Location: 70 km from Luanda Map
Area: 9,960 km²
Quicama National Park is about 70 km from country's capital of Luanda and covers approximately 9,960 km² in North- west Angola. It protects an area of wetlands along with grasslands that is full of large animals. Quicama National Park was originally found as a game reserve in 1938 under Portuguese authorities with subsequent transfer to a status of a national park in 1957. After the Civil War the park is still devastated by the hostile actions in the regions. It is unclear how many buffalo, rhinos and elephants are left in the park since many of them were killed by humans. It is also unclear of level of hostility that is present among tribes dwelling in the nature reserve. It is not advisable to venture into park by yourself without guide or any representative of the local authority. The park is covered by open savanna with impressive baobab trees, dense forests as well as flood plains around Cuanza river.
The park is located on the coast, the northwestern
border of the park is formed by the estuary of the Kwanza River. The
Longa River also flows through the park, and there are several lakes
in the park. The coastline is 110 km long. Height above sea level
reaches 150 meters. The area of the park is 9500 km², of which
28.44 km are the marine part. In the park, the amount of
precipitation is 900-1500 mm per year with a rainy season that lasts
three to four months, while in the southern part of the park the
amount of precipitation is only 150-500 mm per year.
The park
is located in the Zambezian phytogeographic region. The territory of
the park includes mangrove forests in the estuary of the Kwanza
River, flood meadows and palm islands on the river, marshes and
sandy river banks, meadows on the plateau and woodlands in the
eastern part of the park. Raffia palm grows on the islands,
adansonia and acacia are characteristic of the eastern part of the
park. Dense thickets of Chrysobalanus, Drepanocarpus, Dalbergia,
Leguncularia and hibiscus grow along the river. In the lower reaches
of the Kwanza River, thickets of richness prevail, along the coast
you can find cattails, barnacles and reeds. The dominant species in
the southern part are acacia, sterculia, adansonia and commiphora,
in the rest of the territory - Brachestegia and Julbernadia.
The fauna of the park is represented by 44 species of mammals, 66
species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians. The park is home
to such mammals as the African manatee (in the lower reaches of the
river), the hyena dog, the cheetah (a rare species) and the lion. In
the early 1970s, a large colony of the bush elephant lived in the
park. In addition, sea turtles nest on the coast. 186 bird species
were recorded in the park, including rare species, including those
with a limited range. Among the permanent inhabitants of the park
are the gray-striped turach, the white-fronted gray flycatcher and
the golden-backed velvet weaver, the lesser flamingo, Cape gannet
and whale tern occasionally fly into the park. Laniarius brauni was
recorded near the eastern border of the park. In addition, the park
is home to 68 species of waterfowl characteristic of different
biomes in different parts of the park, including the African rat
stork, African yakana, colored snipe, long-toed lapwing, guard
crocodile, saddle-billed yabiru, white-necked stork, striped fish
owl , broad-mouthed kite, song flycatcher and chestnut-headed song
shrike.
The park was formed in 1957. The eastern part of the
park is poorly studied.