When: Year round.

Length of visit: 3 Hours to 21 days

Number of guests: Min 2 max 6, larger groups by prior arrangement.

Fee:$1337.00 per person + GST = $1470.00 per person on a five-day trip, as of the year 2003. Includes, permits and fees, food, accommodation (if applicable) camping equipment (if applicable), transportation and specialist guide - (Contact George Swann for updated prices)

Transport:
We are based in Broome. On our land based safaris, travel is by 4WD only using a Toyota Landcruiser and or Toyota Personnel Carrier which has been adapted with forward facing cloth seating. All vehicles are air conditioned. Travel in the Kimberley is mainly on dirt or unsealed roads and the terrain is remote and rugged. A satellite phone is carried on all trips.

Temperature & Clothing:
The temperature in the Kimberley averages between 25ºC. to 38ºC. The Kimberley receives an average rainfall of between 500mm to1400mm per year most of which falls between November and April, the ‘wet’ season. The weather in the Kimberley can be hot. Cool, loose clothing, hats and sunscreen are essential. Ideally your luggage should be contained in a soft bag for easy stowage.

Note:
We also design tailor made trips and are available for charter. Below is a sample itinerary for a 5 day Gibb River Road Camping Trip.

ITINERARY

The 5 day Gibb River Road Tour is a great opportunity to explore some of the more popular gorges in the West Kimberley.

Day 1: Will be spent driving to the King Leopold Ranges from Broome. We stop at various locations that offer the most interesting habitat and wildlife, including several wetlands and the Fitzroy River at Willare. We usually lunch in or around Derby before making our way onto the Gibb River Road. The afternoon is spent driving into the Kimberley, where we stop along the way to observe birds and interesting plants. After crossing the Lennard River we approach and pass through the spectacular rampart of limestone called the Napier Range at a place called Yammera Gap. Only a few kilometres further east and we start to climb into the King Leopold Ranges where we camp.

Day 2: Will unfold the rugged beauty of the King Leopolds, rounded granite massifs, piles of black dolerite (an intrusive basalt) dominate the valleys between larger and older ridges of quartzite sandstone. Creeks and small rivers flow rapidly with sweet fresh water. Birds abound in relatively lush creek side vegetation. Bird species absent from the pindan and flatlands of the Fitzroy River occur in these ranges and their calls will tell you you're in different country. Silver-crowned Friarbirds, Grey Butcherbirds, Sandstone Shrike-thrush & White-quilled Rock-Pigeon. Even the Variegated Wrens are different here, a separate Kimberley race. We visit the famous and beautiful Bell Gorge and spend our second night here.

Day 3: A mornings walk along Bell Creek before leaving Bell valley to continue our journey north east along the Gibb River Road. We will visit Adcocks Gorge and Galvans Gorge both great swimming spots and packed with birds and wildlife. We will with a bit of luck see Short-eared Rock Wallabies that love the steep rocky cliffs that abound in the Kimberley. Euros are common but shy. Spot lighting may reveal the strictly nocturnal Northern Nail-tail Wallaby, the Antilopine Walleroos are not common and quite shy but there is still a chance, Agile Wallabies are common. We shall camp in the beautiful Phillips Range.

Day 4: We drive to Mt. Barnett and visit the lovely Manning Gorge, Creek & Pool. We spend the morning walking to Manning Falls and exploring the surrounding countryside. The afternoon is spent exploring savannah woodland for rare and interesting species like Gouldian Finch, Black-tailed Treecreepers, Rufous Songlark and Varied Lorikeet. The Creek & Gorge are home to Figbird and Green-backed Gerygone. We camp at a secret location.

Day 5: We return to Broome but not without plenty of stops to swim, birdwatch and botanise, take photographs and generally enjoy our journey home. There is always something interesting to look at or discover. The tour will arrive in Broome between 20.00 & 21.00 hrs, earlier if clients wish.