The Inwadar National Park was founded by the Maltese government through a legal notice in October 2016 (L.N. 343 of 2016) and is located alongst the south-eastern coastline of Malta between Marsaskala and Xgħajra. L.N. 162 of 2019 upgraded its status as a special area of conservation of national importance.

These are Marsaskala, Żabbar and Xgħajra.

It is mainly a coastal park, with distinctive natural features of significance. It presents a symbiotic existence between the arable lands on higher grounds, and the marine garigue on the coastal areas and is the second largest national park in Malta, covering an area of 0.955km. 

There are three main access points to the park which are from: 

1. Żonqor Point coastal access track; 
2. San Niklaw chapel area descending to the Il-Ġolf il-Kbir. 
3. Ta’ Barkat coastal accress track in Xgħajra. 

Should one be arriving by car, it is advisable to park just outside the coastal perimeter and walk at leisure within the park. One is advised that Il-Ġolf l-Abjad in Xgħajra is closed to vehicular access. 

If one is arriving by bus, the most convenient services are those operating to Marsaskala or Xgħajra. Malta Transport connects Xgħajra with bus number 94 from Valletta main station every 30 mins (alight at Dawret ix-Xatt). For  Marsaskala depart from Valletta main station every hour with bus numbers 92 (alight at Triq il-Blajjiet) and 91 every 15 mins (alight at Marsaskala Dun Tarċis Agius Square). Check for updates on www.publictransport.com.mt  Another popular approach is by rambling from Birgu or Kalkara to Żonqor point.

Unlike the UK and continental Europe, fields under cultivation in Malta are almost exclusively sown for vegetable crops and not used for grazing purposes due to the lack of grasses. Most of the fields in the upper tiers of the Inwadar National Park are tilled produce broad beans, onions, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, clover and wheat. Visitors are to respect the farming community and refrain from opening gates or entering fields without the owner’s permission. One can however walk through any public passageways that are sectored by continuous dry-stone walls on their both sides and clearly indicate a thoroughfare.

Given that the Inwadar National Park is an natural site with areas facing cliffs and other drops without fences or protective barriers the management advices that adults must accompanying children at all times. One should walk with caution.

This is subject to one own interests. There are parts of the park that offer a rich diversity of flora, and areas that have not been altered by human occupation or exploitation. The major coastal landmarks are the four cliffside inlets of  Il-Ġolf l-Iswed, Il-Ġolf ta’ Triq il-Wiesgħa, Il-Ġolf tas-Swali and Il-Ġolf l-Abjad that offer areas of scenic natural beauty in the rock formations and turquoise waters. 

‘Inwadar’ is the plural of the Maltese word ‘nadur’, which other than a placename that occurs in Malta and Gozo, also means ‘a viewing point where one can gaze at a distance and see clearly and without obstruction’.

Yes, there is a natural blowhole close to the Knights’ of St. John tower, and a series of big marine caves in the area known as Is-Swali. These are best accessed by sea, given that the natural descent to them is challenging. 

These are a series of hundreds of salt pan complexes, rock-cut by hand hundreds of years ago for the production of coarse salt. Salt harvesting is still undertaken at Żonqor Point, using the traditional Maltese salt making processes, during the dry summer months. Make sure you avoid the pans if walking your dog in the area.

Check the weather forecast beforehand. If it is going to be rainy, please note that there is minimal tree cover within the park, and one is pretty much exposed to the natural elements. Make sure that you take a raincoat or anorak with you, as well as good walking shoes. Take a walking guide to the area with you. If you are visiting in summer, do note that Żonqor Point is a popular bathing and diving site and you may ponder on a possibility to swim. A wooden pathway facilitates easy access to the sea. If rambling in the park in summer, avoid the midday heat and ensure that you have enough mineral water and food if spending the day. 

