We operate our treks in the cooler winter
months (April to September) when the weather in Central Australia
is superb for bushwalking and exploring the deserts. The average daily temperature is
about 23 degrees Celsius, however at night it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop
to zero or below.
Good
physical fitness, a love of the outdoors and a constructive mental attitude are
fundamental to the success of your trek or expedition. Due to the very nature of your
journey and the remote areas that you may visit, conditions may be outside that of your
normal experience. After leaving the comforts of civilisation behind, you should be
prepared to enjoy the desert on its own terms. Group sizes are usually between 10 to 13
passengers plus 4 crew.
Moderate
– all Treks and Extended Treks are represented
here. You must be reasonably fit but also be prepared to actively
participate in the day-to-day running of your trek. Our walking pace is
approximately 3 to 5 kilometres per hour, depending on the terrain being covered.The
average distance travelled per day is usually between 12 to 20 kilometres and may involve
some spells of continuous, although moderate, dune climbing on firm sand. Occasionally,
you will make camp at lunchtime, allowing the afternoon 'free' to explore or (if
available) to relax by a waterhole. On other days you may cover a little more ground in
search of a suitable campsite with enough feed for the camels. Water is available for
drinking only but will not be strictly rationed. Travel will be cross-country, away from
tracks and roads, unless specified in the trek notes and the itinerary of each trek is
flexible allowing the leader to adjust the pace of the trek to the wishes and capabilities
of the group.
Challenging – all expeditions
fall into this category. These are genuine contemporary expeditions that travel in a
traditional style just as the early explorers would have done, whilst encountering the
rich desert diversity entwined with the rewarding experience of working with the camels.
Due to their duration and terrain covered, these explorations are far more challenging
than any trek. The expeditions travel approximately 350 - 450 kilometres and have a
definite objective, whether it be to cross an entire desert or to arrive at the designated base camp at journeys end. Full rest days during the expedition are not guaranteed
and the average
distance
covered per day can be between 17 to 22 kilometres. Water rationing is strictly enforced
and there are neither permanent camps nor any type of vehicle back-up.
On such a journey it is essential that you are prepared, both mentally
& physically, to fully participate as an expedition member.
At
journeys end you can expect to be tired but also fulfilled with a sense of personal
accomplishment.
Common
characteristics of all treks & expeditions are:Team participation & walking with a string of up to 18 camels
Sleeping in swags under the stars
Camping at non permanent camps
(excluding the first & last nights)
Camp cooking in camp-ovens
& woks on open fires
The subtle beauty of the desert
landscape
Self sufficiency – there is no
vehicle back-up - and the desert silence!
On
all treks & expeditions, the camels carry all your personal gear, excluding your day
pack.
