Frequently asked questions
Getting to the trek
What to bring
On the trek
What about the camels?
Booking queries
Getting to the trek
Can I drive to your base camp in my 2WD?
Yes, many trekkers drive to our base camp on the Oodnadatta Track
in their 2WD vehicles. The main considerations for getting to us
in any vehicle are that you drive at a sensible speed (allow 3 hours
to travel easily between Coober Pedy and William Creek), miss any
larger stones to preserve your tyres and use your vehicle's ground
clearance sensibly. These considerations are particularly relevant
for 2WD vehicles. It is not uncommon to see 2WDs travel the Oodnadatta
Track with caravans in tow so be assured that 2WD travel is a viable
travel option. It is also worth noting that most vehicle hire companies
do not let you take a 2WD hire-vehicle off the bitumen or sealed
roads for insurance reasons.
Will my vehicle be safe left at your
base camp?
Yes, very safe. Our trekking base camps are located well off the
Oodnadatta Track and access is by authority only.
What about meals during transit to and from
the base camp?
All meals are provided during camel trekking activity. Food and
refreshments while enroute on transit service can be purchased at
either William Creek or Oodnadatta.
Can I get to you from Alice Springs?
Yes. Perhaps the best and most interesting means of reaching us
from Alice Springs is via the Wayward Bus.
The Heading Bush travel
company can bring you to Coober Pedy on a Tuesday and Groovy
Grape travel company can do the same on a Saturday or Wednesday.
Travel via the Greyhound
Bus Service is also an option. Air travel form Alice Springs to
Coober Pedy is also possible on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
via Aboriginal Air, see timetable.
What to bring
What should I bring with me?
A comprehensive list of items to consider bringing with you is provided
during the booking process. As a general guideline however an essential
list of items to bring can be seen on the Information
page. Perhaps the most important items to bring with you are a sleeping
bag and quality walking footwear should you choose to walk extensively
during the trek.
A small tent if you have one is nice additional piece of comfort
if the weather turns so bring one if you have one. We provide share
tents (x2/tent) as part of the package. Sleeping bags and tents
for individual use can be hired for $15@ if requested.
What temperature should my sleeping
bag be rated to?
If you come in April/early May or late September/October a sleeping
bag rated to 0°C will be sufficient. If you come during the
cooler months of June-August a sleeping bag rated to -5°C will
be very comfortable.
On the trek
How long will I ride on a camel each day?
A typical day's journeying encompasses approximately 5 hours of
travel time. As a general rule of thumb we find that most adult
trekkers prefer to walk for half of this time while children generally
prefer to ride continually. Please plan to wear long pants and shirt
while riding.
How fit should I be?
Explore the Outback camel safaris are leisurely but there
is an inherent requirement for some level of physical fitness. We
have found it sufficient to require that all trekkers be capable
of walking relatively easily for half an hour.
What temperatures can I expect?
If you come in April or October, temperatures ranging from 10-35°C
would be typical. If you come during the cooler months of May-September,
expect temperatures ranging from 0-25°C - perfect!
How far will we be going each day?
Typically within the range of 10-16km. Much greater distances are
possible but we spend our time learning about camels and the fascinating
landscape through which we travel.
What sort of things will I be doing each
day?
Perhaps the biggest surprise will be your engagement with our trek
camels. They appear huge and intimidating at first but quickly you
will learn to understand and work with them. A day's trekking activity
is all about working with the camels - feeding, saddling, loading
and riding. You'll learn to admire their individual personalities
and see why camels are such magnificent travelling companions in
a desert environment. In addition you'll join our ongoing exploratory/research
work and hopefully see us place another piece or two into the regional
cultural and ecological jigsaw. You can expect beautiful tranquil
mornings filled with bird-song, fascinating desert landscapes during
the day and brilliant star-lit evenings beside the campfire. Perhaps
you'll even experience the desert at its most ferocious and hostile
best ............. whatever happens, this will be a great experience
for you and one that you'll never forget.
What will I be eating?
We cater for most dietary requirements so don't be afraid to inform
us of your likes and dislikes. Breakfast is typically a choice of
cereals with toast and fruit, lunch is a spread of delicious sandwich
fillings with various snacks and fresh fruit and dinners are a combination
of pasta, rice, meat, fish, vegetable and pulse based recipes with
an international nomadic flavour. Wine, port wine and chocolate
send you to bed with a smile and an eagerness for whatever the next
day brings!
What about the camels?
Do camels spit, bite or kick?
Only frightened or mistreated camels kick or 'spit' and it is very
very rare for any camel to actually bite. Bull camels can be dangerous
when mating but with proper handling and understanding these camels
are harmless too. Explore the Outback uses gelded males and
cow camels only in the safari operations and these animals are treated
with respect and affection. Prepare to be surprised with the relationship
that will spring up between you and your camel - anything negative
you may have heard couldn't be further from the truth.
Will my children be OK with the camels?
Yes, very.
Booking queries
Is there a penalty for cancellation?
The 10% deposit is non-refundable.
Cancellations outside of 30 days prior to departure result in a
full refund (- deposit).
Cancellations at or inside of 30 days prior to departure and greater
than seven days result in a 50% refund (- deposit).
Cancellations at or inside of seven days result in no refund.
What is your cancellation policy with rain?
Significant rain prior to, or during, a trek is rare.
Rain can however temporarily restrict transit vehicle access to
base camp. Scheduled treks may be postponed by up to four days until
roads re-open.
In the event of operator cancellation of a trek due to rain, a full
90% refund is applicable.
In the event of client cancellation due to rain; 50%, 70%, 80% and
90% refunds are applicable on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th day of trek
postponement respectively.
In the event of trek extensions due to rain a surcharge of $65/day
applies for additional days.
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