Marcus Williams is the owner / operator of Pyndan Camel Tracks. Learn about his experience of being a cameleer in the outback of Australia since 1982. He's happy to answer any questions about camel rides or about his long-necked humped friends.

So many people ask me why I called my camel tour business Pyndan Camel Tracks. It all goes back to my early experiences with camels back in the 1980s in outback Australia.

Why pyndan?

I learnt to handle camels in the red 'pyndan' sand plains around Broome, Western Australia. Pyndan soil is the red earthy sand that blew in on the wind from the Great Sandy Desert during the past two million years. The pyndan sand plain collides with the Indian Ocean. When I moved to Central Australia to catch my own camels, the red sands of the Simpson Desert butting the cobalt blue desert sky reminded me of pyndan country.

Camel tracks

I caught most of my herd from Todd River Downs Station south of Alice Springs. An old fellow out there pointed towards the Simpson Desert and told me to look for the camel tracks. Once I'd tracked some wild camels, I herded them into an old, broken down set of yards made from mulga. I broke them in slowly using a lasso and ropes. After three weeks of camping in the desert with my new herd, I walked them back to Alice Springs.

Some of the camels that are with me today are part of my original herd.

I believe in looking after our beautiful country. I want visitors to my place to experience a gentle form of Nature Tourism in a natural area that leaves minimal impact on the environment. I want them to be able to hear the quiet of the bush and the sounds of the birds. The landscape around the MacDonnell Ranges is diverse in habitat. Many different animals such as kangaroos, dingos, birds and lizards plus big trees, small shrubs, grasses and tiny flowers coexist on the varying land forms like claypans, rocky hills, and sandy flats. I want to give our visitors the opportunity to explore this exception area and learn about camels and their history in the region.

Pyndan Camel Tracks has been awarded Nature Tourism Certification through Eco Tourism Australia as part of the Australian Tourism Accreditation program.