Chimalavera Regional Park

And to the country, an environmental treasure for the protection of animal and plant species, so necessary for the development and enrichment of our heritage.
The Chimalavera Regional Natural Park was established as a special reserve by Legislative Diploma nº 4124 of 06/05/1971 and elevated to the status of Regional Natural Park by ordinance nº 352 of 04/15/1974.

Located next to the Dombe Grande road, approximately 30 km from the city of Benguela, it covers an area of ​​150 km2, mostly made up of a high plain surrounded by more or less steep mountains and with altitudes varying between 50 m and 265 m
. As there are no rivers, lakes or wetlands that retain water for some time, the watering of the Park's animals depends on a borehole and a pumping network and distribution tanks, which have long been inoperative, and is currently carried out by autotank which, in a irregular and insufficient, they add some water to the 2 existing drinking fountains.

The vegetation cover is scarce and consists of low herbaceous vegetation (grass) and thorn trees (acacias) and, despite everything, it manages to maintain small groups of Fan Goat and, when there is water, it is also possible to see small groups of monkeys known here as Dog Monkey. During the rainy season the number of these species increases considerably within the Park.
Our Fan Goat – Antidorcas Marsupialis angolensis Blaine, 1922 - is one of the three known subspecies, thus constituting a unique genetic material, which, the lost, it would no longer be possible to recover.

Although there is information and knowledge that other species once existed here, such as Zebras, Rock Goats, Jackals, etc. There has been no news of its sighting in the Park area for several years now.
Previously, there was a fence made of concrete stakes and wire, which only covered part of the periphery of the park, as it was considered that other areas, as they were made up of cliffs, constituted a natural barrier.
This fence is now non-existent.