A Camel, The Outback, and a Sore Bum

I have a mysterious desire to tour The Outback of Australia on a camel. That intrigues me. I suppose I am imagining the adventure of being in a pristine wilderness astride an animal who is completely at home there, and I desire to feel the temperature of the desert, to smell the wind, to hear the silence. But until I can actually get my hands on a camel, I am writing this article as the next best thing. That way, no sore bum.

First domesticated by frankincense traders, camels come in two varieties, the basic one hump or two. They are the desert dweller's lifeline, providing transportation, meat, milk and even shade. They have a reputation of being unpredictable, biting, spitting, and kicking, but those who know camels say this is rare. Incidentally, camels come with a double set of long, curly eyelashes, the envy of every owner of a mascara wand.

Camels began arriving in Australia in 1840 from the Canary Islands along with their Afghan cameleers who came to be known as "Ghans" which is short for Afghans. Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 one-humped camels were imported into Australia between 1860 and 1907.

The camel was the perfect conveyance for the early pioneers. Without them, exploration may have been impossible because the arid Australian Outback environment closely resembles their Middle Eastern homelands.

During their heyday, camels were used in the building of overland telegraph lines and fence lines and carrying supplies for the mining and sheep industries. They were ridden by police and postmen. This "Age of the Camel" lasted until approximately the 1920's, but with the advent of motorized vehicles, camels became completely useless to society. Some were destroyed while most were released into the wilderness where they became free-ranging herds.

Then in the 1960's, thankfully, the lowly camel was not completely forgotten as camel tourist businesses started up. In 1971, camel races began in Alice Springs as well as in other places around Australia. The 1980's brought the camel to the supper table when they began slaughtering them for human consumption.

Several camel safari companies can be found on the Internet. They offer trips consisting of several days of trekking, experiencing the flora and fauna, and camping. They even teach you how to handle a camel.

Why would I want to ride a camel through the The Outback wilderness? Here's what Philip Gee of Explore the Outback Camel Safaris has to say about it:

"Camel trekking in the Australian Outback puts you in touch with our unique natural heritage. Kangaroos, emus, goannas, dingos and a myriad of beautiful parrots and native animals simply stop and watch, as the spectacle of a fully loaded commercial camel string passes quietly by.

"Slowly crossing vast and pristine Australian Outback landscapes by camel and competent guidance is an educational experience. The surface is littered with stone artefacts, evidence of early aboriginal occupation, and it is possible to interpret the landscape based on this information. Hidden water sources, major walkabout routes and primary food sources are all indicated by this means. It is absolutely marvelous to be able to read desert landscapes in this manner."

That makes my ears perk up and my nostrils flare! Now where is that camel?

Sources
Feralfeast! History of Camels in Australia
Camels Australia Export
Australian Camel News