You might think that there is a paradox between the ‘back to nature’ Wild Bush experience and the concept of luxury living. How is it that you can truly unravel the secrets of the Australian Outback and stay in stylish accommodation? The much sought after idea of being able to retreat to a comfortable camp that offers guests a high-level of attentive service and top-quality food after having spent the day exploring what hides in the depths of the Australian Bush is surely too good to be true, … is it not? The answer is no, it’s not too good to be true. The Wild Bush Luxury camps have successfully defeated the belief that the two notions cannot be intertwined and offer guests a unique take on luxury living as well as superb guided experiences of the extraordinary Australian Bush.
Sal Salis is an exclusive safari camp located in the World Heritage Area of Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia. Like
allthe other Wild Bush Luxury camps, Sal Salis remains true to their primary philosophy which is that the focus of your stay at the resort is the surrounding wilderness and its inhabitants. It’s for this reason that Sal Salis is a tented camp which was designed to expose guests to the sights and sounds of the Australian Bush that lies just on the other side of the tent door. Given the fantastic setting, you’d expect the luxuriousness of the accommodation to have been compromised but that is not the case. Equipped with a comfortable bed dressed in 100% cotton linen sheets and a private en-suite bathroom, the tent has the basic amenities you’d expect from a resort only they are in a more unexpected and less traditional setting. The environment and its sustainability is a big concern for Sal Salis. Not only is all their power solar generated but each en-suite bathroom has a natureloo – which is a marketing term for a composting loo! Activity-wise, with great snorkelling, fantastic fishing and the opportunity to go on whale shark charters, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do at Sal Salis!
Further north is Bamurru Plains. Situated on a working buffalo station and only a short distance from Kakadu National Park, an abundance of bird and wildlife are literally waiting at the doorstep of the unique Australian Bush camp. Bamurru Plains offers Safari Bungalows that boast stunning views of the floodplains. At Bamurru Plains, you can wake up to the thrills of Australian wilderness that are literally right outside your window. Kitted out with the same furnishings as Sal Salis, the Safari Suites are designed to blend in with their beautiful surroundings and make the guests feel completely at one with nature. As with all the other camps, meals will be held in the main lodge where guests can dine in an open kitchen and feast on wholesome and innovate dishes that are often inspired by the native produce. Also, with the chance to encounter animals such as crocodiles, buffalos and wallabies, it’s indisputable that the wildlife viewing at Bamurru Plains will be spectacular.
Perhaps the most rustic of all the camps is the Arkaba Walk. Providing guests w
ith the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of doing a walking safari, the Arkaba Walk is described as a ‘moderate to challenging walk’ where you will cover between 6 to 15 kilometres a day across various terrains. You will be able to feel the evening breeze and hear the sounds of the nocturnal wildlife when you are sleeping under the stars. With showers that overlook magnificent rivers and creeks, the wilderness really is the focus of your stay. With no distractions other than nature itself, it’s hard to imagine that there are bustling city centres not too far away.
Kuri Bay has taken on an entirely different look to the other camps as it occupies the site of Australia’s first South Sea
pearl farm. Located on one of the most remote coastlines in the world and with only 3 guest rooms available, Kuri Bay is the smallest and most exclusive lodge on the Kimberly coast. The 3 Verandah Rooms are furnished very similarly to the rooms at the other Wild Bush Luxury camps however they are decorated to retain the look and feel of a working pearl farm. Kuri Bay has very recently seen its annual arrival of the Humpback Whales who overtake the waters from late June to October. The warm temperature of the bays provide the whales with the perfect place to shelter and nurture their calves in the early weeks of their life before they muster up the strength to make their long journey to Antarctica!
The primary ethos of the Wild Bush Luxury Experience is to enjoy the environment around you. It’s for that reason that you will not find any telephones, televisions or electrical entertainment equipment in any of the camps so that there is nothing to distract you from the wonder that is the Australian Bush.
