Odyssey Tours & Safaris

5 Day Top End Experience

Tour Code:AOE3

Departures: 8am Wednesdays; April 16 - November 26, 2008

Tour Duration: 5 Days
Child Age: 5 - 12 years (0 - 4 Not Accepted)
Accom Type: Tented (Twin Share)
Pax: Min 4, Max 14
Vehicle Type: 4WD

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This tour meets up on the third day of our:
AOE2 7 Day Top End Explorer Safari

This safari visits the two most popular national parks of the Top End, Kakadu and Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge). It is an “up market” safari that explores the remote areas of Kakadu as well as offering a true cultural experience.

Your first night is spent at Manyallaluk Aboriginal community, “The Dreaming Place” where the day is spent learning about Aboriginal lore, bush medicines and tucker. Camping at Manyallaluk is in a mobile camp with dome tents and stretcher beds.
Camping in Kakadu is in our two permanent camps all equipped with 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 tent has 2 single beds made up with linen. Each camping area is serviced with hot showers and flushing toilets.

Itinerary

Day 1

On arrival at Katherine you will be met and transferred (one hour drive) to Manyallaluk which is bordered by Arnhem Land, Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) and Kakadu National Parks. Here you will join your Odyssey guide and the AOE2 group for a special opportunity to learn about and experience Aboriginal culture.
We meet with some of the traditional owners of the area who will share their knowledge of bush tucker and bush medicines and demonstrate their skills in craft work, collection of materials, woven baskets, mats and bark painting. There may also be a chance to try your hand at spear throwing, didgeridoo playing or traditional fire making.

Day 2

This morning we continue to Nitmiluk National Park where we enjoy a cruise on the majestic Katherine Gorge.
After the cruise we travel northwards into the spectacular stone country of southern Kakadu. The late afternoon is spent exploring the Gunlom Falls area and perhaps climbing to the top of the escarpment for spectacular views of the surrounding country.
Overnight at Gunlom camp.

Day 3

We continue our journey to the beautiful “Maguk”, also known as Barramundi Gorge, where you have the chance for a refreshing swim after a short trek through the surrounding rainforest.
From Maguk we travel to our base camp at Mardugal, then we visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, an impressive building built in the shape of the local freshwater turtle. Here you will learn about the traditional Aboriginal owners of the park, their culture, beliefs and lifestyles.
This afternoon we take a cruise on the world-renowned Yellow Water wetlands. Here we have a chance to see the teeming bird life and of course, the awesome saltwater crocodile.

Day 4

This morning we travel to along the 4WD track to Jim Jim Falls, where we can explore the gorge at the base of the tallest cascade in the Territory. We will also visit Twin Falls, a little further south of Jim Jim.
We return to our camp in the late afternoon.

Day 5

After breaking camp we visit Nourlangie Rock, a large sandstone outlier towering more than 200 metres above the surrounding area, containing 20,000 years of Aboriginal culture depicted in art forms in many galleries.
We turn for home along the Jim Jim road, making a short stop at the Bark Hut Inn, then on to Darwin arriving in the late afternoon.