4 day Arnhemland Adventure

The adventure begins with a 7:00am pickup from your accommodation and transfer to Darwin's Light Aircraft Facility. The trip to Mount Borradaile in your charter aircraft is a spectacular scenic tour in its own right, spanning the World Heritage Wetlands of Kakadu National Park, one of the wildest coastlines in Australia. An optional charter from Jabiru in Kakadu National Park can be arranged.

Mount Borradaile is an exclusive, remote safari camp nestled against an outlier of the Arnhemland escarpment, a landscape of rugged ranges fringed by idyllic billabongs — a stunningly beautiful wilderness to us and a cultural landscape to the Aboriginal people. To these Traditional Owners Mount Borradaile is a sacred place, the embodiment of ancestral heroes. Its valleys, rock overhangs and caves have been occupied for over 50,000 years and celebrated in world-class galleries of rock art. There are none better.

During the next three days, a host of activities combine in a flexible itinerary. Typically, your adventure goes like this:

Day One:

After your breath-taking flight, settle into airy, twin-share tents with freshly made-up beds. Bathroom facilities including hot showers are nearby. Light refreshments are served in the large, screened dining room before your first open-air 4WD trip to a nearby Aboriginal rock-art site, where a six metre long rainbow serpent, the local totemic protector, dominates an awesome rock shelter. Your guide walks you through chambers of galleries festooned with art.

If time and season conditions allow, a swim in rock pools atop the escarpment sharpens your appetite for lunch. After a lunch of fresh salads and/or cold meats, spend the early afternoon in cool rock overhangs near the camp. Take time to absorb the spirit of at least 50,000 years of human creativity.

In the late afternoon we take you on a billabong for a sunset cruise where you can, with a glass of wine and nibbles in hand, admire the amazing bird-life and crocodiles. The sunset's blaze of colour reflecting golden orange on Mount Borradaile floodplain heralds the return to camp for a shower, dinner and the friendly buzz of conversation.

Day Two:

Following breakfast, travel further afield to explore an area described by those privileged to have visited it as a 'living museum'. Traditional beliefs say that much of the rich tapestry of art dates from the time of creation, when 'Mimi' spirits recorded the culture, lore, plants and animals. More recent generation recorded the coming of Macassan traders from Indonesia and the early European explorers to the shores of northern Australia.

Day Three:

The local area is a rich, diverse ecosystem that harbours unique flora and fauna. Walk through adjacent monsoonal rainforest thickets, armed with binoculars and camera to record some of the 275 bird species which inhabit the region. Try your luck again with the king of game fish, the barramundi, down at the billabong or return to the art sites. Catacombs show signs of recent occupation and of ancient mortuary rites, while rock surfaces exhibit evidence of the antiquity of the local 'Bining' (Aboriginal) presence. If time permits, enjoy a refreshing swim before the evening meal.

Day Four:

Maybe try your luck again with the king of game fishing, the baramundi, down at the billabong, or enjoy and exhilarating bushwalk to experience more of the local birds, animal wildlife, bush foods, medicines and art. back to camp for lunch, and if seasonal conditions allow, an afternoon swim before your scenic flight to Darwin or Jabiru. Departure time is 4.00pm, arriving at Darwin terminal at 5.00pm or Jabiru at 4.15pm.

What to Bring:

Light, casual clothes; A light cardigan for cool evening during May-September; Camera with plenty of film, flash unit and spare batteries; Walking shoes and personal toiletries.

Tour Price Includes:

Return or one-way charter flights, hotel/airport transfers, all meals at base camp, refreshments, tour guides. *Alcoholic beverages not included in price.

or Call 1300 880 835

Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris, Mt Borradaile - Arnhemland - Northern Territory - Australia.