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

Minor flooding at Old Andado - February 11 2001

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.

The camel string & trekkers crossing a dune in the Simpson Desert.

Is A Camel Trek For You?

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.

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.

Active participation is elementary to the success of your trek and you will be asked to assist your crew with the day-to-day chores. This may include shepherding the hobbled camels in the mornings & evenings whilst they feed and, under the supervision of the crew, helping to saddle the camels and load the equipment. Your Outback Camel Company crew cook all the meals on the campfire but help from aspiring chefs is always welcome!

You will return to civilisation refreshed, fit and stress-free, with memories of your trek etched in your mind for many years.

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.

For current information regarding trek availability please contact our booking office.

12-Day Western Simpson Desert Trek  

• June 17 to June 28 2004 This trek is fully booked

• June 27 to July 8 2004 Limited places available

• July 7 to July 18 2004 Places available

Trek Summary:

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15-Day Snake Creek / Western Simpson Extended Trek

Departure Date: May 13 to May 27 2004

Places are available on this trek.

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.

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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.

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11-Day Simpson Desert Photographic Trek

*Special departure with landscape photographer Stavros Pippos*

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.

Melbourne Information Evening - February

'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 in 2004.