australian safari race

Safari – 25 Years of Outback Adventure

When more than 100 competitors in this year’s Australasian Safari take off into the West Australian outback on Saturday, they will be marking the 25th year of this Aussie endurance adventure.

The Australasian Safari began in August 1985 as the Wynns Safari. The first event included several international Paris to Dakar competitors and more than 200 starters. The race was so tough, more than 75 percent of the field retired after the first competitive leg!

The event has changed locations, distances, sponsors and challenges over the years, but was has not changed is the tough and talented competitors, many returning year after year to take on the Aussie outback.

Many legends of motor racing have competed in the Australasian Safari since 1985.

The first race featured the likes of legendary driver Larry Perkins driving a VW beetle, and John Hederics – the most successful competitor to date with six moto first placings and three firsts in the auto division.

Other competitors of note from the past 25 years include Australian motorsport racing legend the late Peter Brock, rallying champion Ross Dunkerton, AFL star Tony “Plugga” Lockett, past Paris to Dakar winners from around the globe, and even Japanese film stars.

Brock was passionate about the Safari and when asked about his experiences for the book Safari – the story of Australia’s Greatest Off-Road Motoring Adventure, he said the event was a unique test of patience, mechanical sympathy and the art of improvisation.

“The Safari provides some of the most demanding, challenging and exhilarating driving that exists and the endurance aspects have to be experienced to be believed,” Brock said.

A new generation of motorsport champion will pick up the reins this year when V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes experiences has his first offroad event, driving with past Safari winner Kees Weel.

“The Australasian Safari is an event I have been wanting to take part in for years, so when the opportunity came up to drive for Kees and the PWR/Holden Rally Team I jumped at it,” Lowndes said.

“This is the first time in my career for racing on anything other than bitumen, and the first time I’ll have raced with a passenger sitting alongside me, so it’s going to be a great experience.”

Australian Dakar competitor Bruce Garland has been competing in Safari since 1987 and is back again this year to chase first prize. Des Harrington, who competed in the first Safari in 1985, is back again in 2010 and will have a new co-driver this year – his son Richard.

The moto category has had its fair share of characters over the years, and one mainstay has been Glenn Hoffman, who competed in his first Safari in 1986, aged 18. After managing teams for the past couple of years, Glenn is getting back in the hot seat, but this time in the auto category.

Safari has attracted people from as far afield as Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Great Britain, Turkey, Italy, USA, Argentina, Taiwan and the Czech Republic over the years, and in 2010 we will see our first Brazilian competitor – the country’s number one offroad moto champion, Ze Helio – experience the harsh Australian outback for the first time. He will be joined by Swedish Rally Princess Annie Seel who had her first Australian encounter at the 2009 Safari and is returning for more pre-Dakar training.

The event has survived floods, bushfires, and the days long before GPS navigation when the Royal Flying Doctor Service was the only reliable form of remote communication.

Today, the event travels with two planes, a helicopter, satellite dishes, 50+ satellite phones, seven generators, semi trailers, trucks, motor homes and about 560 people made up of competitors, support crew, officials, family and friends, medical teams, TV production crew, and international media.

Event Director Justin Hunt said although the technology had changed, the philosophy of Safari remained the same.

“We attract many repeat competitors because the event is really a family of motorsport and outback enthusiasts who love to personally challenge themselves against the harsh terrain of the Australian outback.

“We rely on an army of volunteer officials who return year after year and give their time to be part of this pretty unique experience.

“This year, the course will again be tough, and mental as well as physical strength will be key to completing the full seven days of competition,” Hunt said.

Considered one of the world’s great endurance events, the Australasian Safari will this year see the auto, moto and quad competitors travel through remote Western Australian goldfields, desert, rugged bush and coastal dunes before hitting the southern coast at Esperance.

The event is supported by the Western Australian Government with coverage of the event broadcast into key international tourism markets.

