Traditional bush foods are very important to the bush aboriginal people.

As the diet of the aboriginal people changes with the seasons, so do the tour activities. Bush food collection is a major part of this tour and guests are encouraged to participate. We gather all kinds of foods such as turtles, snakes, grubs, fruits, yams, various native tubers, bulbs and corms etc. It's a very hands-on experience in a small group.

Our guide is a traditional bush aboriginal and a bush tucker expert.

Daily campfire cooking at sunset can include any of the foods mentioned above and magpie geese, buffalo and other new Top End tastes. Served together with the outback favourites: billy tea and damper.

There are many plants and animals utilised by aboriginal people which will amaze you. Detailed interpretation of the natural and cultural values of Kakadu and the Top End give you a much better understanding of your surroundings.

Habitats

Kakadu is unique because it contains many different wildlife habitats within its boundaries.

We have exclusive access to 170 km sq. in the heart of Kakadu and explore freshwater billabongs, floodplains, woodland savannah and paperbark swamps. We safari along bush tracks in a comfortable, open-sided safari vehicle.

Highlight

The highlight is a bird gathering phenomenon occurring from mid July to September (approximately) that only we can show you. Our words can't explain the experience. This is our sunset cooking location for that period.

Buffalo, wallaby, crocodile, goanna, snakes, turtle, dingo, wild pigs, various nocturnal animals and many bird species are regularly seen and interpretation is provided from both aboriginal and non-aboriginal perspective.

Everyone Benefits

The tour funds the aboriginal owned Kakadu Buffalo Farm Reserve which in turn provides free preferred bush food (buffalo meat, magpie geese, wild pig, barramundi fish) to aboriginal people in Kakadu.

Animal Tracks has provided real benefits to many of its local people each tour since it commenced 19 years ago. (a set percentage of every tour is paid directly to fund the farm).

This tour blends authentic local traditional indigenous culture with modern tourism to provide smiles all round.

Bush Aboriginal Guides

Tours are usually accompanied by renowned bush woman, Patsy Raichiwanga Raglar, on her daily search for seasonal bush foods and other useful materials. She has a keen eye for wildlife spotting, animal tracks and whatever can tell her the bush story that each new day brings.

Since childhood, Patsy has enjoyed the afternoon bush food cook-up. She’s a good bush campfire cook and follows the ancient tribal cooking lores. We are lucky enough to join in with Patsy. To tour guests it is bush foods, tea and damper, but to Patsy - it is a banquet that has been well earned.

Group activities may include:

• Hunting, gathering, preparation and tasting of a variety of bush foods and medicines;
• Campfire cooking;
• Collection of natural fibres and dyes for traditional fibrecraft;
• Bush shelter construction;
• Stories about Aboriginal law, dreaming, creation ancestors and traditional Aboriginal family adventures;
• Learning an Aboriginal language.

"What a day! Having travelled around Australia for the last 3 months, this day will go down as a big highlight - seeing the bush as we had never imagined." -- Ann & John

"This tour is a refreshingly unique experience" -- C. Wren, SA

"it is remarkable how our two guides kept us enthralled and taught us bush lore & aboriginal culture for seven wonderful hours. They are dedicated people and the tour was absolutely devoid of commercialism. Our guides are wonderful ambassadors for the Northern Territory. I pray that the tour stays unchanged." -- P. Moffitt, NSW. (extract of a letter written to the NT Minister for Tourism)

"...we had an absolute ball digging away for food and hearing of the uses and foods that were available in the bush. The time flew and talk about value for money - we even had the bonus of being fed!" -- D. Cook, QLD

"The tour was a superb experience. It was a privilege to view the extensive bird life and wildlife of Kakadu. Great value and we would recommend the tour to anyone." -- L&M McFarlane

"Truly memorable trip and so glad we came along. The real Kakadu was shown today. The guides have a real feel for the country and its people - their knowledge of bush lore and tucker was tremendous. This trip really made our holiday in the 'Top End'." -- A&M Whitehal

"Many thanks for a most interesting and enjoyable Animal Tracks tour last Thursday. We especially enjoyed the turtle hunting, spear throwing and goose plucking. Patsy is a delightful lady and we appreciate her sharing her culture and knowledge with us." -- W. Sengupla, QLD.

"A fantastic 'hands-on' journey into some truly cultural living on the land in Australia. Informative, educational, plenty to see and led by someone who has an obvious passion for the country and a desire to share with us." -- K D & J Alexander, QLD

"It is a privilege to tour with someone who really loves the place and its history. An insightful and respectful commentary compliments the wonderful natural environment through which we travelled. A wonderful experience of Kakadu." -- V&J Coffey, SA.

"Your bush tucker tour more than lived up to its promise. The guides were friendly and enthusiastic and had amazing knowledge of the land. We have a 14year old son who enjoyed every second of the day. We all learnt such a lot and ate so well! Being "hands-on" made the experience even better. I would recommend this tour to anyone. As for us it has whetted our appetite to learn more about the aboriginal way of life and on our next trip to Australia we look forward to seeing you again". -- C, R & S Fletcher

"Thank you for such a wonderful day out last Wednesday. Had a sublime day. Felt very privileged and humbled to participate in such a private and stimulating experience." -- Bronte

"About a fortnight ago my partner and I were fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with Patsy learning about bush tucker. I just wanted to let you know that everywhere we went and everyone we spoke to for the remainder of our holiday, heard about our incredible experience. I have been interested in the Aboriginal culture for many years so the Animal Tracks experience was the highlight of my visit to Kakadu." -- Carol & Gary

"I wish everyone could have the same opportunity to appreciate that Patsy and others like her have so much to offer from their culture. I felt very privileged to have shared that time with your aboriginal guide." -- B Praetz

"This is just a brief note to tell you how much we appreciated our participation on your Animal Tracks tour last Friday. We took several other trips at Kakadu, all good, but somehow yours was closest to what we were looking for. It takes a very special kind of person to construct a bridge between modern western culture and Australian aboriginal culture. Working with Patsy you have built that bridge and the two of you together are achieving something very important. We both felt at the end of the day that we had gained insight and understanding, in just a small way, of aboriginal life and culture. We particularly appreciated the sensitive and intelligent way in which you helped us do so. Patsy is an inspiration and her stories towards the end of the tour were profoundly moving. I do want to congratulate you on your effort. Our visit with you and Patsy was an unforgettable experience and we thank you both for this." -- D & U Farmer, Rhode Island

"I would just like to write how impressed and thoroughly satisfied I was with the tour that I feel privileged to have taken part in. I have highly recommended this tour to everyone I meet and will continue to do so long into the future. Thankyou for the wonderful memories!" -- N. Overbeeke.