Watti Watti/Koomarinna
Watti Watti/Koomarinna
7 Day Survey - August 27 > September 2, 1 day 4WD/5.5 days trekking/half day 4WD
Survey price: $5080
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Survey Grade:
Our last survey for 2024 will be conducted in Mudhla Mudhla country which basically means 'where the dunes meet the floodplain' of the Warburton River.
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And in line with the two previous surveys, the ecological objective of this trip is to widen the search area and look for evidence of the lesser and greater bilby and plains mouse in addition to documenting any artefacts that we may encounter, as the survey route will be in an area that was a well used thoroughfare between water points.
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Our ecologists will be conducting a bird survey and setting pitfall traps. With the warmer temperatures we would expect there to be increased reptile activity. We will also be collecting dog/cat/fox/raptor scats so as to determine what the predators are eating.
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This is 'white dune' country, with broad open inter-dune corridors (swales) and many small salt lakes. It is very open country with few large trees, and some corridors are completely bare of vegetation. However what that does mean is that when we do encounter significant vegetation clumps, animal life is more concentrated which makes it easier to detect what may be living in this special environment.
During the trip you walk alongside our team of packcamels accompanied by 4 cameleers who are your crew for the duration of the survey. Our cameleers are not 'tour guides', they are experienced and seasoned stockmen/women who are specialists in handling and working with camels, and have a wealth of experience in walking the desert and general knowledge of its flora & fauna, and are respectful of our First Nations people who call Munga-Thirri home.​
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Walking in this landscape is on firm sand and occasional claypans. If the southeastern Simpson receives good soaking rain in late March/early April, there may be a profusion of yellow flowers such as poached-egg daisy & 'Yellowtop' covering the landscape, and supplying our camels with fresh feed.... however it's not until we actually get out there in April 2024 that we will know the extent of any rainfall and corresponding seasonal conditions.
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August/September is ideal walking weather in Central Australia, however please note that the weather will be warming up and we may encounter very warm to hot temperatures and you should be prepared for this.
Over the course of a 5 to 6 hour walking day you would walk approximately between 8 to 10 kilometres, and our pace of travel is determined by the camels and their ability to negotiate the dunes or other landforms in the landscape. They carry all your personal gear, and all you have to carry is your day pack. We will of course be stopping as required depending on what we see as we walk along.
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This is a very real, very Australian desert experience, and camels are the perfect cross-country vehicle and so we don't follow roads or tracks, and there is no vehicle back-up: we don't need it! Camps are chosen for the availability of camel feed, and we never camp in the same place twice. And in addition, as we are Australia's only scientific organisation that also specialises in remote desert travel, you won't 'bump into' any other groups of trekkers.​​
What's included
4WD transfers to/from Birdsville to the eastern Simpson Desert fringe
All camping equipment - swags, stools, tents. You bring your own sleeping bag and eating utensils
All meals, though we do not provide snacks
LOTS of space...
Survey RFDS Medical Chest, First Aid and emergency communications equipment
Crew of 4 to 5 cameleers and 1 ecologist/scientist (perhaps 2) who specialis in desert ecology
Desert Silence!
Trekking with an environmentally aware responsible business
(A detailed Survey Information Guide is sent to you when you book)
What's not included
Pre and post survey airfares and accommodation. You are responsible for arranging your travel to/from Birdsville and any accommodation. We can help organise this for you
Please look at this page How To Get To Birdsville
What else is required?
Travel Insurance. You have the option to arrange your own travel insurance, or you can contact us for a quote.
Where are we trekking?
In the lower shaded area of the map in the Simpson Desert, South Australia. The Simpson is the world's largest parallel sand ridge desert
