Wild Search for Adventure Series - DESERT FIRE 10-18th May 2021 - $1000 Deposit

This is a hot, intense and powerful journey full of the promise of transformation and deep nature connection as you hike into two of the most remote areas of Australia - the western Simpson Desert and the Larapinta Trail. It will introduce you to the magic of fire by friction, the art of slow travel and immerse you in wild nature with your very own ‘Tracks’ moments; hiking alongside pack camels into Country that rarely sees humans.

Hiking through Central Australia will activate your body’s strength, your connection to Country and your personal power. Life will never be the same again!  

Are you ready to join us for Desert Fire? 

FIND OUT MORE >>> BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL with Caitlin

As a human animal, you need wild adventures to really ignite your inner fire! 

There’s nothing like a year of never ending crises to challenge your vitality and passion for life. NOW is the time to bring your inner wild back online. 

We can help you in a major way! The great central deserts are epic, ancient lands that offer raw nature and the real Australian outback! And, we know how to take you there for a hiking adventure of a lifetime. 

With international travel bans still in place, THIS is your chance to explore the wilds of remote inland Australia and connect with the lands of the Arrernte and Wangkangurru people.

This is much more than a walking holiday! Desert Fire will take you on a body-based journey that will completely transform your awareness of nature and spark a fire within. You will have the chance to strip back technology and your modern comforts, hike away from civilisation with a team of camels carrying your gear, and slip into the rhythm of desert life. 

Above all else, this trip will be wildly fun as you journey together with your fellow group members and experience this unique tour of central Australia guided by Wildlife Ecologist and Environmental Educator, Caitlin Weatherstone. Caitlin is an expert naturalist and wilderness hiker and knows how to survive using just the most primitive of means. She will show you how to make your own fire with sticks and every night you’ll get to bask under the desert sky, kept warm by your tribal fire.  

And the most special thing? You’ll get a real and authentic experience of these places, not just the tourist version! You’ll visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct, Arts Centre and Museum of Central Australia- showcasing the rich culture and history of the Arrernte people and their lands - and experience a private guided cultural tour. You will be warmly welcomed onto the traditional lands of the Arrernte and Wangkangurru people.

The Arrernte (from Alice Springs area) and Wangkangurru (from Western Simpson Desert) people have thrived in our central Australian deserts for tens of thousands of years. Their cultures are rich and diverse, as are the landscapes that nourish them. It's not all about Uluru and sand dunes! 

Taking this newfound cultural connection into your desert hiking experience will supercharge your connection to this ancient country. 

Can you imagine it? Ending a full day’s hike through this epic country, to be greeted by the clear desert night skies and sitting by the sacred fire that you lit with your own two hands? 

The Central Deserts are full of surprises; rocky mountain ranges, gorges, hidden caves, wildlife in abundance, remnants of mind-blowing ancient rainforest plants and lush waterholes. The special features of this land makes for exceptional hiking and adventure experiences. 

Are you ready to join Desert Fire in 2021? 

Below is everything you need to know to make your decision. 

Spots are limited to 10 brave humans! The Earlybird discount ends on the 1st February ‘21. Your ticket will be secured once you pay the deposit of $1,000.

BOOK NOW >>>

ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This 8-day Desert Fire expedition in Central Australia weaves together transformational nature connection practices, traditional knowledge, bushcraft, hiking and western science. 

Included in this package:

• A truly unique Australian tour that you cannot experience anywhere else
• Wilderness survival skills (i.e. primitive fire making, bird language and wild food identification)
• Sensory and self-awareness skills (i.e. sit spots, dingo walking and journalling)
• Deep immersion into desert life, including learning about its ecology, geology, history, culture and traditional owners
• Experiencing the soothing rhythm of nature; sleeping under the stars and pacing your day with the sun
• Walking with pack camels as your guides in remote Western Simpson Desert; the driest area in Australia and the world’s largest parallel sand ridge deserts
• Storytelling, community, music and song around the fire
• Learning traditional and bushcraft practices

All of these techniques are used for your personal empowerment, nature connection, cultural awareness and understanding, and they will elevate your experience of what it means to be a nature-connected human in our modern day world.

DESERT FIRE TRAVEL DATES 

Desert Fire is run from 10th - 18th May, 2021 starting and ending from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

YOUR INVESTMENT TO JOIN DESERT FIRE, 2021

FULL PRICE- $4,499

EARLYBIRD - $4,299 - THIS IS A TIME LIMITED DISCOUNT OF $200 - (Earlybirds must pay deposit before 1st Feb ‘21 to receive the discount) 

Spots are very limited due to the unique nature of the trip.

Bookings can be made on the Life Wild website www.lifewild.com.au or by emailing Caitlin gday@wildsearchaustralia.com.au.

