Foto: Sand Dunes (bron: Ronald van der Veer)

Angola - Iona National Park, or Parque Nacional do Iona in Portuguese, is located in Angola’s Namibe province and is the largest national park in the country, covering about 15,000 square kilometers. It lies roughly 200 kilometers from the city of Namibe. Before Angola gained independence and descended into civil war, Iona was a wildlife paradise rich in big game. Unfortunately, illegal poaching and the destruction of infrastructure have caused severe damage to the park, as seen in many of Angola’s protected areas. Despite this, Iona remains Angola’s oldest and largest national park. It was declared a reserve in 1937 and upgraded to a national park in 1964. The park still houses a remarkable variety of wildlife, including ostriches, oryxes, and the rare desert elephant. It is also home to various bird species, such as the endemic Namibian sparrow and Benguela lark. Efforts are currently underway to restore the park and protect its natural resources for future generations.

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