Region: Andalucia

Provinces: Cadiz, Malaga

Declared a Natural Park: 1984

Park surface area: 51,695 hectares

Points of interest:

The Natural Park has also been declared a Biosphere Reserve, this is due to the diverse geography with high limestone mountains and deep gorges such as Garganta Verde, (Green Gorge) that is 400m deep and filled with lush vegetation. In addition, it offers a great diversity of species- animals and vegetation. Many species are represented in the Botanical Garden of El Bosque, which is a good place to see the more rare flora of the area. Numerous species of birds live in the park, the Griffon Vulture being the most recognizable by its sheer size and tendency to fly in numbers.

Flora:

The mountain range conserves an important mass of typically Mediterranean natural vegetation including evergreen oaks, cork oaks, strawberry tree, carob trees and wild olives. Pine woodlands have been planted for a crop but have now naturalized. In the shade of the mountain El Pinsapar exists a magnificent forest of rare Pinsapo trees. There are three areas of this exclusive fir tree in the mountainous area of Ronda showing that it once covered more ground. Grazalema park has the largest area of them.

Mediterranean scrub including Lentisc, Cistus and Gorse cover the hillsides which in spring are also host to a huge variety of wildflowers, some of which only grow in the Ronda area, such as Linaria platycalyx. Those endemic to Grazalema are Papaver rupifragum, Phlomis margaritae, Echinospartum algibicum and Erodium recoderi. Ornithogalum reverchonii grows in Grazalema and Africa.

Fauna:
The Griffon vulture has a large resident breeding colony here as does Red-billed chough. and Golden eagle. Eagle owls are resident but uncommon. Egyptian vulture, Booted eagle and Short-toed eagle arrive in spring to breed. There is a breeding colony of Lesser kestrels at Zahara de la Sierra. Blue rock thrush, Rock thrush and Black wheatear can be seen on the higher ground with occasional Alpine accentor and Ring ouzel sightings in the winter. Warblers include sub-alpine, Dartford, Sardinian and Orphean.

The Spanish Ibex is the most visible mammal. Red deer, Mongoose, Genet and Wildcat are more elusive.                 

Also in the area:

Cueva de la Pileta is a natural cave system near Benaocaz which holds some of the most important cave paintings in Spain. Entry is 6euros and there are many group tours through the day. (When 25 or so people gather) "Hundidero-Gato Complex" is a natural caving system that connects a sink hole to a cave river outlet traversing 5kms underground, caving here is for professional teams only.

There are Roman remains in the municipalities of Ubrique (Ocuri) and Prado del Rey (Iptuci).

The gastronomy of the region constitutes another important cultural wealth. Many of the villages survive today by producing goats cheese and Iberian pork products.

The number of people visiting El Pinsapar, as well as other enclaves of the park, are restricted. Permits should be sought at the Information Centre at El Bosque. (The park headquarters). From 1st July to 31st September some areas can only be visited with a registered group.

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