"The Cameleer Experience"
The Cameleer Experience offers an unparalleled, hands-on opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the life of a cameleer. This once-in-a-lifetime experience requires good fitness and a willingness to develop a close connection with both the camels and the cameleer staff.
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As a participant, you'll sleep alongside the camels and take part in essential daily tasks such as grooming, saddling, and shepherding. You’ll also gain insight into the intricacies of camel care and life as a cameleer. While other trekkers relax, set up camp, or capture wildlife moments, you’ll be unsaddling camels and preparing them for their evening browsing, equipped with a UHF radio and guided by experienced cameleers. And come morning, the camels are always the first priority!
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This experience demands good physical fitness, including the ability to lift saddlery and lead or walk with the camels across varied terrain. Clear listening skills and a willingness to follow instructions from senior cameleers are essential. Support is always available, but participants are expected to embrace the challenges and responsibilities of this immersive role.
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Practical considerations are important: ensure you bring suitable shoes and socks, and a backpack with a water bladder and tube for hydration is highly recommended. Many participants place their backpacks on the lead camel and use the tube for easy access, keeping their hands free for leading or walking alongside the camels.
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This is an extraordinary opportunity for adventurers seeking a deeper connection with
the Outback and its majestic camels.
'What to Expect'
The Cameleers Who Are Your Guides
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Enjoy meeting people from around the world.
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Look forward to sharing experiences with you.
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Thrive on challenges in the outdoors.
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Bring experience with camels, horses, or cattle.
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Genuinely enjoy and care for camels.
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Work cooperatively as part of a team.
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Are outdoor-trained, with general and/or advanced remote first aid training.
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Carry remote communication devices and an AED defibrillation unit on the camels for safety.
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Our aim is to share the knowledge we’ve gained over the years about camels and the deep connection that can be developed with these remarkable animals.
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A Day in the Life of a Trek
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We start our day just before sunrise, packing up swags and personal belongings. Witnessing the sunrise over the desert is an energising and inspiring experience. Packed items are either left in a designated spot for the camp crew to collect or returned to the camp shift crew after breakfast.
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Early mornings are dedicated to the camels. We feed them first, then begin grooming, saddling, and preparing supplies for the day. Once the camels are saddled, guest backpacks and any riding guests are loaded onto the camels, and the trek begins. Daily journeys range from 10 to 18 kilometres.
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During the trek, you may assist with ensuring the camels’ comfort by adjusting saddles or leading a non-riding camel string. At the lunch break, the camels are supervised while guests relax. Upon arriving at camp, the camels are unsaddled and given time to wander and eat—a process known as shepherding. Be sure to grab snacks and a UHF radio before this activity, as the camels can wander quite far even after a long day of walking.
Watching the camels graze on their favorite bushes is both meditative and surprisingly satisfying. Before sunset, the camels are tethered near their preferred feeding spots, and the experienced cameleers will guide you back to camp for dinner.
Note: Please don’t set up your swag in the main camp.
You’ll be sleeping alongside the camels and cameleers—the camels 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.
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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.
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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.