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• LOOKING BACK
• HOW THEY ROLLED: 1996 AUSTRALIAN SAFARI IN AN OUTFIT

HOW THEY ROLLED: 1996 AUSTRALIAN SAFARI IN AN OUTFIT | LOOKING BACK

Twenty four years ago, two blokes went and did something no one had ever successfully done before, or since

Ayers House, Adelaide’s upmarket exhibition venue, was packed. Top European motorsport correspondents mingled with the local press for the media launch of the Australian Safari, an event which, in its first decade, had earned a reputation as the Dakar Down Under. And this, the 1996 edition, was to be the deciding round of the FIA World Cup; a tie-breaker between Italian Franco Germanetti and Frenchman Jean-Pierre Strago. In the Moto division, four-time Paris Dakar champion Edi Orioli (Yamaha) was expected to fight it out with KTM’s Heinz Kinigadner, winner of the 1996 Beijing Master Rally. Enduro World Champion Robert Gronlund (Suzuki) would complete the podium. Aussie sport commentators hadn’t quite come to grips with the notion that women could ride motorbikes, so rising star Jutta Kleinschmidt was completely overlooked; as were local guns such as John Hederics, Steve Riley and Glenn Hoffmann.

The fuel range of the outfit was reduced as the going got tougher

Somewhere in the display of brightly stickered motos was an unusual three-wheeled contraption that couldn’t possibly be overlooked; an entrant in a three-legged novelty race that had rolled up to the start of a marathon. Even the more experienced enduro riders were bemused by the notion of two riders on a single machine. And when it was explained that one of the riders would remain on his feet for the entire eight days of the rally, the commentators were incredulous. “Nuts” was the only comment fit to print.

Considered all but extinct, off-road sidecars had disappeared from the Safari’s entry lists after the first event, and sidecar teams who regularly competed in events such as the Barossa Valley’s legendary 24 Hour Trial considered the Safari an impractical budget breaker. But Des Chabrel [see sidebar] had not forgotten his disappointment in being forced to retire from the inaugural Wynn’s Sydney to Darwin Safari. And nor had his mate Colin Daddow, who’d suffered his own DNF on a Yamaha Ténéré in that same event.

An English chassis, a Japanese engine and a couple of tough Aussies went the distance

Now, a decade later and in the first of a serendipitous series of circumstances, the start of the Safari had been relocated to Wirrina Cove Resort just down the road from Des and Colin’s home town. Then, out of the blue, South Australian Kawasaki Distributor George Bolton offered up his race-proven KZ750-powered WASP, throwing in a wrecked Kawasaki GT750 to upgrade the WASP’s brakes. In the hands of another old mate Chris Lang, Bolton’s four cylinder 57kW WASP had a 100 percent finishing record in several consecutive 24 Hour Trials. The Safari challenge was right in their faces.

With Chris steering, Colin swinging and Des on the spanners, they had more than 60 years of sidecar experience between them. Now all they had to do was raise the equivalent of $30,000 in today’s money. Of course George Bolton came to the fore along with regular sponsor Clipsal, but the boys had to dig deep, work the phone, and twist a few arms.

Then there was the entry itself. Chris received a warm reception from Safari Event Director Bob Carpenter. As long as the team were prepared to run in the Moto Division they were welcome. They were all very much aware that none of the four sidecars that started that long-ago Wynn’s finished. So they had some idea of what they were up against. Sort of. Carpenter volunteered the information that almost all the competitive stages of the 1996 event were over tracks established by a Toyota LandCruiser. And that the team would be well advised to construct their outfit to an identical width, thus avoiding the inevitable bumps that build up in the centre of a typical outback track.

The Kawasaki-engined beast and its riders became a popular sight in the teams’ bivouac

While they appreciated the thought behind Bob’s advice, the team were vastly experienced in negotiating 4WD tracks and were aghast at the thought of desecrating a bespoke WASP chassis – certainly one on loan from their sponsor. They figured the biggest problem was the requirement to carry sufficient fuel to cover 350kms. The original tank pirated from a Suzuki was retained, with sponsor Hughes Precision Engineering crafting a 20-litre tank for the sidecar chassis. A further eight litres was housed in a tank fitted to the pillion seat for a total of 41 litres. Yet they remained acutely aware the fuel range was marginal, given the power sapping terrain they expected to encounter on a unit weighing the best part of 450kg with both crew members on board.

With almost the entire moto field rubbered up on the traditional 21-inch front and 18-inch tyre combination, the WASP was an outcast with its 19-inch front, 17-inch rear and 16-inch sidecar tyre. Nor did it have any chance of borrowing spare wheels/tyres from other competitors. Little details, such as the need to carry imperial as well as metric tools, were all covered in their extensive preparations. Despite the naysayers and the knockers, Chris and Colin rumbled out of Wirrina Cove unheralded as Des sprinted for the bus reserved for service crew.

