The Cameleers
Passion, Knowledge and Experience
A tour can be a great success or a dismal failure based purely on the performance and abilities of the guides. That's exactly why Camel Treks Australia employs, recruits and trains the best in the industry.
On every trek a Head Cameleer is leading the way, supported by Senior Cameleers and experienced camp shift crew.
Paul and Karen Ellis
Paul and Karen are the owners and operators of Camel Treks Australia Pty Ltd. They have won the prestigious operator award from The South Australian Tourism Commission. They have been filmed with the Australian Broadcasting Association (A.B.C) Prospero Productions, Flying Kite Pictures, Discover S.A, The Great Outdoors, Totally Wild, SBS, Life S.A., Good Life Pictures and the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), Nat Geo for Foxtel and more. They met in the 1990's at a camel race gathering in Canberra. Together they have been mentored by several old camel men who share links to a bye gone era. Their lives are lived with camels grounded in nature and they believe in the benefits that this offers. They have selected, trained and transported healthy Australian Camels to the middle east and are strong advocates for wise solutions to feral Camel populations in Australia.
Thank you for visiting our on-line profile, when we're out in our real office trekking with camels, our hearts sing. In Australia camels are classified as feral animals, they are frequently targeted and killed in major culling programs. It's important for us to share that our company is attempting to be a leader in the global tourism industry demonstrating responsible animal tourism, providing a home for camels that would have otherwise been shot, or destroyed for meat consumption. We strive to make a positive difference to each individual camels life, and provide them with a safe desert refuge. Our vision is for a world where tourism is kind to animals and allows people to enjoy interacting in a positive natural environment.
Thank you for visiting our on-line profile, when we're out in our real office trekking with camels, our hearts sing. In Australia camels are classified as feral animals, they are frequently targeted and killed in major culling programs. It's important for us to share that our company is attempting to be a leader in the global tourism industry demonstrating responsible animal tourism, providing a home for camels that would have otherwise been shot, or destroyed for meat consumption. We strive to make a positive difference to each individual camels life, and provide them with a safe desert refuge. Our vision is for a world where tourism is kind to animals and allows people to enjoy interacting in a positive natural environment.
Paul Ellis
Paul has been working with camels for over 30 years and has over time developed a natural instinct to read them in the yards, or out on the field. Like most professions, when you've been doing something for a while it becomes second nature. Paul enjoys starting fresh with untouched camels straight out of the desert, and watching their individual personalities develop. Paul started his career assisting camel treks for Bush Safari Co. with Rex Ellis in the 1980's and soon purchased his own camels and a property to look after them. He operated a rides business in Adelaide, and for 15 years was involved with the camel racing circuit in Australia. Paul met Karen, his wife of over twenty years as her competitor on the race track in the 1990's. Paul is an easy going lover of the nature, and known his keen interest in flora and fauna identification. Guests often tell us how much they love a yarn with Paul around the evening campfire with a cup of port. Paul is in charge of camel saddlery and camp shift logistics. Paul is also a licensed microlight pilot, qualified in Permaculture and remote first aid trained with St.Johns. Paul has travelled through the Thar (India) and Gobi (Mongolia) Deserts and mountains of Turkey, living alongside nomadic cameleeers and has a deep respect for traditional camel cultures.
Karen Ellis
Karen began working with camels over twenty years ago purchasing her first camels Aloka and Najara when she was 21, working alongside well respected cameleer Lionel Keegan before joining Paul. Karen has worked across a wide spectrum of cameleering and continues to expand her understanding of camels and working with them. Until his passing in mid 2014, she was guided by Jim Lowe having had her first camel ride with him as a child; he took his last breath in her arms. Karen also collaborated on a camel training book with the legendary Noel Fullarton just prior to his recent passing in September 2015 and intends to collate all this information into a camel handling guide.
One of the highlights of Karen's career was training camels to walk alongside rhino, cheetah, zebra, and giraffe at the Monarto Zoological Park for the South Australian Royal Zoological Society, and establishing tours. Karen has most recently turned her focus towards facilitating extended Camel treks along to Lake Eyre and into the Tirari Desert in remote South Australia.
