Thrills and spills on two Top End safaris

My first five-day expedition to Arnhem Land was many years ago and followed an auction hunt purchase at a Safari Club International (SCI) South Pacific Chapter convention in Sydney. The trophy target, an Asiatic water buffalo. My kick-off point was Maningrida on the Liverpool River that flows into the Arafura Sea.

My guides Brett and Nick, from Bawinanga Safaris, introduced me to their base camp at Djinkarr on an escarpment overlooking the Tomkinson River. We were soon on our way down the Bulman Track to our fly camp at Yaminee creek, accompanied by indigenous Bawinanga Djelk Rangers Victor and Michael. An 86km four-hour drive included a Cadell River crossing using a vehicle winch, arriving in late afternoon. We sighted eight buffaloes on the trip down, including one good bull.

Our pre-erected tented fly camp was comfortable, with solar shower and camp oven/hot plate open fire