It was not a good look when the WASP’s sidecar wheel abandoned ship in the remote sand dunes west of Lake Gairdner, forcing Colin to scrounge a temporary locknut and spacer from the recovery crew, and providing more ammunition for the piss-takers.

But that was the least of their problems. Coober Pedy offered Des the first opportunity to calculate fuel consumption after a full day in race conditions. The numbers were not good, and there was no obvious fix to prevent the bank of four Mikuni carburettors from the incessant clouds of bulldust clogging the modified Kawasaki Z900 airbox. The highly tuned 9500rpm powerplant was not designed to lug 300kg across 10-metre sand dunes, no matter how hard both riders pushed. Fuel consumption soared and would be a constant inhibitor whenever Chris felt the need to drop a gear and twist the throttle.

The locals in Townsville gave the duo a hearty welcome

They determined the full extent of their fuel range the very next day. After traversing the extremes of the Painted Desert, where they’d lost time replacing the tube in the sidecar tyre, they unexpectedly came across the Ghan rail line, which wasn’t on their route instructions. It was only a minor diversion according to Chris, and a quick about-face had them back on the notes. But it cost time and, maybe, just a cupful of precious fuel.

These delays may have resulted in a little injudicious use of the right wrist and, as the sun set, both supplementary tanks were empty and the main one on reserve. Only by undoing the front mounting bolt did they force the last drops to the rear mounted fuel tap. And only by extreme good fortune did they roll into the Kulgera bivouac. Despite constant attention, air-filter problems were to plague the team all the way to Townsville. As the Safari pushed further into the Northern Territory, the afternoons became hotter and some of the long, gravel liaison stages became tedious. Chris could at least move his arse around a little on the seat and put his feet up on the engine. Colin, on the tiniest, most uncomfortable seat in Safari history, a vinyl-covered armrest off an office-chair bolted directly to the chassis, was far happier standing.

Many competitors, including Edi Orioli, had already dropped out, most of the attrition being mechanical, with autos suffering worse than the bikes. Shortly after roosting out across the Tanami Desert from the lush Tilmouth Well oasis, Heinz Kinigadner came to grief while attempting to make up time after taking a wrong turn. ‘Kini’ had already been medi-vacced out by the time Chris and Colin passed the scene. But all was not well.

Chris Lang and his mate Colin Daddow endured a long week in the outback

With tyres inflated well above 30psi to avoid punctures, a rushed bacon and egg roll at dawn, followed by 700km of corrugations, Chris was feeling crook and Colin was still happier standing. Meantime, Des had arrived at the old WW2 Ooratippra airstrip well before the competitors “The ground turns to bulldust the instant two vehicles pass over the same spot and we arrived with three road trains, three buses and around fifty support vehicles before the first competitor rolls in,” Des noted that day in his diary.

“I set up a service area near the welding bay to get good light to work by, tied my groundsheet to a bush and tried to take a nap, but [the dust] was too oppressive.” However it was at Ooratippra, the isolated homestead on the southern reaches of the vast Barkly Tableland, where Des, Colin and Chris were affirmed as part of the great Safari family. As the bivouacs become more remote, the remaining faces become more familiar, contestants became comrades bearing a mutual recognition of the hardships they’ve overcome. A curt nod is an acknowledgement of a shared accomplishment and, except for a few guns at the pointy end, the results irrelevant. All that matters is ensuring the equipment will survive another day’s torture.

Of course the car crews still thought the ‘outfit guys’ were crazy, one wit likening the outfit in action as somewhat resembling a praying mantis in the throes of ecstasy. Then again the car crews always thought all the bike guys were a sandwich short of a picnic. But few competitors of any persuasion had considered the sidecar entry as any more than insanity on three wheels. Now, five days and almost 5000km later, the entire bivouac were fans. Des was concerned about their lack of sleep, but Chris maintained, despite the increased risk of a DNF, they could go considerably faster. And the closer they got to Townsville, the more unacceptable that became. Chris and Colin were now on top of their game. Relatively smoother, fast sweeping corners with fewer sand drifts suited their style and they slalomed into the Mount Isa bivouac just as darkness fell. The bad news was that their speed was consuming a litre of fuel every seven kilometres.

