You are treated to great views such as this one from the back of the camel
Nine camels were originally brought over – all but one died en route and that one was eventually killed – but then more arrived. More than fifteen hundred camels were released into the wild many generations ago – and they have since multiplied significantly on their own.
A Camel Guide is called a camelier. Ours was Jo, a vivacious blond originally from the UK who came to Australia on holiday, fell in love with the country and a boy and ended up staying. Her expertise of camels spans a wide range.
While on the Camel Trek we learned:
Camels at Sails by Uluru Camel Tours is the largest Camel farm in all of the country.
All camels at the farm are captured former “wild” camels.
Healthy wild camels can drink up to 100 liters in 10 minutes.
They can lose 40% of of their body water and still function – this is in part because they have oval blood cells rather than round ones. They store water in their blood stream.
Some camels can go up to 6 weeks without drinking – in that same grain they can go up to several weeks without urinating.
Today it is estimated up to 1 million camels roam “wild’ in Australia. Some have been domesticated for riding. This is where Camels to Sounds of Silence comes in. Leaving daily from Ayers Rock Resort you are picked up and transported to the camel farm. From there you ride about an hour in the bush to a plateau where you will be treated to the low rumbling sounds from a musician playing a Didgeradoo and great views of both Uluru and the sunset.
Follow this up with a buffet dinner under the stars; the highlight is a talk by a star expert. All the lights are turned off – and if clear, it is an amazing site with the brightness of the Milky Way spread out above you from horizon to horizon. Not many people get to see stars like this where they live – in complete clarity, in such a remote location without artificial light interference.
“Would you like a Crocodile Caesar Salad”, the person next to me asked. “Or Kangaroo BBQ meat”? “There is no question we are in Australia”, I thought to myself! Good food, wine and company made this a memorable evening.
For more information and tour details, visit: www.ulurucameltours.com.au/
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- Wine lined up at the dinner
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- A Didgeradoo player
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- Getting ready to ride the camels
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- Camels resting
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- Feeding the Camel
#ad I have been commissioned by and will be working with Tourism Australia for this program and resulting content.
Always wanted to visit and see Uluru. Didn’t know there were camels, though! Thanks for this post!
Yes, I had no idea there were that many camels in this part of Australia before I came to the Northern Territory. Pretty neat to be able to ride a camel in the outback near the impressive Uluru.