Chimalavera Regional Nature Park

Chimalavera covers dry hills and savanna inland from Benguela and was created in 1974 as the nearest protected area to the coastal cities. Wildlife populations were badly reduced over the following decades and what is present now is largely antelope, warthog, baboon and birds, with some reintroductions. The appeal is that it is close, accessible without an expedition, and the terrain of granite outcrops and woodland is attractive in itself.

The landscape

• The granite outcrops - rock hills rising through the savanna woodland.
• The antelope - the park's main large mammals, in recovering numbers.
• The birdlife - dry-country species through the woodland and around waterholes.
• The accessibility - a wildlife area within an hour of the coast.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the best for seeing animals at water. The rains from November to April make tracks difficult and grass high. Early morning is the most productive hour.

What to expect

Wildlife numbers are low and anyone expecting a southern African game park will be disappointed. Infrastructure is minimal with no lodge inside. A guide and a high-clearance vehicle are effectively necessary.

Nearby

Benguela is thirty kilometres west, and Lobito is on the coast.