Kakadu

is an anglicised version of Gagadju, which is Aborigine for language. The Aboriginals are the raditional  owners of the land round here, they have been around for about 50,000 years. Nowadays it is a sort of reserve as well as being a national park, so we have to pay $25 each to enter, which helps to support them and the park. Not that we see many of them. When we do come across  them they always have a story to tell, as I will relate later.
The park itself covers over 20,000 square kilometres,and is one of very few places that is World heritage listed for both its cultural and natural values. The park is home to 68 mammals, although we didn't see them, and 290 bird species, which we did see a lot of. The reptiles are all about us, the crocs, lizards, snakes, as well as thousands of insects which can be a damned nuisance!
We have a great campsite- it is good to get back to our roof tent etc again after a long rest, the site is very private and quiet, with great facilities.

It is situated near Jabiru, (presumably names after the bird I showed in the last entry) in a place called Ubirr. Famous for its rock art, we took a walk through the many galleries. Most of this art has suvived 20,000 years or more, usually under rock overhangs where the heavy rainfall of the wet cannot erase it. Having been painted over so many years there are a great range of different styles, but stories about behaviour and law tend to predominate.
They are not easy to see on photos, in fact not always easy to see on the rocks themselves!

Fish and animal drawings abound, as do figures hunting. This area was a large village for many years, and we are told that the aboriginals had civilisation and law for thousands of years before Europe.

Later we went on a cruise on the East Aligator river, with an aboriginal guide. He told us how they used the local trees for most of their needs, indeed the Hibiscus tree seemed to provide them with rope, spears, food, medicine and much more. Every plant and tree seemed to give them something. He also told of their laws, the transgression of some of which meant brutal punishments such as spearing in the leg. It appears they still do this.

He told many tales of the past, very interesting, and demonstrated his skill with the spear and the throwing stick. 

We had decided today to move on to Jim Jim falls, and twin falls, but on checking we found that Jim Jim has dried up till the wet, and the ford is too deep for Betty to get to Twin Falls. Big Disappointment! However we came across a great campsite at Cooinda, a few miles down the road, with a super swimming pool- so we are not too unhappy.....