Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park was the largest of the National Parks we visited – about the size of Wales. So we only managed to explore a small part of it in the three days we spent in it. We were in the Northern Territory in early April which is the end of the hot wet season. In all the long walks we did in Kakadu, we did not meet any other people at all – we had the walks all to ourselves. Very strange. We were however typically walking in hot weather, averaging about 35 degrees Celsius.
The hotel we stayed at in Jabiru was a large hotel whose ground plan is the shape of a crocodile. On top of all the signs warning visitors to be very careful when by any creeks or pools, there were also signs (& some walks closed) because of sightings of water buffalo in the area.
Because of the heat we set off early for our walks, returning back to the hotel to cool off in the heat of the day before setting out again in the late afternoon. I had hoped for some Aborigine guided walks, but unfortunately because we were still in the “low” season, there were no such walks on offer in the park for us. Nevertheless with all the earlier planning we had done we managed a great selection of walks with stunning landscapes as well as seeing the rock art.
Australian indigenous rock art is part of the oldest continuous tradition of human art in the world. Some of these rock paintings date back nearly 30,000 years. To me they look very weird – due in no small measure in me not understanding their context or the Aboriginal Dreaming cultures that created them. I am not sure if the following notes on some of the Rock Art figures helps.
Namandjolg
His sister broke the incest laws on the rock ledge above the Anbangbang gallery. He later became Ginga, the great saltwater crocodile. In Aboriginal culture the incest laws are not necessarily referring to members of the same family, but do extend to community members with the same cultural responsibility and relationships.
Namarrgon
The Lightning Man. He wears the lightning as a band around him connecting his arms legs and head. Stone axes on his knees and elbows make the thunder.
Algaihgo
The Fire Woman. She is one of the first people who created the world. She planted the yellow banksias in the woodlands and used their smouldering flowers to carry fire. Aborigines are afraid of Algaihgo because she kills and burns people. She has four arms and banksias attached to her head.
Entrance to the Nourlangie shelter
Ann studying the pictures
The Anbangbang Gallery
The large figure central is Namanjolg with Namarrgon to the right
Nearby to the Nourlangie site is Nanguluwur one with more rock art.
On the left is Algaihgo, the Fire Woman
