The adventure
begins with a 7.00 am 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 most 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 been occupied
for over 50,000 years and celebrated
in world-class galleries of rock
art. There are none better.
During the next days, a host of
activities combine in a flexible
itinerary. Typically, your
adventure goes like this:
Day 1:
After your breath-taking flight
settle into airy, twin-share tents
with freshly made-up beds. Bathroom
facilities including hot showers
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 cols 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 lake you to
a billabong for g 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 Mourn
Borradaile floodplain heralds the
return to camp for a shower, dinner
and the friendly buzz of
conversation.
Day 2:
Following breakfast. travel further
a field 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 generations
recorded the coming of Macassan
traders from Indonesia and the early
European explorers to the shores of
Northern Australia.
Back to camp for lunch, followed by
a lazy afternoon swim (seasonal
conditions allowing), or a bout with
the famous Barramundi game fish in
the nearby billabong.
Day 3:
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. After a hearty
lunch back at the camp, return to
the art sites and visit Catacombs
which 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 4:
Maybe try your luck again with the
king of game fish, the barramundi,
down at the local billabong.
Following lunch at the camp, enjoy
an exhilarating bushwalk to
experience more of the local birds,
animal wildlife, bush foods,
medicines and art, and perhaps a
swim before returning to camp for
the night.
Day 5:
Depending on fitness and interest,
there are many more galleries of
Aboriginal art, mysteries such as
stone arrangements to explore.
Untouched rainforests to explore or
maybe viewing the wildlife on the
billabong during the day. After
lunch, if seasonal conditions allow,
a swim before returning to Darwin or
Jabiru. Departure time is 4.00 pm,
arriving at Darwin terminal at 5.00
pm or Jabiru at 4.15pm. |