Expedition Features and Highlights:

• Skip the touristy experiences and dive straight into the real highlights of Alice Springs (Mparntwe), Simpson Desert (Munga-Thirri), the infamous Larapinta Trail and West McDonnell National Park (Tjoritja)
• Hike up Mount Sonder at sunrise (Rwetyepme: NT's 4th highest peak) on the Larapinta Trail
• Plunge into the fresh, permanent waterholes of the Larapinta Trail at Ellery Creek Big Hole (Udepata), Redbank Gorge (Yarretyeke) and Ormiston Gorge (Kwartatuma)
• Half-day in Alice Springs to look around and learn about traditional Arrernte culture
• 1-nights accommodation in Alice Springs
• 3-day explore of some of the main attractions along the alien landscapes of the Larapinta Trail (by road and foot) in the ‘West Macs’
• 3-nights camping at the picturesque Ellery Creek Big Hole
• 5-day Western Simpson Desert hiking expedition with pack camels (with expert guides Outback Camel Company). We will be walking up to 15kms per day (by foot) with the pack camels carrying all our essential supplies.
• 4-nights swag camping under the stars in the Western Simpson Desert
• Private Aboriginal Cultural Tour of the region of the Arrernte people
• Daily nature connection and sensory practices to fully immerse in these wild places.

The fine print:

• Adults only - This expedition is for adults aged over 16 years of age. Due to the remote nature of this trip and difficult logistics, there are no children or babies allowed.
• Fitness & Health - Must be of good health and moderate fitness level. Must be capable of hiking <7 hour days (<15kms/day) on varying sandy and rocky terrain with <5kgs pack weight, as well as willing to assist the cameleers with the camels. I will send out a suggested (easy-going) training plan 6 weeks before the departure date. The more physical preparation you do, the more you will enjoy the trek! You will also be required to fill out a medical form before departure, including any allergies and health problems you experience, so that we can be aware of them.
• Meeting point - Participants must meet the group in Alice Springs, Northern Territory between 10am and 2pm on 10th May 2020 at the Alice Springs airport or in town. The official end of the trip is at 12pm on 18th May 2020 and airport drop-offs will run from 9am - 12pm that day.
• All travel, food and accommodation to and from our arranged Meeting Point is solely your responsibility.
• Pricing - Expedition price is $4,499 (includes $1,000 non-refundable deposit) and includes expert guides, 3 x meals per day, accommodation and all travel within Northern Territory between 10th - 18th May 2021. Price does not include flights to and from Alice Springs (they are currently around $650 return from east coast - the best way to travel from east coast is to fly there), own camping and hiking gear, personal gear, and snacks between meals.
• Pre-and-post Calls - Ticket price also includes 2x live zoom calls pre-departure (to discuss preparation and logistics) and 1x zoom call on return (to discuss integration and next steps).
• Deposit - The $1,000 deposit you pay on ticket purchase will secure your place on the trip. This is a non-refundable payment.
• Earlybird price - There are limited earlybird places available. Earlybird prices are only available up until 4 months pre-trip (before 1st Feb 2021).
• Payment Plans - Monthly payment plans are available for this trip. After payment of your initial $1,000 deposit, please contact Caitlin gday@wildsearchaustralia.com.au to discuss payment options. All payments need to be squared up before departure in May 2021.
• COVID-19 considerations - If the trip needs to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions (aka. NT closes their borders or there will be significant disturbances to the program as a result of COVID-19) participants will be notified ASAP. The postponement of the trip will be at the discretion of the organiser for the best outcome for all. If this occurs, all participants will be able to choose to either be moved onto the next Desert Fire trip in 2022 OR you can transfer the cost of the trip onto another Wild Search Australia/ Life Wild program in the ‘21/’22 season.
• Cancellations due to changed circumstance - If a participant no longer wishes to attend the trip, and you give a minimum 28 days notice you will receive everything minus your deposit back. If you give less than 28 days notice, you will not receive a refund.
• Cancellations due to sickness - In the two weeks pre-departure, if you experience any cold/flu symptoms you must not attend this trip. Notify the organiser ASAP. Your attendance will be at the discretion of the organiser. 
• Recommended Reading - It is recommended to read ‘Tracks’ by Robyn Davidson (or watch the movie) to get some desert, wild woman camel trekking inspo before the trip, as well as see the camels who you’ll be spending 5 days with. Another book recommendation would be ‘My Year Without Matches’ by Claire Dunn… which needs no explanation!

ABOUT WILD SEARCH AUSTRALIA and LIFE WILD

Wild Search Australia was started by Wildlife Ecologist and Environmental Educator, Caitlin Weatherstone in 2018 in Byron Bay, NSW. They offer a range of products and services to help people connect with their wild including Australian made Natural Body Products, DIY and Plastic free Workshops, Rewilding and Nature Connection Workshops and Nature Connection mentoring services for adults and children. Caitlin has over 10 years experience in wilderness and remote hiking, tour guiding and ecological sciences. She recently purchased Life Wild, an online store for kind and sustainable wars for home and lifestyle and is in the process of combining all the great products and services of both businesses into one!

ABOUT OUTBACK CAMEL COMPANY

From 13th - 17th May, we will be guided by Trek Leaders and Cameleers from Outback Camel Company (OCC) on their annual desert expeditions. OCC have been walking the Simpson Desert and Central Deserts with their pack camels since 1976, led by trans-continental explorer, Andrew Harper. They offer some of Australia’s best and most unique desert travelling experiences. It is a life-changing experience to walk the remote deserts with their pack camels, feel the beat of the desert, and contribute to greater scientific and cultural knowledge of this special place. Camels are the best way to travel in these landscapes, leaving the smallest footprint on the environment. Their trips begin where the roads end, and many of the places they visit may have not seen humans there for hundreds of years.