Daddow had to get out and push on occasion…

With shorter distances between refuels as the event zig-zagged across the Gulf Savannah, fuel range became less of a problem. However, despite constantly re-taping the airbox and cleaning the filters, Chris felt the engine was ingesting more bulldust than air. They enjoyed another great day heading toward the Gulf, though with daytime temperatures above 30ºC they could now barely squeeze six kays from a litre of fuel.

At the conclusion of the penultimate day, Bruce Garland was already loudly celebrating his first victory in the auto division, and the would-be moto champion John Hederics was quietly running a spanner over his Honda XR600’s spokes to ensure his all-time record sixth outright win was a shoe-in. But Chris became certain they’d dusted the Kawasaki’s powerplant. Colin and Des did their best to keep the team spirits buoyant and went about refurbishing the WASP’s sponsorship stickers but, truth be told, they were just as concerned as Chris.

Besides Des had been unofficially assured their entry would be present at the official finish, even if it was forced to spend some time on the back of a tray top while Colin overhauled the carburettors. They’d finish one way or the other, but Chris was determined to get the last out of the engine. The rest is Safari history. The team rolled across the ceremonial finish line to the applause of the huge crowd, most of whom had little idea of the significance of the occasion.

It was an entirely different matter at that evening’s presentation however where, over the top of the usual boasting and bullshit, Chris and Colin were universally acknowledged as the true iron men of the event. The only sidecar team in history to defy the odds and finish an Australian Safari.

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The legends of the Australasian Safari

For 25 years some special characters have thrown themselves full tilt at some of the world's harshest terrains. meet the legends of the australasian safari..

F or 25 years some special characters have thrown themselves full tilt at some of the world's harshest terrains. Meet the legends of the Australasian Safari.

Aussie motorsport events become international icons. The Great Race at Mount Panorama, the Moto GP at Phillip Island and the AGP wherever it's held; but the average punter has as much chance of an entry as teeing off against Tiger Woods.

However, since establishing a home in the west, the Australasian Safari is back on every adventurer's bucket list; just as it was 25 years ago when the original Wynn's Safari made every outback enthusiast aware that the adventure of a lifetime lay waiting just over the back fence. We reflect on some of the more memorable moments of this legendary all-Australian adventure.

Mad Dane Excels

Smitten by the Paris to Dakar Rally, madcap Danish adventurer Hans Tholstrup had the grand notion of a trans-Australia marathon, open to all comers no matter what they rolled up in. The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport's development officer, Tom Snooks, loved the concept and, when CAMS chairman John Large gave it the nod, the Auto Cycle Union went along for the ride.

Wynn's Friction Proofing knew a good publicity stunt when they saw it and, immediately the Safari was announced, over 1500 expressions of interest flooded in from around the world. It was to be a free-for-all, without the prerequisite of any safety equipment. Never again would attracting a keen sponsor and huge numbers of competitors be so easy; nor plotting a 7000km route across the continent prove so difficult.

Ultimate Sportsman

Heading the eclectic mix of crews that actually made the start of the inaugural event were Mitsubishi Ralliart's Andrew Cowan and Dakar champion Gaston Rahier on his BMW R100GS. To demonstrate how serious it was, BMW had Euro champ Eddie Hau as first back-up plus two Pajeros packed with spares and factory mechanics. These back-up vehicles were piloted by no less accomplished drivers than Australian rally champ George Fury and world GP champion Denis Hulme. Serious stuff.

Come the final day, Honda privateer Steve Chapman held a slight lead over Rahier, but without a headlight couldn't ride to the dawn start. "Follow me and let's go racing," Rahier declared. The BMW executives suffered apoplectic fits and turned totally catatonic when Chapman led Rahier into Darwin. Journalist Peter Mackay recalls: "The pitch-black start produced one of the marvellous tales of sportsmanship to emerge from the craziness." A sportsmanship that has continued in the Safari ever since.

Racing for Survival

Appointed road director in 1986, with the brief to ensure the Safari was tough but humane, Stuart McLeod's concept of a reliability trial was to configure a course where only one team would finish, thus ensuring a clear-cut winner. This is possibly why crews remember Stuart treating them as enemies rather than competitors.

Senior officials were at loggerheads over McLeod's approach, particularly the section in the rugged Waggaboonya Mountains, north of the Isa, where Hans Tholstrup was adamant someone would be killed. After checking with his survey crews, Tom Snooks decided the Gunpowder section was to stay in. Tholstrup, the creator and major shareholder, told Tom where to stick it. Were it not for competitor relations officer Bob Carpenter stepping, in the Safari itself may have been killed off there and then.

