"The Cameleer Experience"

This offering provides a unique, immersive experience for guests seeking hands-on involvement. Good fitness is required, as well as a willingness to get to know the camels and cameleers closely.

You'll sleep alongside the camels, participate in grooming, saddling, shepherding, and learn the intricacies of a camel and cameleer's life. Whilst other trekkers set up their camp or record wildlife, you'll be unsaddling and preparing the camels for their dinner time, armed with UHF and cameleers for company. In the mornings, the camels come first too!

The Cameleer Experience is specifically for a hands-on, immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Good fitness is imperative, as well as the ability to share lifting saddlery and leading camels over varying terrains. Additionally, individuals must possess the listening skills to accept instructions from senior cameleers and a willingness to follow these instructions to the best of their ability, seeking assistance at any time they need support.

Consider what shoes and socks you will be wearing, as well as whether you will arrive with a backpack containing a water bladder and tube. Many cameleers place their backpack on the lead camel and drape the tube for easy access and free arms whilst leading camels.

The option to switch to the standard bushwalking trek is available both prior to your arrival and during the trek itself. If at any point during your immersive experience with the camels and cameleers you decide the life of a cameleer is simply too much hard yakka, let us know and we'll facilitate switching your booking based on the days remaining.

'What to Expect'

The Cameleers who are your guides -

Enjoy meeting people from around the world
Look forward to meeting and sharing with you
Like a challenge in the outdoors
Have previous experience with either camels or horses & cows
Like and or adore camels
Cooperate well as part of a team

We aim to impart the knowledge we've gained over the years about camels and the powerful connection that can be developed with them.

During a trek, we wake up just before sunrise to pack up our swags and personal baggage. Watching the sunrise in the desert is both energising and inspiring. Once your personal kit is packed, it's either left in a designated spot for the camp crew to collect or returned to the base camp at breakfast time.

We rise early to allow the camels time to eat, and then we commence grooming, saddling, and preparing any required pack bags with supplies. Once the camels are saddled, we load guest backpacks and any riding guests onto the camels and begin our walk to the next camp, which can range from 10km to 18km.

During the walk, you might be responsible for checking the comfort of the camels, adjusting saddle positions, or leading a non-riding camel string. We supervise the camels during the lunch break, and upon arrival at camp, we unsaddle them and allow them time to wander and eat. This means we are shepherding. Before this activity, grab some snacks from the table and a UHF, as camels like to wander even though they've been walking all day.

If you've ever wanted to get in super shape, this is your chance! Jokes aside, watching the camels browse their favourite food is meditative and surprisingly satisfying. We eventually tether the camels at these favourite bushes before sunset, and then the experienced cameleers will guide you back to camp for dinner. Please don't set up your swag in camp, as you'll be sleeping overnight with the cameleers and the camels. They never sleep alone.

'Choosing this Option'

Its important to be upfront that this option isn't for the faint-hearted. It will entail what might feel like strenuous effort for many folk, and without respite from cameleer duties. Others will undoubtedly thrive.

However as mentioned in earlier text, you can switch to the standard bushwalking trek both prior to your arrival and during the trek itself. If at any point during your immersive experience with the camels and cameleers you decide the life of a cameleer is simply too much hard yakka, let us know and we'll facilitate switching your booking based on the days remaining.

Standard Bushwalking guests still have the option to participate in learning activities, but they can relax at each days campsite in the mornings, late afternoons and upon arrival into new campsites. Meanwhile, the Cameleer experience participants would remain with the cameleers and camels, sometimes setting up their personal camp in the dark. The camp base with snacks and meals can often be located anywhere up to 500 metres - 1 kilometre away from the camels' overnight resting spots as they require bushes to eat overnight. The Cameleer experience guests and Cameleers walk in and out for breakfast and dinner. Meals would be scheduled in rotation with other participants and cameleers, (so that someone remains a watchful eye on the camels wandering to eat or being tethered)rather than on-demand for and with riding and bushwalking guests trekkers.

Some other aspects of this truly authentic ‘cameleers experience’ include checking the camels, likely at least once during the night in the same fashion as our original pioneering Australian Afghan Cameleers. We are not exaggerating when we say it's an intense experience for some participants. Our cameleers are a resilient group, accustomed to rigorous conditions. Should you choose to accept this offer, it may feel like there isn’t a moment's rest. It is unlike a typical guest experience. Many will embrace and thrive, while others may struggle.

Please take your time to consider this information, we’re not aiming to deter, rather we wish to be clear and upfront offering the best pre-picture of this incredible experience.