Essentials for your Safety

Australia is a very safe place to travel in. The chance of being exposed to a crime is very small in Outback Australia. Both black and white Australians are mostly extremely friendly to you, even if you now and then come across some rough guys. However, the harsh outback environment is not something that should be taken lightly. Respect it, but don't be terrified. The first question you get when you talk to people about traveling in outback Australia is: "What about the snakes?". Well there are some very poisonous snakes in Australia, but they are a minor problem compared with other dangers. My danger list would read: 1. Yourself 2. Your vehicle 3. Drunk drivers 4. Road conditions 5. Big stupid animals on the road 6. Crocodiles 7. Pigs 8. Others nuisances like snakes YOURSELF - THE GREATEST DANGER Every time you hear about a serious incident in the outback, it's mostly someone who has been inexperienced or acted extremely stupid. DEATH WISH? I came across two Pommie sheilas in Urandangi who where about to travel on the Plenty "Highway" to Alice Springs in an old Ford Falcon. Traveling in conventional vehicles on rough outback roads is not recommended. Secondly if it's an old bomb, it's even more stupid. The girls where stuck in Urandangi because they had hit a rock and something had started leaking under the car. I asked them if they carried spare water, and they replied that yes, they had 12 liters. This was supposed to be enough for a couple of days travel and for the car as well. I gave them my spare 25 liter water tank and made them promise to fill it with water. In case they got stuck again, that should have kept them alive for 2-3 days. I asked them what maps they used and they replied that they didn't have a map, but a road description where they could find fuel along the road. What's a breeze in a Toyota Landcruiser in good condition, with good maps, lots of extra fuel, food and water, can be sheer hell for another ill equipped party. LIFELINE Use a lifeline. Phone someone that cares about you, tell them where you are, where you are going and when you are supposed to phone again. If you intend to be back at the Sunday, tell them to hold their horses until the Tuesday before a rescue operation is started. Always phone back. Rescue operations are expensive. Try to make a positive impression on people that you meet, e.g. at remote stations and roadhouses. If you're in a strife, it's more likely that they'll help the nice fella rather than the arrogant German tourist or overbearing Pom that told them that Australia was a shit country. WATER To bring enough water can't be stressed enough. You can survive for some weeks without food, but only a day or two without water. A death from thirst is probably one of the most gruesome ways of meeting your maker. Calculate around 5 litres of water per person and day. Carry spare water for some extra days in case you get stuck. Familiarise yourself with emergency water producing techniques like putting a plastic sack over a branch of a tree or a bush. FOOD Carry extra food for a week. I used tins. Boring but safe. Don't touch the emergency food unless you're in a real emergency.

DANGEROUS ANIMALS Here's the list of them buggers, and surprise, snakes are not number one.

SALTWATER CROCODILES There are two types of crocodiles in Australia. The smaller Freshwater or Johnstone crocodile is harmless for humans. You recognise it by its long snout. The bigger saltwater or estuarine crocodile is a ferocious and aggressive hunter. The biggest males can become over 8 metres long. Estuarine crocodiles (salties) can be found in the sea, in rivers and in waters all over northern Australia. Salties lie waiting beneath the water along e.g. riverbanks and wait for animals to come and drink. Then they launch their attack, grab the victim with their powerful jaws, and do a death roll to break the neck of the victim and then swims away to have lunch. It's an awesome sight to see it happen. Let's put it this way, you wouldn't want to trade places with a croc's lunch. Salties are cunning hunters. If you camp along a river, they can observe you for two days and lie waiting for you the third day when you go down to the river to fetch water. In dark, murky waters, they are impossible to spot. * Camp well away from water where crocodiles can be found * Don't swim in water where crocodiles can be found * Don't get water from rivers and lakes where crocodiles can be found * Don't let children and dogs play along or in water where crocodiles can be found FERAL PIGS Feral pigs can be extremely aggressive if they feel cornered or if you go in between them and their offspring. They might charge you and rip you up with their big fangs. If they do, climb the nearest tree. If there is no tree? Well, honestly I do not know what to do. THE SNAKES (AT LAST) Australia has some of the most venomous snakes in the world. They are usually more afraid of you than you are of them. You'll be lucky to see one. Mostly they escape if something big and heavy like you approach them. Most accidents happen either if someone steps right on them or try to attack or kill them. If you meet a snake in the bush, stop, back away slowly from it. Don't attack it or try to scare it by beating in the ground with a stick or something similarly stupid.