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World-class rallies are an impossible dream for most adventure riders, but the Australasian Safari Adventure Tour (ADVT) runs alongside the Australasian Safari each year and gives riders a taste of the world-class Rally Raid experience. Ewen MacGregor – no, really – tagged along through some stunningly beautiful parts of Western Australia to find out what it’s all about.

While it’s not the race itself, the ADVT follows the Australasian Safari route, riding as many of the competition stages as possible.

It’s normally around 70 per cent of the official race course.

“There’s no doubt it’s a serious ride, with up to 400km on the bikes each day,” said Andy Van Kann, part of the Safari course survey team and original Adventure Tour Director. “The difference with the Adventure Tour is that we finish riding in the early afternoon most days and generally end up at a spectacular and secluded spot.”

The group usually rides ahead of the competitive Safari. That means very early starts, challenging days in the saddle and evenings in the bivouac spent fettling the bikes for the next day’s challenge.

Australia’s Dakar

Western Australia has hosted the Australasian Safari for several years. The course covers more than 3000km in seven days, ranking as one of the world’s most spectacular rallies.

The ceremonial start was in Perth, but the first real action was outside of Northampton, some 400km to the north. From there it was an adventure through the mid-west, Murchison and Gascoyne regions, taking in the beaches south of Kalbarri, the rough country around the Kennedy Ranges and the coastline through Quobba and Gnaraloo stations at the south end of Ningaloo Reef, then south to finish on the foreshore in Geraldton.

Competitors tackled a variety of conditions that included a beach blast, farmland, steep beach descents and a fast run through sheep paddocks, with crests, gutters, ruts and creeks all creating hazards…and the Tour mirrored the route.

The Adventure Tour is a commercial operation. Fees include costs, licence, insurance and accreditation. The Tour is run entirely by volunteers and organised by a family of passionate motorsport enthusiasts. Tour lead rider is Alan Makin, and his wife Lynne is the coordinator. She first became involved in the Tour around three years ago and says one of the best things about running the Tour is getting to meet riders from around the world and Australia. She also enjoys that the ADVT ride crew creates a strong community feeling.

“If someone’s bike needs fixing and it takes until 2.00am, then we all pull together to help,” Lynne said.

To take part in the Adventure Tour all you need is to be a competent rider, love to challenge yourself and have a spirit for adventure. Tour riders have the option to run a roadbook for the stages and the route that the Adventure Tour follows.

This is as close to competition as you can get without racing, and in this way the ADVT acts as a feeder for aspiring Safari competitors. In 2013 there were seven Safari race competitors who’d previously taken part in the Tour.

The 2013 ADVT

In 2013 the tour attracted 18 riders from all over Australia and overseas, with an assortment of bikes including a 1986 800cc BMW and a 1990 750cc Yamaha Ténéré, and both bikes attracted huge interest from rally competitors.

The Tour is primarily for solo adventure bike riders, but quads are eligible, and, mainly for logistical reasons, rider numbers are capped at 20. When the day’s riding is in full flow and everyone’s out there enjoying themselves, the field can be strung out over 10km of wilderness. Any more than 20 riders would mean an even more strung-out group and the logistics and safety could be compromised.

Bivouacs and beer

For 2013, the ADVT started in Northampton, riding 400km north in front of the main rally to a remote bivouac near Kalbarri, where the riders were able to get to know each other and repair their bikes and bodies over a few cartons of beer. Tents (for those who don’t bring their own) and food are supplied by the ADVT organisers, with a professional catering company following the Tour and cooking up some well-deserved hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

It was an early start each morning to get riding ahead of the race, and at Gascoyne Junction the riders had the opportunity to camp with the rest of the Safari and really soak up the atmosphere. This highlighted one of the unique and special aspects of the ADVT: the chance for riders to meet and mingle with some of the world’s top rally riders and watch the $50,000 Dakarspec bikes being serviced by the world’s leading mechanics.

Every evening was a whirlwind of repairs, rebuilds and test rides, often late into the night, as everyone prepared for the next day’s challenge.

Tough stuff

One of the toughest but most rewarding stages was the ride from Gascoyne Junction to Carnarvon through the Murchison River riverbed. The sweeping trails were rocky in places, and in others riders had to negotiate deep sand, but the backdrop was spectacular with the remote Kennedy Range National Park rising majestically from the desert. It was typical of many days on the Tour – a mix of twisty, hard-packed bush tracks where riders had to be right on the ball with navigation, and other fenceline sections where they were able to ride absolutely flat out.