Karen and her family have trained and exported Camels into the United Arab Emirates, she has accompanied camels on flight and provided a professional hand over for Sheiks staff. Since then Karen has presented in the United Arab Emirates at an Australian Government supported conference sharing her knowledge regarding camel training and welfare guidelines for importation into the UAE. Karen has been the guest of several UAE Sheiks and has also visited and milked camels in India at the International Camel Research Centre and has been a guests competition judge at the Bikaner Camel Festival in India. Karen has travelled through the Thar (India), Sahara (Morocco), and Gobi (Mongolia) Deserts and mountains of Turkey, living alongside nomadic cameleeers and has a deep respect for traditional cultures. Her vision has turned towards longer remote expeditions with accreditation to operate within desert National Parks, coupled with involving her guests with the daily hands on routine of trekking. Karen is a certified Eco Guide and remote first aid trained with St.Johns, she enjoys training new cameleers in the same fashion as she learnt, through mentoring hands on, for extended periods of trekking.
One of the highlights of Karen's career was training camels to walk alongside rhino, cheetah, zebra, and giraffe at the Monarto Zoological Park for the South Australian Royal Zoological Society, and establishing tours. Karen has most recently turned her focus towards facilitating extended Camel treks along to Lake Eyre and into the Tirari Desert in remote South Australia.
Karen and her family have trained and exported Camels into the United Arab Emirates, she has accompanied camels on flight and provided a professional hand over for Sheiks staff. Since then Karen has presented in the United Arab Emirates at an Australian Government supported conference sharing her knowledge regarding camel training and welfare guidelines for importation into the UAE. Karen has been the guest of several UAE Sheiks and has also visited and milked camels in India at the International Camel Research Centre and has been a guests competition judge at the Bikaner Camel Festival in India. Karen has travelled through the Thar (India), Sahara (Morocco), and Gobi (Mongolia) Deserts and mountains of Turkey, living alongside nomadic cameleeers and has a deep respect for traditional cultures. Her vision has turned towards longer remote expeditions with accreditation to operate within desert National Parks, coupled with involving her guests with the daily hands on routine of trekking. Karen is a certified Eco Guide and remote first aid trained with St.Johns, she enjoys training new cameleers in the same fashion as she learnt, through mentoring hands on, for extended periods of trekking.
Sophie Lorrai-Cody
Sophie is an integral part of the cameleer team and returns for her third trekking season.
Experienced with animals, stock management, and farm life, Sophie brings a wealth of practical skills to the forefront on treks.
The camels know and trust Sophie's predictably kind nature and strong leadership.
Experienced with animals, stock management, and farm life, Sophie brings a wealth of practical skills to the forefront on treks.
The camels know and trust Sophie's predictably kind nature and strong leadership.
Edward Buckingham
Ed is naturally suited to life off the grid, with an easy going nature and meditative outlook, the camels and Ed seem to be at one together!
We are delighted Ed was able to return for a third season.
Ed assists Karen with camel training and together they plan to film camel education and kind handling lessons for global enthusiasts.
We are delighted Ed was able to return for a third season.
Ed assists Karen with camel training and together they plan to film camel education and kind handling lessons for global enthusiasts.
Marcus Tree
Marcus has been a friend to the Ellis family for many years before joining the Cameleer team full time in 2018. The camels are well accustomed to his easy going presence. Marcus will joined the team as a Senior Cameleer during 2020 and we are very pleased he continues to guide camel treks in 2022. Marcus is in touch with his Adnyamathanha heritage which he shares with private guests and school camps alike.
Brian Clerc
Brian is from France and nobody including Brian himself expected him to be a natural born cameleer. Brain commands attention in the most gentle manner, and the camels listen. Brain has been an asset to the 2018, 2019, 2021 cameleer team and we look forward to his company again in 2022. Brian has a wealth of experience in tourism and hospitality and is known for his caring attitude towards fellow cameleers and guests. Brian has been involved in camel training and joined the team in the remote desert adventures.
Grandpa - Thank you for allowing us to learn, we miss you beyond words xx
Rest in Peace James Sanderson Lowe, known to all as Jim, Dad and Grandpa - 23/11/1933 - 28/6/2014.
We miss him so very much, Jim Lowe was Camel Treks Australia's guiding light, a down-to-earth practical man with a multitude of skills and a wealth of horse, donkey and camel experience spanning over 60 years. Wagons, desert trekking, carnivals & weddings, movies, commercials and a camel beach rides business for over 30 years. Jim walked thousands of kilometers with camels, across the Nullabor Plain and Lake Eyre to south of Adelaide. He has led camels and driven teams of donkeys & horses in parades and festivals.
