Odyssey Tours & Safaris

5 Day Kakadu Discovery

Kakadu Tour

Tour Code: AOE1

Departures:7am Mondays; May 5 - November 24, 2008

Tour Duration: 5 Days
Child Age: 5 - 12 years (0 - 4 Not Accepted)
Accom Type: Tented (Twin Share)
Pax: Min 4, Max 12
Vehicle: 4WD

Pricing: click here

Inclusions:
  • Camp host
  • Experienced professional guides
  • All meals
  • Sunrise cruise on Yellow Water wetlands
  • Entry to Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
  • Witness spectacular Aboriginal rock art


Download this itinerary: click here

Trip Notes for this tour: click here

This first class safari is a most comprehensive tour of the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Kakadu covers an area of almost 20,000 square kilometres. Such a large national park needs more than just a couple of days to explore. Even with a 5 day visit much of the park will go undiscovered. Our 5 day Kakadu Discovery is just that, it is much more than a sight seeing tour, it is an experience of the cultural landscape known as Kakadu National Park. This safari visits the restricted access areas of Koolpin Gorge, accessible by special permit only, limited to ten people per day. Tours are guided by our experienced professional guides with major emphasis on interpretation of the ecology, Aboriginal rock art as well as just plain having fun.

On safari your accommodation is in our purpose built “Safari Tents”. They are locally designed for our tropical climate. The walls are of canvas and the windows of insect screen. The floors are of wood and are raised above the ground. You’ll enjoy the comfort of this spacious cool design.

Each camping area is serviced with solar heated showers and flushing toilets. In the evenings you will enjoy sumptuous candle lit dinners from the camp fire. Vegetarian and other diets are catered for just let us know on booking.

Itinerary:

Day 1

We leave your accommodation around 07:00 and travel south, “Down The Track” to Adelaide River, where we can visit the tranquil Adelaide River War Cemetery or have quiet tea or coffee under the shady trees at the local inn.
Continuing south we travel to Pine Creek, scene of a major gold rush a century, and still a gold mining town today, and then turn east toward Kakadu. From the park boundary it’s not far to our camp at Gunlom. Here we can swim, explore the forest or climb to the top of the escarpment for a magnificent view of the surrounding country.

Day 2

This morning we travel to Koolpin Gorge (Jarrangbarnmi), a pristine wilderness area of very limited access. Koolpin Creek flows down several hundred feet through a series of waterfalls and spectacular pools often called the Giant's Staircase.
You'll have the entire day to explore this area, photograph its grandeur, swim in the crystal clear pools or just relax on the sandy banks of the creek. The full day walk is of a medium level, including some uneven, rocky ground, climbing and mildly steep rises.
Late afternoon we return to our camp at Gunlom.

Day 3

We break camp and travel northwards to Barramundi Gorge (Maguk), on the Arnhem Escarpment, where we swim, have lunch by the creek and explore the monsoon rainforest.
Continuing north we travel to Murdudjurl where we will meet Mandy Muir, a tradtional Murumburr woman. Mandy will take us on an informative walk around her property talking about the Aboriginal and white history of the area. Here we also have the opportunity to weave jewelery or play the didjeridoo.
We then make our way to our safari camp at Mardugal.

Day 4

Today we travel along the 4WD track to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls, where we can explore the gorge at the base of the tallest cascade in the Territory.
Late in the afternoon we return to our camp at Mardugal.

Day 5

An early morning rise to embark on a sunrise cruise on the world renowned Yellow Water wetlands. Here you will have a chance to see the abundant birdlife and perhaps, the awesome saltwater crocodile.
We then travel east and pay a visit to the Bowali Visitor Centre.
Heading across the Jabiluka floodplains to Ubirr we view Aboriginal rock art spanning some 23,000 years of seasonal occupation. Our walk around the rock art galleries culminates with a short climb to the highest point in the area. The view from the top of the rock across the floodplains to the north and west and of the Arnhem Escarpment in the east is magnificent.
On our way back to Darwin we cross the floodplains of the mighty South Alligator River, around 6km wide at this point.
We arrive back in Darwin in the late afternoon.