In 2000 a University of Malta study highlighted the presence of numerous indigenous and endemic floral species. These constitute the majority of the preserved low-lying patches of marine garigue. Amongst the most important are the endemic Maltese sea-chamomile (L.Anthemis urvilleana, M.Bebuna tal-Baħar), the endemic Maltese salt tree (L.Salsola melitensis, M.Xebb), the sub-endemic Sicilian silvery ragwort (L.Jacobaea Maritima, M.Kromb il-Baħar), the sub-endemic Pignatti’s Fern-Grass

(L.Desmazeria Pignattii, M.Żwien tax-Xatt) and the ice plant (L.Mesmbryanthemum Crystallinum; M.Kristallina Kbira). This is the only large single population in Malta.

Other than the illegal constuction waste that the area was subjected to, Inwadar is also exposed to the strong Gregale storms that cover the coastal areas during winter. This renders the coastal area only suitable for salt tolerant trees and shrubs. Since the park’s inception, we have planted hundreds of tamarisk trees (L.Tamarix africana, M.Bruka] at Żonqor Point and Il-Ġolf il-Kbir. More are to be planted in the near future.

There are several. The largest one is the restoration of San Anard grove, which surrounds the Victorian Fort St. Leonard. The grove had been abandoned for fifty years. Existing trees include holm oak (L.Quercus Ilex, M.Ballut), Aleppo Pine (L.Pinus Halepensis, M.Żnuber) and tamarisk [L.Tamarix Africana, M.Bruka).

Over three hundred tons of construction and municipal waste have been removed from this grove, and we are in the process of planting hundreds of indigenous trees, including carob (L.Ceratonia Siliqua, M.Ħarrub), Mediterranean buckthorn (L.Rhamnus Alaternus, M.Alaternu), dwarf fan palm (L.Chamaerops Humilis, M.Ġummar), lentisk [L.Pistacia Lentiscus, M.Deru),  chaste (L.Vitex Agnus Castus; M.Għadiba) and several native plant species.

Yes, although the coastal walk between both ends of the park is the most popular, one can enter Inwadar through one of the access points and walk through one of the footpaths that lead to the upper levels of the hillocks and then descend again from another footpath. More circular routes are being planned.

Yes, there is an area reserved for BBQs at Żonqor Point, in the part facing Marsaskala harbour, not close to the operative salt pans. There is easy access through several pathways and flights of stairs. No open campfires are allowed within any of the park’s public areas. 

Offroading is not allowed within Inwadar, as stipulated in L.N. 196 of 1997 and amended through L.N. 74 of 2013. 

The coastal area is dotted with concrete beachposts built by the British military during the 1930s are the first line of the coastal defences. Others served as coastal artillery searchlight posts in World War II. The park also has several vernacular structures, including the remains of dry-stone shepherds’ huts, hundreds of metres of traditional dry stone walls, the remains of an Order of St. John entrenchment wall and a coastal tower from 1659 at Il-Ġolf il-Kbir. The Victorian Fort St. Leonard, built in 1872 is currently not accessible to the public. 

It is highly recommendable to refrain from foraging for wild plants and seeds within the park. Other than being given legal protection, they are largely inedible and may constitute an adverse effect if consumed. Malta’s largest mammal, the weasel (L. Mustela Nivalis, M. Ballottra), has not as yet been sighted at Inwadar.

Like most of Malta, Inwadar does not possess any fresh water streams or sources, other than the minute coastal rock pools. Nevertheless, the marine garigue offers the ideal habitat for the short-toed lark (L.Calandrella Brachydactyla, M.Bilbla) as attested by past records, the short-eared owl (L.Asio Flammaeus M. Kokka tax-Xagħri|) and the corn bunting (L.Emberiza Calandra, M.Durrajsa). 

 Recent sightings of migratory birds feeding on marine life on the Inwadar littoral include sanderlings (L.Calidris Alba, M.Pispisella Bajda), little stints (L.Calidris Minuta, M.Tertuxa) and sandpiper (L.Actitis hypoleucos, M.Pispisella). Through the conistent cleaning of the marine garigue and an improved habitat, more migratory coastal birds are encouraged to visit Inwadar.