The Dummy Award

The first evening, Peter, the ADVT sweep rider, introduced the group to the Adventure Tour Dummy Award, a baby’s dummy tied to a loop. This was awarded every night at the briefing session to any rider or supporter who did ‘dumb’ things. The nominated rider would have to wear the dummy for a day after the transgression as penance. Some of the 2013 award nominations included:

• Alan, ADVT lead rider, for not getting off his bike to open a gate and breaking his thumb on day one – yes, he rode the rest of the Tour with it strapped up

• Rainer, for trying to refuel his quad from a green water container instead of a red fuel container

• Darren, for pinching three tubes in a morning of riding

• Jenny, for bogging her support vehicle in the bivouac at Gascoyne Junction and being towed out by recovery

• Andrew, for expertly changing his rear tyre, but letting the rim roll away and knock over his beer

• Dusty, for powering past the lead rider and charging off into the unknown

• Ralph, for ignoring the cornerman and also charging off over the horizon. Not once, but twice!

• Anton, for not checking his rear axle nut was tight

• Christian, for loose handlebars

Pre-1985 bikes

The Tour attracted a couple of particularly interesting bikes due to the inclusion of a Pre-1985 class in the main event.

Michael Schmidt rode a BMW airhead, built in Perth by Auto Classic with help from HPN in Germany. This model won the Paris-Dakar rally several times and gained popularity with adventure-seeking travellers.

Richard “Dusty” Carr from South Australia was riding a Yamaha Super Ténéré 750. In the spirit of the original Dakar competitors, Dusty rode the bike across from South Australia to take part in the Tour.

“I am absolutely amazed to get to the end,” he said. “It was some of the toughest riding I’ve ever done in my life. I’m a bit sad it’s all over. I would have liked to have kept going a few more days.”

In addition to the ADVT pre-1985 riders, the new category also attracted some international riders to the Safari, so it looks like the new category will stay.

Final thoughts

There were mixed emotions as the Tour rolled into Geraldton at the end of the final stage – exhilaration at finishing a week of bone-jarring, sun-baked, dry and dusty riding, and sadness over Australia Safari competitor Ivan Erceg’s tragic death. But there was also a feeling of great anticipation for next year’s Tour.

Many of the Tour riders are already planning and dreaming about next year’s event. After all, it’s not everyday you get to rub shoulders with some of the world’s top rally riders, experience what it’s really like in the bivouac of a leading international motorsport event, and share adventure riding stories round the campfire in some of the remotest places in the WA outback.

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Who to watch in 2011 Australasian Safari

Key competitors to keep an eye out for in the Western Australia-based event include:

