Cameia National Park
Encyclopedia
Cameia National Park is a national park
in the Moxico
province of Angola
, located at about 1100 m above sea level. It shares its name with the nearby municipality of Cameia
. The Cameia
–Luacano
road forms the northern boundary of the park with the Chifumage River forming the southern portion of the eastern boundary and the Lumege and Luena
rivers the south-western boundary. Much of the park consists of seasonally inundated plains that form part of the Zambezi river basin, with the northern half of the park draining into the Chifumage river. There are also extensive miombo woodlands, similar to those in the Zambezi basin of western Zambia
. The park is a sample of nature not occurring elsewhere in Angola. Two lakes, Lago Cameia and Lago Dilolo
(the largest lake in Angola) lie outside the park boundaries and both have extensive reedbeds and grassy swamps that are rich in aquatic birds.
in 1938 and as a National Park
in 1957. The wildlife in the park has been almost completely wiped out after the civil war
wrought devastation to the park, including uncontrolled poaching
and the destruction of infrastructure. There is a serious lack of staff, resources and support for the park.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Moxico
Moxico (province)
Moxico is the largest province of the African nation of Angola. It has an area of 223,023 km² and a population of approximately 230,000. Luena is the capital of the province....
province of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, located at about 1100 m above sea level. It shares its name with the nearby municipality of Cameia
Cameia
Cameia is a municipality in Moxico Province, Angola. It is notable for its national park of the same name. Cameia and Lucano form the boundaries of the park. Cameia National Park was established as a game reserve in 1938 and proclaimed a national park in 1957...
. The Cameia
Cameia
Cameia is a municipality in Moxico Province, Angola. It is notable for its national park of the same name. Cameia and Lucano form the boundaries of the park. Cameia National Park was established as a game reserve in 1938 and proclaimed a national park in 1957...
–Luacano
Luacano
Luacano is a municipality in Moxico Province, Angola....
road forms the northern boundary of the park with the Chifumage River forming the southern portion of the eastern boundary and the Lumege and Luena
Luena River, Angola
The Luena River in eastern Angola rises near the town of Luena, Angola and flows south-east to the Zambezi. The name is also uses for an ethnic group in the area, the Luena people....
rivers the south-western boundary. Much of the park consists of seasonally inundated plains that form part of the Zambezi river basin, with the northern half of the park draining into the Chifumage river. There are also extensive miombo woodlands, similar to those in the Zambezi basin of western Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. The park is a sample of nature not occurring elsewhere in Angola. Two lakes, Lago Cameia and Lago Dilolo
Lago Dilolo
Dilolo Lake is the largest lake in Angola. It is located in Moxico Province....
(the largest lake in Angola) lie outside the park boundaries and both have extensive reedbeds and grassy swamps that are rich in aquatic birds.
History
The area now known as Cameia National Park was established as a game reserveGame reserve
A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism or hunting purposes. Many game reserves are located in Africa. Most are open to the public, and tourists commonly take sightseeing safaris or hunt wild game....
in 1938 and as a National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in 1957. The wildlife in the park has been almost completely wiped out after the civil war
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
wrought devastation to the park, including uncontrolled poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
and the destruction of infrastructure. There is a serious lack of staff, resources and support for the park.