"You're not even within cooee!": Kimberly Kamping!

Generally speaking those of us who have camped in Africa take along time to “get” camping in Australia. African camping is seldom a swag thrown down round a camp fire as the wild life might become overly nosy and dangerous. It can also be dangerous from a human predatory prospect in that other humans might be nefarious in the early hours of the morning. But African camping is spectacular with its amazing scenery, wildlife and incredible service and food (if you are doing the luxury safari)! One huge negative is that swimming is not recommended in the rivers and waterholes because of bugs that cause havoc with your body or animals which wish to eat it.

So for an African such as myself it has taken an inordinately long time to enjoy camping here. Generally it is too hot or too cold. The flies are a nuisance, the wildlife and bird scene is a bit pauce and the buggers go to sleep as soon as the sun cracks the horizon and only reappear late at night when mosquitoes are extremely active. The noise at night is subdued. Gee, it does sound as though camping in Oz is pretty ordinary. But it is NOT. Australia offer vistas of immense magnitude and landscapes which are stunning. Distances are vast and the human being is in its perspective until the mining magnates come along with their monster machinery to vandalise and trash the area. Is Gina Reinhardt a human being?

The Kimberly region of Australia offers the camper grand gorges, sweeping landscapes, art that is dated 40 000 years applied by our Indigenous people. The night sky is luminous with the milky-way. For the swimmer – wow! Fresh clear permanent waterholes, billabongs, tumbling rivers and water between spectacular gorges. Most are crocodile free. Catch a barramundi (Australian iconic fish) and it will be as fresh as you can get it on the open camp fire. Australians are good at making tea in the billy and cooking damper (campfire bread). Camping here is just lovely. It can just be a swag thrown down and very minimalist.