Namaqua-Nationalpark

IUCN category: designated - '

Park in spring

The Namaqua National Park is situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The park protects the typical Namaqualand Landscape with a wide variety of succulents (such as Crassula, Adromischus, geraniums, Stapelien ) and onion plants. Many of these plants are endemic here.

During the months of August and September, taking place after the winter rains, the gray / brown land with a veritable carpet of millions of blooming plants. Then is to be expected on the navigable with a normal car trail and on the trails with many visitors, for the rest of the year you are a visitor mostly alone with the landscape.

Fauna and Flora

In the park, more than 3,000 plant species are endemic.

The fauna is dominated by the birds with over 150 species, followed by mammals ( 50 species) and reptiles ( 30 species). The smallest turtle in the world Homopus signatus is also home here.

Climate

The park lies in the winter rainfall region of South Africa; The most rainfall are available from June to August. Then at night it can also be very cold, with temperatures around the freezing point. Due to the higher position and the surrounding mountains begins outside the rainy season here, too often the nighttime fog that moves from the coast inland.

History

The beginning of the national park was founded in 1988 by WWF South Africa earlier Skilpad Wildflower reserve with 930 ha Later, the size of 68,000 ha was after purchases of farmland and owned by the De Beers Company achieved and the area was given the status of a national park and the present name. In November 2008 again 36,000 ha (99 years 2 x) were on permanent loan from the de Beers owned it.