What We Do - Desert Bushwalking

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The Outback Camel Company has been exploring the vast deserts of inland Australia since 1976 after successfully completing Australia's first commercial camel expedition -  across the Simpson Desert. Using our string of packcamels to carry all the supplies and equipment, we honour the tradition of the pioneering 'Afghan' cameleers who played such a crucial role in the exploration, development and sustenance of inland Australia.

Our camels represent the last living link to the golden days of exploration by camel in Australia, as we are the only camel tour operator in the country that actively and continually explores all of the continents great deserts without restricting ourselves to one area, and in 2010 we present a range of treks & expeditions travelling through some of Central Australia's most remote areas.

All our desert journeys are walking treks - they are not camel-riding safaris. The most effective way to learn about the beautiful Australian deserts is to walk and live in them - and our journeys represent the most effective way to do this. Our camel string is totally self-sufficient – there are neither back-up vehicles nor wagons – which not only enables us to travel almost anywhere in the true style of the explorers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, but also provides an authentic, back-to-basics and comprehensive Australian 'bush experience'.

Your active participation is essential and you will be asked to contribute to the operation of your trek or expedition, assisting our cameleers with the daily tasks. The comprehensive pre-departure information will help to ensure that you are well prepared for the enriching experience of working with the camels. Duties would include shepherding them in the mornings & evenings whilst they feed and, under the supervision of the cameleers, helping to saddle the camels and load the equipment. Your Outback Camel Company cameleers cook all the meals on the campfire but help from aspiring chefs is always welcome!

Our short treks ranges from 6 to 16 days, exploring the Great Victoria Desert in South Australia, the Gibson and Great Sandy Desert's in Western Australia and the Simpson Desert & Finke River in the Northern Territory. In western Queensland and the northeast of South Australia we operate treks that combine the desert dunes with the extensive waterholes of the Diamantina River and Eyre Creek. We vary our operating area and schedule from year to year depending on the seasonal conditions in each desert, and in 2010 will operate in the Simpson Desert.

The ultimate Australian desert experience would have to be our Simpson Desert Expedition – a complete west-east crossing of the Simpson Desert. This magnificent journey, the world’s longest and most challenging commercial camel expedition, takes 28 days to cross the over 1000 or so sand dunes from Old Andado Station in the Northern Territory to Birdsville in western Queensland. This epic challenge is rated by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the ‘25 Greatest Adventures In The World'.

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