First stop on the Antelope Transit is the Iona National Park. The park is located about 200 km (120 mi) south of the city of Namibe. It’s area is 5,850 sq miles. (15,200 sq km) It is a very beautiful park full of excitement. For example, it has a lot of diversity in animals, unique flora, and rock formations. There are also a variety of deserts and semi-deserts in Iona National Park. It includes mobile dunes along the coast, desert grasslands, calcrete plains, open woodland, savannah and arid shrub land.
The park has many animals, the “Big Five” of Iona are the Springbok (Gazelle), Kudu, Ostrich, Oryx and (very rare) cheetah. Some other animals in the park are mountain zebra, impala, klipspringer, and the quelengua. There are also many cool facts about the animals. For example, the cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching up to 70 mph (113 km/hr), the ostrich is the world’s largest bird, and the name Springbok in Afrikaans and Dutch means spring- jump, bok-antelope;deer or goat.
Iona National Park is also known for its unique flora, such as the Welwitschia Mirabilis, The Welwitschia Mirabilis is one of the world’s oldest living plants living up to 1500 years. The Welwitschia Mirabilis only consist of the roots, stem, and two leaves. They are very common in isolated communities in the Namib Desert which shows it is far from extinction. They are also neither endangered or rare but are protected by law.
The Iona National Park is also home to many indigenous tribes such as Mucubal and Himba, as well as many Kimbundu groups. They are very isolated and clueless to the outside world. For example the technological advances that has happened, like computers, phones, and GPS don’t exist in their world. They are also subsistent farmers and herders. Anthropologist also say they are the most culturally intact on the African continent. The Mucubal people typically wear little clothing and are known for their endurance, being able to run 50 miles within a day. They also carry spears or machetes. The Himba tribe have an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in Namibia. The tribe are hunters and gatherers, and are semi nomadic.
The park has many animals, the “Big Five” of Iona are the Springbok (Gazelle), Kudu, Ostrich, Oryx and (very rare) cheetah. Some other animals in the park are mountain zebra, impala, klipspringer, and the quelengua. There are also many cool facts about the animals. For example, the cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching up to 70 mph (113 km/hr), the ostrich is the world’s largest bird, and the name Springbok in Afrikaans and Dutch means spring- jump, bok-antelope;deer or goat.
Iona National Park is also known for its unique flora, such as the Welwitschia Mirabilis, The Welwitschia Mirabilis is one of the world’s oldest living plants living up to 1500 years. The Welwitschia Mirabilis only consist of the roots, stem, and two leaves. They are very common in isolated communities in the Namib Desert which shows it is far from extinction. They are also neither endangered or rare but are protected by law.
The Iona National Park is also home to many indigenous tribes such as Mucubal and Himba, as well as many Kimbundu groups. They are very isolated and clueless to the outside world. For example the technological advances that has happened, like computers, phones, and GPS don’t exist in their world. They are also subsistent farmers and herders. Anthropologist also say they are the most culturally intact on the African continent. The Mucubal people typically wear little clothing and are known for their endurance, being able to run 50 miles within a day. They also carry spears or machetes. The Himba tribe have an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in Namibia. The tribe are hunters and gatherers, and are semi nomadic.