Jim's patience and skill allowed him to create everything required to complete the task, animal training, building saddles, wagons, harnesses, halters, packs & ropes. In his younger days, a professional rodeo & buck jump rider, Jim abounded with stories of fun, joy, challenges and how to make the most out of life. A quietly spoken man, Jim never boasted of his achievements. But those of us who were prepared to sit quietly and listen carefully, were rewarded with tales of his exploits and adventures, told with humor and a self-effacing humility. We loved Jim as a father, grandpa and wise mentor. Camel Treks Australia will aim high to uphold all that we have learnt and feel blessed among the many who knew this gentle soul.
"Jim you taught me about the true value of time, and life as we boiled the billy and sipped tea together around the campfire ... I wasn't ready for you to go, in truth I was never going to be ... love you in my heart till it no longer beats and we meet again." Karen
We miss him so very much, Jim Lowe was Camel Treks Australia's guiding light, a down-to-earth practical man with a multitude of skills and a wealth of horse, donkey and camel experience spanning over 60 years. Wagons, desert trekking, carnivals & weddings, movies, commercials and a camel beach rides business for over 30 years. Jim walked thousands of kilometers with camels, across the Nullabor Plain and Lake Eyre to south of Adelaide. He has led camels and driven teams of donkeys & horses in parades and festivals.
Jim's patience and skill allowed him to create everything required to complete the task, animal training, building saddles, wagons, harnesses, halters, packs & ropes. In his younger days, a professional rodeo & buck jump rider, Jim abounded with stories of fun, joy, challenges and how to make the most out of life. A quietly spoken man, Jim never boasted of his achievements. But those of us who were prepared to sit quietly and listen carefully, were rewarded with tales of his exploits and adventures, told with humor and a self-effacing humility. We loved Jim as a father, grandpa and wise mentor. Camel Treks Australia will aim high to uphold all that we have learnt and feel blessed among the many who knew this gentle soul.
"Jim you taught me about the true value of time, and life as we boiled the billy and sipped tea together around the campfire ... I wasn't ready for you to go, in truth I was never going to be ... love you in my heart till it no longer beats and we meet again." Karen
Noel Fullerton - 'The Camel King' - Born: 1934 Adelong, Temora NSW - September 6th, 2015 Quorn, SA
Noel grew up in the Northen Riverina at Temora. His family were fruit carters refered to as ‘bucket men’ because they sold fruit in buckets. Noel drove road trains for years and moved to the Northern Territory. It was here that one of his sons married an Afghan, Sallay Mahomet’s daughter, Desray. His next door neighbour was old Roy Morgan who looked after a few hundred camels for Elders and Gool Mahomet used to live with Noel's family. Noel commenced his camel life in earnest from his 40's and was a living link to the Australian Afghan community and the last Australian man to be taught by the Afghans. Gool’s father came out in 1872 to work with camels. Gool carried on with camels until the 1930’s. Another mate of Noel's was Arthur Liddle, Arthur’s father, Bill Liddle opened up Tempe Downs, Angus Downs and Kings Canyon. Noel told me he learnt much also from the Liddle's.
Noel had a magic about him and a touch that commanded attention and respect. This was a man who knew what he was doing and I observed his personal training style which quietened and educated untrained camels fresh from the desert within literally minutes.
Noel got his hands muddy in the realness of life, assisting others, we loved him for this and as his daughter Michelle stated -' the doors were always open and no one went hungry'. He accepted all walks of life, all nationalities, rich or poor, black or white. What I learnt from this straight shooting character was to 'start immediately, do it flamboyantly, without exception, and with no excuses.'
I am forever grateful to have been in the camel yards with this giant of the camel world and am currently piecing together many hours worth of recordings Noel and I did together collaborating on a camel training book.
May your spirit travel far and wide, may you find peace and joy Noel. - Karen
Noel had a magic about him and a touch that commanded attention and respect. This was a man who knew what he was doing and I observed his personal training style which quietened and educated untrained camels fresh from the desert within literally minutes.
Noel got his hands muddy in the realness of life, assisting others, we loved him for this and as his daughter Michelle stated -' the doors were always open and no one went hungry'. He accepted all walks of life, all nationalities, rich or poor, black or white. What I learnt from this straight shooting character was to 'start immediately, do it flamboyantly, without exception, and with no excuses.'
I am forever grateful to have been in the camel yards with this giant of the camel world and am currently piecing together many hours worth of recordings Noel and I did together collaborating on a camel training book.
May your spirit travel far and wide, may you find peace and joy Noel. - Karen