• Three-time Dakar winner, Frenchman Cyril Despres, will be making his Australasian Safari and Australian debut. An international motorsport star, Despres is fresh from victory in the Rally dos Sertoes in Brazil. He will ride a KTM 450RR in the event.
• Three-time Safari winner and four-time Finke winner Ben Grabham is on a KTM as well, and his brother Damien Grabham is also competing in 2011 for Husaberg Rallye Racing.
• Swedish rally princess Annie Seel is competing in her third Safari. The only individual female racer, Annie has previously raced in five Dakar rallies.
• Competing in his first Safari and first Australian event is Italian Manuel Lucchese. A professional rally racer and moto journalist, Manuel is currently the top Italian racer in the world at just 22 years old.  He has a big following in the off-road racing scene in Italy.
• 2009 winner Jacob Smith is set to make a comeback after breaking his leg in last year’s race. His brother Todd Smith placed second in the Moto division in 2010, and will also be racing to win.  Both will race for GHR Honda.
• David Schwarz, one of Safari’s most experienced competitors, has an unequalled record of eight top 10 finishes, and has competed twice in Dakar and is preparing for his third.
• UK-born, Dubai-based Sam Sunderland is a hot young rider who will give the champs a run for their money, having beaten Spanish maestro Marc Coma in two stages at the Dubai rally earlier this year.
• 2011 Condo 750 winner, Queenslander Rod Faggotter, is using Safari for his Dakar 2012 preparation.
• V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes returning for his second year to defend his title after taking out the auto division in 2010 at his first off-road event.  Lowndes’ co-driver in 2011 is John Panozzo. 
• Also as part of the PWR Holden rally team former V8 Supercar driver Paul Weel will drive with his father Kees Weel as co-driver.  Kees was Lowndes’ co-driver for his 2010 win.  Both Lowndes and Weel will drive a PWR-prepared Holden Colorado.
• Steve Riley is making a welcome return to Safari this year, racing again with the Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort Team after winning in 2008 and 2009 outright with co-driver John Doble. This is the first time Steve and Craig Lowndes will meet up, making for an exciting battle.
• Thailand’s Rachan Trairat is competing in his first Australasian Safari, following 10 years racing in the Asia Cross-Country where he came first in the 2009 race. He will be in good hands with well-known Safari co-driver Harry Suzuki doing his navigating.
• Terry ‘Tangles’ Conner is back with daughter Jodi Conner after placing second overall in 2009. They missed last year’s Safari, and are looking forward to experiencing this year with a number of family members in tow.
• After being forced to pull out on the second leg of the 2010 Safari, well known rally driver Tony Quinn is competing again in 2011. With co-driver Toni Feaver they are aiming to make it to the finish line this year.
• Australian rally champion, Perth’s Rob Herridge, is competing in his first Safari flying the flag for Subaru and Maximum Motorsport in the new Production class.
• Seasoned veteran Paul Smith is back to defend his title for his third Safari. He has more than 15 years of off-road competition experience, including competing in 11 Finkes and three Condo 750s, as well as the two most recent Safaris.
• Organic almond farmer John Maragozidis, won the 2008 Safari Quad division and says he has covered more competitive desert kilometres on a quad than anyone else in the country.

AND NOT FORGETTING...

• Murray Young, Safari’s oldest competitor at 65 years old, bringing a wealth of rallying experience to the auto division.
• The return of Safari legend, local Ivan Erceg who, despite crashing badly and breaking ribs and his shoulder in 2010, is back in form and is sure to again be the talk of the bivouac with his Grizzly Adams looks and larrikin charm.

Click on the following link for the full 2011 Australasian Safari entry list .

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Wildlife Safaris

Safari tours in australia.

Without a doubt, Australia is one of the most exciting and unique wildlife safari  destinations in the world. The continent boasts extremely diverse and breathtaking landscapes; from alpine ranges, wet and dry eucalypt forests, vast temperate grasslands to arid deserts. With these differing habitats comes the opportunity to see a rich volume of species, across the birdwatching, marsupial, land mammal, reptile, invertebrate and amphibian categories.

Australia's unpopulated vast spaces provide a distinct type of safari experience; one that you can truly immerse yourself in when exploring ecosystems safely by foot or vehicle. The key to any quality Australian safari tour and wildlife adventure is an expert guide that seamlessly connects you with the surroundings, evoking all of the senses. Whilst Australia is not home to the volume of mega fauna and predatory mammals in some other regions, the interrelationship between the topography, flora and fauna is just as fascinating, as are the stories of how this ancient land and the species that have called it home have evolved.

These multi-day Australian safari tours and packages  provide the perfect opportunity to explore the different type of habitats and animals, whilst always delivering the element of surprise that makes wildlife safaris such a desired travel experience. Given the diversity of Australian ecosystems, we recommend linking these tours and regions together to create the ultimate wildlife safari holiday or vacation.

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Safari race last in WA

Motorsport fans have been dealt a major blow with confirmation that this year's Australasian Safari will be the last held in WA.

The decision, announced yesterday by event director Justin Hunt, comes after Tourism WA decided to end its financial support for the event.

It denied the decision was linked to the death of a competitor in last year's event.

"The return on Tourism WA's investment did not make it viable for us to take up the further three-year contract option," Eventscorp executive director Gwyn Dolphin said.

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Mr Dolphin said it had been a difficult decision to make, given the professionalism of the event's management and the vibrancy the safari brought to the places it travelled through.

He said it was understandable motorsport fans would be disappointed.

This year's event, the seventh in WA, will begin in Geraldton on September 20 and travel around the Mid West and Murchison.

It will finish in Kalbarri on September 27.

