana and South Africa. These animals, who were from overpopulated parks in their home countries, adapted well to the move. Noah's Ark was the largest animal transplant of its kind in history and has given the park momentum to be restored to its natural state.
Expect a to see elephants, elands, ostriches, zebras,blue wildebeests, kudus, giraffes, bushbucks, grey duikers and dik diks. The wildlife isn't very concentrated so you might need to travel some distance to see them all.
The Park provides facilities for visitors, 'pousada' and bungalows.
No comments:
Post a Comment