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Simpson-Desert-Stripes

The parallel sand dunes of the Simpson Desert.

Old Andado aerial

Old Andado from the air - June 2002.
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Old Andado

Our base in the western Simpson Desert is at Old Andado Station.The heritage-listed homestead, built in 1922, is nestled amongst the magnificent red dunes and is home to Molly Clark who has restored the buildings to faithfully reflect the life of the early pioneers of the district.

floods

Minor flooding at Old Andado - February 11 2001

The Drought in Australia.

Update, April 4th 2004 - Since 2002, nearly all of Central & Eastern Australia has been in the grip of a '1 in a 100 year' drought and despite recent isolated rainfall, many areas are still very dry. On all our treks & expeditions we rely on favourable seasonal conditions to provide feed for our camels. Emails sent to our maillist in October 2003 indicated that we may operate a 12-day trek in the Eastern Simpson Desert along Eyre Creek in August this year. Despite the major flooding in the Diamantina River, western Queensland is still in the grip of major drought and - out in the desert - there is little or no feed for the camels so consequently, however tempting it may be, we will not be able to run a trek along Eyre Creek this year. The extremely dry conditions in the south eastern Northern Territory on Andado Station have also necessitated some re-routing of short treks to enable supplementary feed to be given to the camels.

12-Day Western Simpson Desert Treks  

Departure Dates:    

Trek Summary:

A taste of the magnificent Simpson Desert, without making the entire crossing, these treks explore the country to the north, east and south of Old Andado sometimes extending along the Finke River into South Australia.

Within a trek you may encounter a variety of country; from small gibber plains to coolibah-lined creeks to impressive 25 metre high red-crested sand dunes.

Some of the inter-dune corridors are over 500 metres wide whilst others disappear into a maze of confused dunes, covered in tangled spinifex.

Grade: Moderate.

Itinerary: 1-day road transfer, 10 days on the camel trek, 1-day road return road transfer.Further information...

Price (including transfer): AUD$2995

Pick-up/set down point: Alice Springs  

15-Day Snake Creek / Western Simpson Extended Trek

Departure Date: May 13 to May 27 2004  Filling quickly!

Trek Summary:

The trek will spend most of its time zig-zagging through the dunes, exploring along the appropriately named Snake Creek which runs out of the Finke River and ends in the Simpson to the east of Old Andado. Major flooding  along the creek in 2001 created huge freshwater lakes in the interdune corridors.

Grade: Moderate.

Itinerary: 1-day road transfer, 13 days on the camel trek, 1-day road return road transfer. Further information...

Price (including transfer): AUD$3375

Pick-up/set down point: Alice Springs  

Snake-Creek-Waterholes

The Snake Creek floodwaters in the interdune corridors - June 2002

15-day Western Simpson Extended Trek

Departure Date: May 26 to June 9 2004 This trek is fully booked.

Trek Summary:

An 'extended version' of our popular 12-day trek, the extra days will allow us to spend more time further out in the desert to the northeast and also perhaps visit areas along Snake Creek.

Grade: Moderate.

Itinerary: 1-day road transfer, 13 days on the camel trek, 1-day road return road transfer.Further information...

Price (including transfer): AUD$3375

Pick-up/set down point: Alice Springs  

11-Day Simpson Desert Photographic Trek

*Special departure with landscape photographer Stavros Pippos*

two humps

Lake-Greg-camel

Departure Date: June 8 to June 18 2004 Places are available on this trek.

Trek Summary:

Accompanying us on this journey will be landscape photographer Stavros Pippos, the author of several photographic books, the most recent being the highly acclaimed "Shades of Ochre". Stavros will be sharing his knowledge of wilderness photography and the experiences he's had travelling the Australian outback producing the stunning photographs that have captured the beauty and heart of this ancient land. In this unique opportunity, the towering red dunes of the western Simpson Desert will provide the ideal backdrop for you to see and learn the finer points of landscape photography from one of Australia's finest landscape photographers.

This trek will have the same basic structure as our normal 12-day trek, requiring active participation from all participants, however the daily routine will be more flexible so as to allow for the best possible use of daylight and weather conditions to help capture that special photograph.

Grade: Moderate.

Itinerary: 1-day road transfer, 9 days on the camel trek, 1-day road return road transfer.Further information...

Price (including transfer): AUD$3300

Pick-up/set down point: Alice Springs

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'Tanami' - On Foot Across Australia's Desert Heart

Kieran Kelly's account of the Central Australian Expedition 2002 when he and Outback Camel Company owner Andrew Harper walked 750km across the southern Tanami with the objective of connecting the routes of 19th century explorers John McDouall Stuart and Augustus Gregory. Available now at Dymocks Online and a great read for anyone with an interest in Central Australia or if you are thinking about joining us for a camel trek/expedition.

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The red dunes of the Western Simpson Desert near Old Andado.

For day trips in South Australia's Riverland and short treks in the Flinders Ranges please visit the Bush Safari Co.
For shorter 6-day treks near Lake Eyre in South Australia, we recommend Explore The Outback camel safaris.
Click here for more information about Molly Clark and the Pioneer Women's Hall Of Fame in Alice Springs.logo pioneer
Click on the map for information about the average climate in Australia.weather logo

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