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Outback Safari (11 Days)

• Fully Guided
• Personalized
• Coach / Bus

• Discover the spectacular sites and rock art of Uluru
• Soak and relax at the Mataranka Thermal Springs
• Admire the sunset on a dinner cruise of Darwin Harbour
• Witness stunning panoramic views from Kings Canyon

Ready-to-book adventures, personalized

Make your adventure more you

Enjoy a tour focused solely on your travel group

Professional

Access our Travel Experts’ insider knowledge

Travel within your own bubble

• Introduction
• Day 1 Welcome to Uluru
• Day 2 Uluru Sunrise - Kata Tjuta
• Day 3 Uluru - Kings Canyon
• Day 4 Kings Canyon - Alice Springs
• Day 5 Alice Springs
• Day 6 Alice Springs - Tennant Creek
• Day 7 Tennant Creek - Katherine
• Day 8 Katherine - Kakadu
• Day 9 Kakadu - Darwin
• Day 10 Litchfield National Park
• Day 11 Farewell from Darwin

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

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• Group of 50 travelers max.
• Fast booking confirmation
• Carefully planned itineraries
• Travel with like-minded people
• Choose your preferred dates and duration
• Upgrade your accommodation
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Operated by AAT Kings

Since 1912, AAT Kings as a tour operator has been helping people from all over the world discover and explore Australia and New Zealand from top to bottom. With a broad range of holiday options, we strive to represent the very best that Australia and New Zealand have to offer. You can relax in the comfort of knowing you’re in the best of hands. We've got over 100 years of experience in taking care of absolutely everything so that you can get on with creating great new memories. Our goal every day is to share Australia and New Zealand with our guests and to bring these two amazing countries to life.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

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Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Good 4.0
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Good 4.0
• Tour Operator AAT Kings 4.4
• LR Lynette · 31st May 2023 An informative tour guide and a great driver making the tour fun for all. Trip date: May 2023

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• August 2025

Space on this tour is not guaranteed. Book this tour to request your place and the operator will confirm availability.

• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 24 Aug, 2024 Tuesday 3 Sep, 2024 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types €5,375 0% Interest Instalments Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 26 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 6 May, 2025 English Multiple Room Types €5,645 0% Interest Instalments Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates
• Saturday 17 May, 2025 Tuesday 27 May, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €5,645 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 28 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 8 Jul, 2025 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types €5,645 0% Interest Instalments Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates
• Saturday 26 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 5 Aug, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €5,645 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 23 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 2 Sep, 2025 English Filling Fast Multiple Room Types €5,645 0% Interest Instalments Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Tipping is not compulsory in Australia or New Zealand however if you are happy with the service you received from your Travel Director or Driver Guide you can feel free to leave them a tip at your own discretion.

All your Optional Experiences can be organised directly with your Travel Director whilst on the tour and you can choose to either pay in either local cash or by credit card.

Due to strict Government vehicle weight restrictions you are allowed one medium size suitcase per person, with dimensions not to exceed H76cm x W46cm x D25cm. The maximum weight of all luggage must not exceed 23kg (50lbs). You are also allowed one piece of hand luggage on-board the coach: however it must be able to fit in the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you if required.

On travelling days you will stop every 2 to 3 hours either at a rest stop or for sightseeing, activities or free time.

You can choose to join the tour at a later date or finish the tour early however, it is important to note that AAT Kings is unable to offer a discount for choosing to do as the tour is a set package with a strict itinerary.

Your tour will start from a centrally located hotel on day 1 of the tour, as this hotel is subject to change it is recommended to contact our team of Travel Experts for more information once your booking is confirmed.

Children are welcome on all AAT Kings tours however they are required to be a minimum age of 5 years or older. It is recommended that if you are travelling with children to consider whether the itinerary is suitable and in particular the activities involved.

If you are a single traveller you can either choose to share a room with another guest of the same gender at no extra cost or if you prefer the privacy of your own room you can pay a single supplement to upgrade to a single room. If you would like to book a single room please make sure to choose this option on the booking page or simply contact our team of Travel Experts.

Arrival and departure transfers can be arranged for you once you have a confirmed booking, please contact our team of Travel Experts if you would like a transfer added to your tour booking or for more information.

Your travel documents will be posted to you in a travel wallet which will contain your documents and luggage tags to you approximately four weeks before your departure date.

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Good to Know

• Currency $ Australian Dollar Australia

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Australia. Ideally 10 days before travel.
• Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Australia. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 7th July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 7th July 2024, a minimum payment of €100 is required to confirm your booking with AAT Kings. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and AAT Kings will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "AAT Kings" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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