The Australian Caravan Safari Trails

Friends,
It never worked in Yachting groups, 4x4 exploration, or all the way to Game Patrol in Africa... It was always a chore, waiting up for the poorest equiped, least maintained, most troublesome of the whole pack... Quite frankly I read it as yes, the caravan parks are acknowledged to be a bit overcrowded as foreign destinations are at peril... So the trend is towards the Outback a bit... And while it could be attractive to someone green that had trepidations about going it alone, I think for most Bushtracker People it would be quite slow and boring in a pack of mixed equipment waiting up for the weakest link.

For any Newbies, you should know that it is OK, to go it alone with the excitement of Discovery and Adventure... On any track that is on the map, there will be someone along every ten minutes to hour or two, you are only as far away as your radio or satphone; and the common thing in the Outback is they roll down the window: "You right Mate?". You are never that far from help on the major dirt tracks in Australia, and by the time you gain the confidence to go exploring off on your own you will have the experience and equipment to do so safely. OK?

Safari Caravan Train? I would say in fact: Preferable to go it in small groups of like minded - Like equipped People... Large mixed groups are inevitably handicapped by the weakest link in the chain.. And that goes from here to even Africa. Just something to keep in mind if you are thinking about exploring with a large group..

Regards from a "Been there, done that" Ranger, from here to patrol in Africa... And going it alone or a small group, allows the best part: The Detours to interesting things and places and not having to run on a packed itinerary... And being free to wander, self sufficient and independent....Is where the interesting people are...

Thanks for the info Brian (&Steve).
We have been fortunate to go on a 5 vehicle (max by design of the operator) "Tag Along" and met with a 12 vehicle group along the way. All of our group felt we had the BEST deal by far and heard many dis-gruntled comments from members of the other group. What the cause of it was we really would not know, but it seemed just too big at 12.
Other trips have been either just us and chatting with the fellow explorers by UHF or nearby camps or with up to four other on club trips.
Thus we wonder what a 50 plus group would be like? What a convoy?
Have seen photos of some 20 vehicle "shows" all lined up on some isolated track, in Caravan and tour magazines as well and wondered what it would be like to meet with such on the road.
Agree with the small group / 2 or 3 rig set up - but a larger group at the end of the day may be nice for general chat and socialising! Hmm! Wonder what Copeton would be like - Hmm! Have to wait another 8 years for that!
Cheers - Ian & Sally